Kaede woke up when a weight sudden landed on his crotch. It was light enough not to hurt yet heavy enough to be uncomfortable. Luckily for Kaede, the blanket was thick and ample protection against small claws. He groaned when the kitten moved restlessly eliciting a normal reaction.
"What did I do to deserve this?" he mumbled. He scowled at the agitated kitten.
But the small feline did not notice him. He was too intent in taking care of the 'rat' under the blanket. He kept jumping over the blanket.
Kaede had enough. It was disturbing to be aroused by your best friend, and it was more disturbing to be aroused by a kitten. It was not right. Hanamichi the kitten hissed when big hands caught him and pulled him away from his prey. He tried clawing at Kaede again to get free.
"Oh no you don't, you troublemaker," Kaede warned. He cupped the small body and kept the claws tucked effectively. He placed a kiss on the small head. "Go to sleep."
Hanamichi the kitten purred. He nuzzled at the fox's face and licked his nose.
Kaede smiled at the endearing act. He kissed the cute head again before placing the kitten on a pillow beside him. He decided to lie on his stomach so the kitten will not confuse any of his body part as a prey again. He watched as the kitten blinked at him. The amber eyes were alert and shining in the dark.
"This is all Akira's fault," Kaede groaned. He couldn't sleep now. He had to keep watch on the restless kitten. "I'll skin him alive the next time he'll turn you into anything bizarre again. He's lucky today since you're cute."
Hanamichi the kitten responded with a mew. He sniffed at his bed pillow before settling down to sleep. Humans puzzled him completely. He was just killing those vermin and they seem mad about it.
If Kaede knew what Hanamichi the kitten was thinking, he would have strangled Akira in his bed.
The three of them had spent the entire day in the bedroom. The only time they went out was during lunch and dinner. They skipped breakfast. The parents were silent and somber. Chiharu's eyes were swollen, and so were Kana's. The men were stoic and prefer to listen than talk. Akira introduced to the oldies Hanamichi the kitten. Instead of the old bantering, this made Chiharu burst out crying again while Rhine remained silent. The kitten seemed perplexed at the odd behavior but forgot about the peculiar humans when Kaede placed a bowl of warm milk in front of him. For the first time, the two families were dining in silence.
Akira played with Hanamichi the kitten right afterwards, choosing to ignore everyone and concentrating on the kitten. He used rubber balls, magical sticks, and flying cards as toys, but Hanamichi got tired of them easily. It was the game of 'mouse under the blanket' that gotten the red kitten in full alert. Akira sat on the bed and placed his fingers under the blanket. He would then wiggle them like a mouse and the small feline automatically jumped at the 'prey'. Akira laughed boisterously at the active kitten. He repeated the game until nightfall. Kaede, in the meantime, dozed off in a sofa that he managed to smuggle from Akira's bedroom.
A sudden burst of energy made Kaede scrambled out of bed. The kitten gave a start and made a nice tear on the pillow.
Kaede ignored Hanamichi and donned a robe as fast as possible. This was one of those times that he wished he wore pajamas. After placing a quick kiss on the small kitten's head to calm him, the fox ran out to the room. With precise familiarity of the whole mansion, he made his way swiftly to the 'room'.
Akira glanced at Kaede as they both paused at the door of the 'room'. Kaede nodded at Akira so the older guy opened the door cautiously.
"Mom? Dad?" Akira called out as he peeked inside. The 'room' was dark and smelt strangely of burnt sugar. Akira carefully entered followed by Kaede. Kaede reached for the light switch and a blinding light flood the 'room'.
They found Chiharu near a cauldron. She was crying as she stood beside the huge pot. It was the pot that emitted such high magical energy. But it looks like the potion was unsuccessful.
"Mom!" Akira ran to his mother and hugged her. He rubbed her arms to warm them when she shivered in cold. The 'room' was always chilly. Rhine once explained that that was because cooking spells or potions often give off a lot of heat. The chill absorbed the excess energy maintaining a balance in the whole house.
"What are you doing?" Akira asked worriedly.
Chiharu clung to her only son desperately. "I'm trying to save my baby!" she wailed.
"Oh, mom!" Akira smiled sadly at the top her mother's hair. He looked at Kaede and waved his hand to the cauldron.
Kaede nodded and watched as Akira guided Chiharu out of the 'room'. He noticed his parents and Rhine standing just outside the door. Guess they didn't know what Chiharu was up to. Rhine helped Akira with Chiharu and the Rukawa couple looked at their son expectantly.
"Need help?" Kana asked softly. She smiled stiffly in disappointment when Kaede shook his head. She leaned heavily on Kiyomori as they walked away. "They had grown up so fast."
Kiyomori nodded at Kaede before closing the door. He knew that Kaede can take care of the disastrous potion.
Kaede looked dispassionately at the cauldron. He was never trained in the potion making or spell casting, but he had a knack with magic superior to that of his parents or any individual he know. With a simple wave of his hand, the cauldron became calm and lost its contents. The fox fixed the 'room' with a slight wave of his hand. No magic could counteract Kaede's, except maybe Akira's harebrained potions.
If Kaede had a knack for wand-less magic, Akira was a genius in potion making. He could make any potion with anything as ingredients. The only setback was that it always had a side effect because he used materials that were not acceptable to the magical community.
The aurors probably heard of Akira and thought of using him against the dark lord. Kaede was thankful that he knew how to hide his abilities well or else he'll be joining Akira in the war. The cloaking ability may have come from living with muggles (normal human) all his life. Akira's ability didn't have to be hidden for most people would just think of it as curiosity and eccentricity. Hanamichi had found out about their magical abilities quite by accident. But he remained loyal and didn't spoke of it to anyone.
The war, as Kaede had envisioned, was not expected to win. The wonder boy of the wizarding world was getting weaker as the war progress. Kaede and Akira had heard about him by their parents, but didn't get his name nor cared to know.
The visions were getting vague by the day. Kaede thought of this as a good sign. The future was still very unpredictable, and Kaede had no need to see it. He was content to live by the day. Being a voyeur was not something Kaede liked, especially if all he saw was a world that he had rejected long ago.
Kaede had received an invitation to study at Hogwarts when he was eleven. His mother said that it was rare for Hogwarts to invite a child from a faraway country like Japan. Japan had a wizarding school of its own. And the two schools only met during an event similar to a sports fest. Akira too had received his invitation when he was eleven and burned it with a potion that he just cooked. Their parents were proud of their achievements but reluctant to let go of their sons. Akira was not very excited about wizarding schools. Kaede barely kept himself from sleeping in his ordinary classes, what more in a boring magical class.
Kaede thought of his visions as he walked back to his room. He smiled tenderly when he found the kitten awake and pacing on the bed. Hanamichi didn't like being left alone in a huge house. He said once that it gives him the creeps. The kitten broke Kaede's thoughts when he suddenly jumped in the fox's arms. Kaede caught him automatically. Hisses and purrs issued as if Hanamichi was scolding Kaede for leaving him behind. The claws dug in Kaede's hands too for emphasis.
"It's okay now," Kaede whispered. He brought the kitten to his face and grinned. "I'm back, aren't I?"
Hanamichi purred long as complaint. His head was pulled back as he purred.
Kaede shook his head and chose to ignore the feline. He quietly walked to the bed, dropped the bathrobe, and snuck into bed. He placed the kitten in his torn pillow, and Hanamichi just made himself comfortable also choosing to ignore the fox.
A knock ruined the quiet moment. Kaede called out softly to let the knocker in. Akira sheepishly sneaked his head inside the dark room. Kaede looked at him dispassionately.
Akira took the silent look as good sign. He softly entered the room and sat of the other side of the bed. "Can I stay here for the night?" he asked as he caressed the prone form of the kitten.
"I thought you don't like sleeping with your roommates," Kaede retorted. He pulled the blanket to his chest and faced away from Akira.
The older guy smiled at the fox's back. He took off his robe and snuggled in the bed. He was careful not to jostle the kitten.
"Good night, Kae-chan. Good night, Hana-chan," Akira mumbled. The kitten's ears twitched as a response, and Kaede just mumbled a 'good night' back.
Hanamichi stared at Akira intently. He never remembered Akira sharing their bed before. The older guy hated the idea. Hanamichi was starting to have a headache from thinking why thus he poked Akira's nose to wake him up.
Akira snorted in his sleep and turned his back on the redhead. Hanamichi didn't like being ignored, especially if he had some questions to ask. The floor should wake him up, the redhead thought with wicked smirk. Hanamichi placed his right foot on Akira's lower back and pushed. The former Ryonan basketball captain made a loud thud as he hit the floor. Hanamichi giggled as he wiggled his toes.
"Good morning, Kaede," Akira groaned. He rubbed his eyes to rid of the sleep when he heard another giggle. He smiled inwardly as he sneaked a mock glare at the redhead. "So it was you."
"So it was me," Hanamichi replied snugly. He stuck his tongue at Akira.
Akira chuckled. "Good morning, Hana-chan." He crawled back to bed and wrapped his arms around the small body. "You're still malnourished."
"And whose fault was that?"
Akira winced. "Don't remind me."
"Why not?" Hanamichi rose on his elbow and pushed Akira's shoulder. "You should learn from your mistakes."
"Yes, Hana-mama." Akira laughed when Hanamichi punched him gently on the jaw.
"Akira?"
"Huh?"
"What happened yesterday?" Hanamichi glared at the older male when he stiffened. "What happened?" he repeated.
"It was an honest mistake, Hana-chan," Akira said defensively.
"Honest mistake?" Hanamichi retorted sarcastically. He looked around the room before punching Akira again. "What the hell did I turn into this time?"
"Hanamichi, don't curse," Akira reprimanded. "It's not very becoming."
Hanamichi stared at Akira in bafflement. "What?"
Akira sighed. "You're young. You shouldn't curse."
"Oh…" Hanamichi blinked before giving Akira killer eyes. "Answer my question."
"You shouldn't …"
Hanamichi interrupted Akira's mumblings with a slap this time. "The other question!"
Akira tearfully rubbed the red welts on his cheeks. "You're being violent, Hana-chan!"
"Just answer my question!" Hanamichi yelled in frustration.
"Stop shouting," Kaede moaned. He was sound asleep until his two bed partners started screaming.
"Kaede! What happened yesterday? I don't remember anything," Hanamichi turned his full attention to his best friend. He shook the broad shoulders as much as he could.
"You scratched me," Kaede replied sleepily.
"Scratched you!" Hanamichi sounded alarmed. Confused brown eyes turned at Akira when he burst out laughing.
"You should have seen him," Akira said between laughs. "He was rolling in the bathroom floor holding his penis."
Hanamichi blushed from head to toe. "I scratched him there?" he choked.
Akira laughed harder while nodding vigorously. He was laughing so hard he didn't notice a pillow flying to his face. It was followed by a strong invisible force which knocked him off the bed again.
Silence ruled the room.
Hanamichi looked at Kaede who was pissed off big time.
Kaede, in meantime, breathed deeply to keep his temper at bay. Hanamichi was in no physical condition to stop him if he strangled Akira. He'll try though and get hurt in the process.
Akira was silent as well. He cautiously remained under the bed and away from the temperamental fox's eyes.
"Nee, Kaede?" Hanamichi said warily.
"What?" Kaede replied in monotone.
Akira winced as he listened in the stiff voice. It always meant that Kaede will attack with any slight stimulus.
"What happened yesterday?" Hanamichi blushed again when he remembered Akira's words. "Did I really scratched your… ummm…?"
"You did," Kaede answered hurriedly. He couldn't look at Hanamichi as he too flushed in embarrassment.
Hanamichi's eyes went wide. "Oh!"
"He turned you into a cat," Kaede said to loosen the tension. He took another deep breath and grinned at the redhead. "You're this small and had cute ears. Your claws are sharp though."
Hanamichi blinked. He looked at Akira when the guy surfaced slowly. "Explain yourself."
"It was an honest mistake." Akira found the confidence to sit on the bed again. Unlike Kaede, he slept with his boxers. "I thought that that potion will make you grow big again."
"Kaede told me yesterday that I turned into a baby and he into a kid." Hanamichi sharpened his glare. "You should stop mixing potions. If not then maybe you should really go to this Hogwarts place." The redhead switched his eyes to and fro between Akira and Kaede when the two raven-haired guys fell silent. "Did I miss something?"
Kaede ignored Hanamichi and left the bed. "I'm taking a shower," he informed the two before donning a robe. He then left the two to get inside the bathroom.
Akira stood up hurriedly too. He cheekily grinned at the baffled redhead as he made his way to the door. "See you at breakfast, Hana-chan."
"But…" Hanamichi's protests fell into deaf ears as the door closed behind Akira. He made a face when he realized that the two were keeping secrets from him. "Jerks!"
"I think you should wear this shirt," Hanamichi insisted as he passed to Kaede a bright red T-shirt.
Kaede didn't look at the shirt but at Hanamichi instead. "No," he said with patience.
Hanamichi pouted. He glared at Kaede's cliché blue T-shirt and blue jeans. "Ewwww!" He stuck his tongue at his best friend's low taste.
Kaede ignored Hanamichi. The redhead had just gotten out of the bathroom and wore a huge bathrobe like it was a blanket. He was just sitting on the bed when the redhead spotted his usual attire. Hanamichi shook his head in dismay and excitedly ransacked his closet until he found the T-shirt that he bought for Kaede last year.
"But I want you to wear this," Hanamichi exclaimed tearfully.
"No," Kaede replied. He even narrowed his eyes at the brown eyes. "I'm not wearing a Donald Duck."
Hanamichi shrugged his shoulders. "He'll look good on you!"
"A duck? To Akira, maybe." Kaede doubted that Akira will ever wear such monstrosity. He picked up a book and decided to ignore a pouting redhead. The book disappeared beneath the butt of the redhead though when Hanamichi dropped himself on Kaede's lap still holding the T-shirt for the fox's inspection.
"Hanamichi," Kaede's voice was now laced with suppress temper.
"Please, Kaede!" Hanamichi whined loudly. He wriggled his butt as he pushed the T-shirt at Kaede's face. He yelped when Kaede suddenly pushed him away.
Kaede stood up immediately and got the Donald Duck shirt from the redhead. "Fine! I'll wear this."
"Yehey!" Hanamichi stood up on the bed and jumped around it excitedly.
Kaede shook his head as he changed his T-shirt. People may call him an exhibitionist but he was never shy when it comes to his body. The adult Hanamichi never even bats an eye when Kaede walked around their apartment naked, but the young one was still a little flustered.
"Kaede?"
"Hm?" Kaede glanced at the sullen redhead. The redhead never stopped amazing him with sudden mood shifts. One second happy, the next second sad. "What is it?"
Hanamichi pursed his lips thoughtfully. He was looking at Kaede with helpless brown eyes. "What am I gonna wear?"
Kaede opened his mouth to answer but clamped it shut when the question seeped in his consciousness. He studied the small body on the bed hopelessly. "I don't know," he answered honestly.
The brown eyes brimmed with tears.
"I think Akira might have something," Kaede reassured. He smiled when Hanamichi brightened automatically.
"Yeah! He might!" Hanamichi jumped off the bed and ran out the door. Kaede was left with an amused smirk.
"Kaede!" Hanamichi called out after a few minutes.
"What is it?" Kaede sighed as he heard the yelling.
Hanamichi appeared on the doorway with an angry pout. "I can't find Akira."
It took Kaede a minute before he remembered that Akira's training might be beginning anytime now.
"I think he's busy."
"With what?" Hanamichi flopped down on the bed.
Kaede shrugged. "No idea. Why don't we look at the closet? There might be something there." He walked into the closet.
Hanamichi watched the closet door for a while. But the child in him couldn't stay still. "Kaede?" he called out again impatiently.
Kaede popped out of the closet and presented to Hanamichi a blue shirt and blue jogging pants.
"They're so you," Hanamichi remarked sarcastically.
Kaede glared at the redhead. "We just hope they'll fit." Of course they won't fit but nonetheless he threw the clothes at the redhead and watched as Hanamichi struggled to put them on. He smiled fondly at the furious look on Hanamichi's face. The T-shirt reached past his knees and the jogging pants looked like folded comforter. "Looks good on you."
"Blue is not my color," Hanamichi retorted. After a while he found the humor in the whole situation and he smiled prettily. "I feel like a badly wrapped spring roll."
Kaede chuckled. "You look like it too."
Hanamichi raised his arms sideways. "Help?" He looked like a lost kitten again.
Kaede shook his head. "Can't."
Hanamichi frowned. "Why?"
"Strangers are in the house," Kaede replied gravely.
Hanamichi's eyes widened. "Are they bad? Is that why Akira was not in his room?"
Kaede nodded. "They're not bad though."
"Kaede?"
"Hm?" Kaede knitted his brows thoughtfully as he looked at Hanamichi.
"What about me?" Hanamichi sounded so miserable that Kaede had to smile again.
"We can fold the clothes."
"Into two?" Hanamichi replied sarcastically.
"Into three," Kaede taunted. He chuckled when Hanamichi made a face at him.
"Funny, Rukawa!" Hanamichi waved his arms and kicked his legs. He glared at Kaede when the guy laughed harder. "What?"
Kaede shook his head. He didn't think telling Hanamichi that he resembled a midget in giants' clothing would help the redhead's disposition.
"Come here."
Hanamichi trudged painstakingly over at Kaede. He looked up trustingly at the bigger guy as Kaede engulfed him in a tight hug. Hanamichi felt a shiver down his spine when Kaede evoked his magic. He smiled when his clothes shrunk to fit him loosely.
"Thank you, Kaede," Hanamichi murmured on the warm chest. He tried to free himself when the magic stopped but Kaede didn't let go. "Kaede?"
"Just a few more minutes." Kaede tightened his hug. "If I let go now, they'll feel me."
Hanamichi didn't understand but nodded anyway. He buried his face on Donald's face and chuckled. "Donald Duck looks good on you."
Kaede smiled on the red curls. "You think so?"
"Uh-huh!" Hanamichi raised his head to stare up at Kaede's blue eyes. "You look good whatever you wear."
Kaede slowly untangled his arms around the redhead. He touched wet strands with scorn. "It's wet."
Hanamichi made a face at Kaede again. "I just got out of the bathroom, fox."
"You didn't use the hair dryer?"
"I have long hair," Hanamichi whined. "It's like drying a wet carpet."
Kaede sighed. He gestured to the stool by the dresser. "Sit down. I'll help you dry your hair."
"Won't you use magic again?" Hanamichi asked hopefully. He wasn't looking forward to sitting still until his hair was dry.
"I can't do it twice. They will feel me the next time," Kaede answered inside the bathroom.
The redhead sat on the stool and stuck his tongue on his feet. They dangled faraway from the floor. He never remembered his feet dangling on any seats before. It's fun but not very helpful if he wants to walk away.
"Kaede?"
"What is it this time?" Kaede exit the bathroom carrying a hair dryer. He strode to the displeased redhead and picked up a brush from the dresser. "What's with the face?"
"I can't reach the floor," Hanamichi replied. He stared at Kaede through the mirror.
Kaede smiled indulgingly. "I notice."
Hanamichi frowned at the fox. "It's not funny."
"I'm not laughing." Kaede gently brushed the tangled red strands.
"But you wanted to." Hanamichi tilted his head to give Kaede more space.
"Not really." Kaede frowned in concentration as he brushed the red hair. When the tangles were gone, he kept brushing them but also blowing them dry with the hair dryer.
"Kaede?"
Kaede smiled at the redhead. "You practically called for a thousand times now."
Hanamichi ignored the taunt. "Why do think that Kana-san's potion didn't work on me? Akira's potions always do."
"It's something to do with your tolerance to the potion or potion master."
"Eh?"
Kaede took a deep breath as he thought of an explanation that will suffice the brilliant mind of the redhead. "It's like immunity."
"Immunity occurs when you have been subjected to the stimulus repeatedly and that your body just got used to it and it affects you no more. I have been subjected to Akira's potions since I started living with the two of you. I'm still not immune!"
"It's not what I mean," Kaede sighed. He brushed and blow-dried the red hair absentmindedly as he thinks again.
Hanamichi patiently waited for Kaede to answer. He was also puzzled at why Akira's potions always worked on him.
"Akira is very protective of you, Hanamichi," Kaede began. "His potions always worked on you, but it counteracts anything that might caused you pain." He gently parted the red strands as he continued brushing. "Akira had a weird thought of you as his too-young mother. In a way, he's also very possessive of you."
"Meaning?"
"Akira's potion reflects his feelings towards you," Kaede said. "His potions are super effective. And it also reveals his innermost emotions. All potions that will be done to you would have to pass through the shield that he placed upon you since the first potion touched you."
Hanamichi pondered at this for a while. "Akira loves me."
Kaede smiled. "You're a genius."
"You love me too," Hanamichi grinned cheekily at the mirror.
Kaede shook his head. "Whatever."