Disclaimer: Slam Dunk is not mine.
Author's notes: Feel free to press that purple color button below. Please be nice and give me a review. I might post the next chaps faster.
"Here's the remedial potion," Kana said as she presented two glasses of icky looking liquid.
Akira made a face at the possibility of making his baby Hanamichi drink such horrible looking stuff. He carefully picked up the redhead from the table where he changed his diapers.
"Are you sure that that's the remedy?"
Kana sighed. "The potion that you used on Kaede and Hanamichi was the injury disappearing potion. They became babies as side effects. This remedy is used to ebb the side effect."
Chiharu suddenly entered the room and showed Akira a fluffy puppy suit. "Look," she said excitedly. "I found this on the store this morning."
Akira stared incredulously at the suit. "Mom, it's pink."
"Duh!"
"CUUUTE!" Kana giggled and ran to Chiharu. She instantly criticized the suit. "And it's made of cotton. It's good for babies."
The two women suddenly turned to Akira. Akira felt a cold hand ran in his spine.
"I think..." Kana started.
"...it'll look good on Hana-chan," Chiharu finished.
Akira face-faulted.
Hanamichi giggled happily as he played with Akira's collar. He was so lucky to be oblivious of the whole situation.
"What will look good on Hana?"
The three adults looked down and stared at Kaede as he entered the room. Hanamichi perked up when he heard his voice and immediately reached down to the boy.
Kaede dropped the towel that he used to dry his hair and accepted the squirming bundle. The two of them had been given a bath by their Daddy Akira to the chagrin of Kaede. He glared holes through the spiky-haired head as Akira happily did his task. He could easily see that Akira liked to torment him. When Hanamichi finished with his bath, Kaede ordered Akira to leave him Kaede alone. The older male laughed heartily but followed the seven-year old's wishes.
"This will look good on Hana-chan," Chiharu proudly said as she showed the puppy suit.
Kaede critically raised his eyebrow. "It's pink."
"I know that, sweetie," Chiharu answered patiently.
Kana nodded. "It'll look good on Hana."
Kaede blankly stared at his mother.
Hanamichi blinked big brown eyes at the big people and giggled again when he saw the puppy suit. He instinctively reached out to what he thought was a toy.
"See!" Chiharu's eyes beamed. "He likes it."
Kana gleefully agreed with her.
Kaede and Akira met gazes.
"Oh boy!" Akira murmured as he watched his mother take Hanamichi and started putting the puppy suit on the redhead.
"He'll hate you for this," Kaede informed the women coldly.
Kana just smiled at her son.
"Oh!" she exclaimed before exiting the room, and returned a few seconds later with a camera and three more rolls of film. "This moment have to be immortalized."
"Mom, I don't think that's wise," Kaede pointed out. "That camera is a wizard camera."
"I know." Kana glared at her son. "Hana-chan knew we're special so there'll be no problem."
Kaede watched helplessly as the women placed a puppy redhead on a sofa. He smiled when the baby blinked in confusion and kept on tagging on the suit. A wayward ear drooped on Hanamichi's eyes, and the redhead pulled it for closer inspection.
"He's cute, isn't he?" Akira chuckled beside Kaede.
Kaede nodded. He was still looking at Hanamichi. The women 'ohhed' and 'ahhed' as they photographed the oblivious redhead.
Suddenly, Kiyomori entered the room just as Kana changed the film.
"What are you doing?" he asked his wife with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm taking pictures." She turned immediately back to Hanamichi.
Kiyomori looked at the sofa and found a puppy-clad redhead. He couldn't help but laughed when the redhead crawled on the sofa, revealing a white tail on his bottom. The suit fits him like a glove. He looked around the room and was not surprised when he saw his son and Akira hovering nearby. A thought suddenly erupted in his head.
"Didn't Kaede have a Halloween costume when he was in first grade?" he asked Kana.
Kana looked up from her kneeling position and regarded her husband with a frown.
Kaede stared at his father coldly. He looked almost asleep.
"You know. The blue fox suit that you made from a huge plushy fox." Kiyomori waved his hands around for Kana to remember. "As I remember, it had a very bushy tail."
Kana thought for a minute, and then a light bulb appeared on her head. "Yes, I remember!" she exclaimed as she dashed to her husband and kissed him silly. Afterwards, she ran out of the room.
Kiyomori blushed when the occupants in the room stared at him. He turned around when a hand slapped his back. He grinned at his partner as Rhine laughed.
"You're getting mushy, Rukawa!"
Chiharu huffed and walked angrily to her husband. "Getting mushy, isn't he?" she snarled. Her angry face morphed into a coy one. She then playfully trailed her hands to her husband's chest and lower. All of a sudden, she stopped and followed Kana out of the room
Rhine blushed as everyone in the room laughed at his discomfort. "Damn!" he muttered.
Kiyomori laughed heartily at his friend. "What did you do last night that made her punished you like that?" he asked.
"Nothing," Rhine answered defensively.
"Maybe that's why she's punishing you!" Akira shouted to his father.
Rhine's blush deepened. He was so tired yesterday due to using his powers to automatically make a birth certificate for little Hanamichi and Kaede. So the minute his head hit the pillow, he was gone to dreamland. It obviously made his feisty wife angry.
Akira chuckled when he saw his father sigh. He turned to Kaede and was surprised when the boy was not beside him. He looked for Hanamichi and smiled when he saw the redhead on Kaede's lap and playing with the boy's shirt buttons. The boy had walked to Hanamichi when the women walked away.
Hanamichi was amazed at a colorful button. He leaned closer and tried to place the button in his mouth. He missed so he ended up licking Kaede's flesh; the part where his neck ends and the chest began. He looked up in surprised. After a second, he tried and missed again. But this time he contends himself with sucking Kaede's flesh rather than the elusive button.
Kaede scowled at Hanamichi when the baby daubed saliva all over him. He pushed Hanamichi away slightly so the baby would stop. He groaned when the baby cried out a protest. He glared at the adults who were busy tormenting Rhine.
"Hanamichi's hungry," he said loudly to catch their attention.
The adults stopped their bantering to stare at Kaede and the happily sucking Hanamichi.
"Oh! I'll go get a milk bottle," Rhine said as he made a quick getaway.
Kiyomori and Akira stared after the retreating back with astonishment. They then turned back to Kaede when they heard a cry.
"He seems to like eating you," Akira pointed out. He laughed at the sexual innuendo his words implied.
Kiyomori turned a little green. And Kaede scowled menacingly at Akira.
"Pervert!" Kaede cried angrily. He looked down when Hanamichi stopped his sucking and stared up at him with big brown eyes.
"What?" he asked the baby.
Hanamichi gurgled an answer. He began patting Kaede's chest.
Kaede raised an eyebrow. And Akira laughed again.
"Remember the rules of the house, Kaede? No quarrelling especially in front of Hanamichi," Akira reminded Kaede.
Kiyomori shook his head and sat on a couch in front of Kaede. He studied his son and Hanamichi quizzically. Even if he was never a malicious person, he couldn't help but suspect the closeness of the two boys. He once asked Kaede if he had any friends, his son's answer was looking at a basketball.
Hanamichi shifted and tugged at his suit. It was nice and comfy, but it was tight. Hanamichi was used to wearing loose clothes.
Akira chuckled and took the restless baby from Kaede. He cooed and made baby noises as he carefully loosen the puppy suit.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, AKIRA SENDOH!"
Akira nearly had a heart attack when his mother yelled. The baby was also startled at the sudden yell and began giving Akira big brown eyes filled with tears. Akira comforted the baby and then turned to his mother.
"Mom, look what you did! You upset Hana," he scolded. He patted the small back as he danced to soothe the upset baby. He loved his ears too much to risk it being deafened by any close proximity serenade.
Chiharu looked guilty. She didn't look at the glaring Kaede as she walked to her son. She offered a bottle of milk for Hanamichi that the baby took without preamble. She smiled gently at the innocence of youth.
"Sorry," she murmured as she pushed the red bangs away from the adorable face. Hanamichi nodded at the lady.
Akira ceased his dancing and placed Hanamichi in Kaede's care again. Kaede protectively cuddled the baby and glared at the adults for upsetting him in the first place.
"Your dad told me that Hanamichi's hungry," Chiharu said to Akira.
Akira nodded and sat beside Kaede. "Where's Kana-san?" he asked. His eyes caught hold of the puppy ears and he immediately played with it.
"She went into the room."
"She's probably looking for the fox suit," Kiyomori informed as he pulled out a cigar from his pocket. He put it in his mouth and lighted a match; but it was put off before it touches the cigar. He took the cigar from his mouth and saw it dripping with water. He exasperatedly stared at his son.
"Smoking is not healthy for babies," Kaede said coldly. "You want to smoke, do it outside."
Kiyomori shook his head as he threw away his sodden cigar.
"I got it," Kana cried excitedly as she entered the room waving a navy blue fox suit. "Come here, Kaede, and try this one on."
Kaede stared at his mother like she's an alien or something more bizarre. Akira chuckled and took Hanamichi away from Kaede again as the boy was dragged by Kana and made him wear the Halloween costume.
A fox-clad Kaede was not happy. He glared daggers at the adults for making him wear such ridiculous garment. When his mother placed him on the sofa, Akira tried to place Hanamichi in Kaede's side but the baby cried out in alarm. Hanamichi didn't recognize his best bud on the weird costume.
Akira chuckled good-naturedly at baby's reaction. "Don't scowl so much, Kae- chan," he said softly with mirth. "You're scarier with a frown."
Hanamichi stared hard at the fox with a thoughtful frown. He giggled when he recognized the cold blue eyes. He reached out and laughed happily when Kaede accepted him from Akira and cuddled him close. He blinked in surprise when a bright light flashed.
The two women were taking pictures again. Akira, Kiyomori and Rhine made funny faces to get the children to laugh. It didn't give the desired effects. Hanamichi could only stare with wide eyes at the weird adults around him, and Kaede raised an eyebrow at them. The three males sighed in defeat while the women giggled.
"Come on, Kaede," Kana asked. "A little smile wouldn't hurt."
Kaede glared at her for suggesting such a thing.
Hanamichi looked at Kaede then turned his head to the fox's bushy tail. He cried out in fear and clutched onto Kaede's neck.
Kaede held Hanamichi protectively while searching for the object that upset the do'aho. He glared at his tail when he realized that it was one at fault. He sighed when Hanamichi's grip tightened painfully. He looked around and saw a throw pillow. He carefully covered the tail with the throw pillow and laid Hanamichi on top of the pillow. It minimized his movement but it was better than Hanamichi choking him.
Hanamichi giggled happily again. He kicked his legs on the air as Kaede hovered over him. He opened his arms in an invitation for Kaede to move a little closer. He cooed and touched Kaede's face as it lower near his hands.
Kaede smiled at the baby. He made baby noises and caught a foot that kicked him. He bit the foot gently and made a growling noise at the back of his throat.
Hanamichi giggled again and gleefully pulled Kaede's nose. He giggled when the fox above him shook his head to dislodge the hand. He screamed loudly when Kaede suddenly buried his face on his tummy and tickled him.
Kaede laughed at the baby's response. He repeated the tickling making Hanamichi screamed some more.
The two children were oblivious of the adults around them. Kana had changed the films for the fifth time already. The other four stood nearby.
It was late in the afternoon that Kaede and Hanamichi got back to wearing ordinary clothes. Kana had run out of films so the children were allowed to remove the costumes. Hanamichi immediately started kicking his legs when they were free from the tight cotton. Kaede donned his colorful clothes as fast as he can before his mother and her best friend could think of any crazy costumes that they'd want him to wear.
"Here's the remedy, Kaede," Akira told the boy as he showed him a glass bottle with the icky contents.
Kaede stared at the bottle skeptically. He looked at Kana for conformation and accepted the bottle when she nods. He looked at Hanamichi as the baby sucked another bottle of milk. The baby was in Chiharu's arms while Kana sat beside Kiyomori. Rhine was standing near the window.
"How many did you prepare?" he asked Kana without looking at her.
"Two bottles," Kana replied.
Akira watched Kaede as the boy stared at the remedial potion.
"What will happen to Hanamichi?" Kaede asked Kana softly.
Kana smiled lovingly at her son. "Don't worry," she reassured. "Hanamichi will not be harmed. It was only due to the side effects of the injury- disappearing potion that you both turned to children. Hanamichi will be back to normal as soon as he drank the potion, no other side effects."
Kaede nodded. He opened the bottle and sniffed. His face turned green at the disgusting smell. He hesitated briefly, and then drowned the whole content in one gulp. He was trying not to taste it.
The adults were not at all surprise when Kaede began growing fast. Only a few seconds had passed when a full-grown Kaede stood in front of them, naked because his clothes were too small for him.
"That was fast," Akira said to no one in particular.
Kaede looked at himself with satisfaction. He turned his attention to Hanamichi and walked quietly to him. Hanamichi generously offered his bottle of milk at Kaede. But when Kaede didn't accept his offering, he just began sucking on it again.
"It's your turn, Hanamichi," Kaede murmured as he cradled Hanamichi.
The baby gurgled a reply.
"Why don't you get dressed first, Kaede?" Kiyomori suggested. "I don't think you would like your best friend to see you naked, you know."
Akira agreed with Kiyomori silently. He tried to take the baby from Kaede but Kaede turned his back on him.
"He has to turn back NOW." Kaede's voice was laced with authority.
Akira sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Okay! Fine! But if you scandalize Hanamichi, you better explained yourself effectively."
"Aren't you the one that causes this trouble in the first place?"
Akira pouted guiltily.
Rhine cleared his throat. "Just get on with it, Kaede." he grinned at his son when his gave him puppy eyes.
"Gee dad! I never knew you care that much," Akira cried gleefully.
Rhine sweat-dropped.
"Idiot!" Chiharu hit Akira at the back of his head.
Kiyomori and Kana laughed at the sheepish Akira. The two were relieved that their son was now back into his normal form and age. They were a little worried that the potion might backfire since the age was a bit too distant.
Kaede ignored them all as he focused his attention on the little redhead in his arms. He magically manifested the remaining remedial potion and carefully took the milk bottle from Hanamichi. With a silent demand, he gently placed the remedial potion's bottle in the young lips.
Hanamichi frowned furiously when his milk bottle was taken from him. He turned his head away when a smaller bottle was given to him. He looked around for his milk and tried to reach out to it when he saw it on the table. Kaede persisted with the smaller bottle, so he cried out angrily. He pushed the bottle away and twisted in the strong arms around him. He gave another protesting cry as the bottle was placed on his lips again.
Akira heard the redhead. "Chill, Kaede. Don't force him," he said with a frown.
Kaede ignored Akira, and forced the bottle's contents into Hanamichi's mouth. The baby gagged and pushed the bottle away. Some of the vicious contents were spilled on the redhead's clothes.
"You have to take it, Hanamichi!" Kaede angrily shoved the bottle again.
Hanamichi began crying pitifully and tried to fight the fox but another doze of the content was placed on his mouth. He choked and screamed as he struggled to get away from his tormentor.
Kaede looked at the bottle and frowned with determination. He drank the remaining content in the bottle and kissed the crying redhead. He carefully forced the contents into the baby's mouth.
Hanamichi tasted the disgusting liquid and clawed Kaede's face to get him to leave him alone. He sobbed brokenly when more of the liquid was forced into his mouth. He had no choice but to swallow as he breathe in oxygen(1).
Kaede parted with the redhead when no more potions were left in his mouth. Hanamichi jerked away from him and vomited violently. Akira immediately ran to take Hanamichi away from Kaede.
"Shit! I told not to force the little guy!" Akira growled furiously at Kaede. He turned his full attention on the little one that was crying loudly. He tried to soothe Hanamichi by dancing around but the baby was very upset. Akira's patience thinned and he wanted to pummel Kaede into oblivion for doing this to Hanamichi. It didn't occur to him that Hanamichi was still a baby.
But the other five adults did. Kana and Chiharu shared a look of confusion, while the fathers frowned with worry.
Kaede's knuckles whitened as he thought of the worse scenario. He stared at the crying baby and felt even worse.
"Give him to me, Akira," Kaede said softly.
Akira glared at Kaede. Kaede ignored him again and tried to get Hanamichi. But the baby gave a cry of protest. Hanamichi turned his head away from Kaede and clung desperately to Akira. He was sobbing for he felt so betrayed.
"Get away, Kaede, you've upset him enough," Akira suggested angrily. Kaede briefly stare at him before he forcibly took Hanamichi. Akira opened his mouth to protest, but he closed it when he felt his father's hand on his shoulder.
"Give him to Kaede, Akira," Rhine said gently.
Akira nodded woodenly as he watched Hanamichi tried to claw Kaede's eyes. He frowned when he noticed something amiss.
"Shhh." Kaede took hold of the vengeful hands and gently soothed Hanamichi with a loving hug. "Shh." He kissed the unruly red hair softly as he cuddled the squirming baby closer. He kissed the baby's tears away when Hanamichi became quiet a bit.
Hanamichi hiccupped and let Kaede comfort him. He hit Kaede repeatedly in miniature punches making Kaede smile at the child's fighting spirit. He was still hiccupping when he gave up and lay his head on the broad shoulder and just let his best friend take care of him.
Kaede closed his eyes at the trusting action. He softly hummed a song as he danced.
"Isn't Hanamichi supposed to be an adult now?" Akira pointed out incredulously.
"Something must have gone wrong," Kana sounded upset. "Maybe because he's too young."
"We have to wait until 24 hours had passed before we formulate another potion," Chiharu said gravely.
"We might have to consult a more knowledgeable potion master for this," Kiyomori advised the depressed group. He gently kissed his wife as she gave him helpless eyes. "Some things just have to be consulted by professionals."
"I am a professional, Kiyo," Kana cried.
"I know, sweetie. But you alone could only do so much."
"I agree with Kiyomori, Kana," Rhine said. His wife nodded in agreement.
Kana sighed and let Kiyomori held her lovingly.
Akira was being eaten with guilt. He looked at Kaede and Hanamichi.
Everything was his fault. If he hadn't mixed any potion, Hanamichi would have remained his true form. Ever since the beginning, every time his potions screwed up, it was always Hanamichi that got into the line of fire.
Kaede noticed Akira's look of despair. He shook his head hopelessly, and he quietly exited the room.
(1) Babies can breathe while they drink.