Title: Album

Rating: K+

Chapter 9: Kenichi

X-X-X

The eighth page of the album shows a picture of Shizuru and Natsuki sitting down on a loveseat together. Across from them sits a blond-haired man with Kiyoran cuddled up next to his leg.

"I should go check on dinner," Naomi Fujino said, getting up from her chair. She gave her daughter a pointed glance as she did this, which didn't go unnoticed by Natsuki. She wasn't sure quite what the meaning of it was, but Shizuru seemed to pick up on it well enough.

"Let me come help, Mother," Shizuru said, getting up. Natsuki instinctively reached out for Shizuru's hand, realizing that this was a ploy to get her to spend some time alone with Shizuru's father. Shizuru didn't seem fazed by this, however. She simply gave Natsuki's hand an encouraging squeeze before she slipped away to the kitchen with her mother.

Natsuki glared at the back of Shizuru's head as her love walked away. She'd talked with each of the Fujinos before, at a dinner here and there when they came to Fuuka to visit Shizuru, and for a bit now that Natsuki and Shizuru had come to visit them, but she'd always had Shizuru's support when she did so. Shizuru obviously wanted to give Natsuki a chance to interact on her own with Shizuru's father, though Natsuki wasn't feeling particularly appreciative of that right now.

Natsuki bit her lip as she thought of what to say. Her eyes roamed the room for ideas, until they eventually settled on Kiyoran, who was currently cuddled up next to Kenichi Fujino. The dog had taken to him quite naturally, and he to Kiyoran as well. He seemed to be quite a dog person, which got Natsuki wondering... "Have you ever had a dog before?" she said.

"Ah, yes, I did, in fact," Kenichi said. His gaze drifted off into space as memories seemed to overtake him, while his hand moved to scratch the back of Kiyoran's neck. "Apollo was his name, and he lived up to his namesake. Well, mostly. Very smart, but that's expected of a border collie. Always brought the sun into our lives, figuratively speaking of course."

Memories of Duran came to Natsuki's mind while Kenichi spoke of his dog. While she had had a wire fox terrier, a border collie was a lovely breed. Very sharp by nature, and great herding dogs. If Kiyoran hadn't come into their lives, Natsuki might well have picked out a border collie for their next dog.

"What about you, Natsuki-san?" Kenichi said. "Is Kiyoran your first dog?"

Natsuki let out a brief chuckle and shook her head. "Oh no," she said, her mind once again going back to Duran... and then to her other Duran, the Child whom she'd named in honor of her dog. "My family got a dog not long after I was born, so I grew up alongside him. My dad named him Duran, after a British rock band he was a fan of." Natsuki's gaze once more drifted away from Kenichi as she recalled what had happened to Duran. He was taken from her in the same accident that had killed her mother, but he was already pretty old by that point. "...He had a good life," she said, as much to herself as to Kenichi. "I think he was happy."

"I'm sure he was," Kenichi said. "You seem like the type of person who would have been a great companion for him. And I can see for myself just how happy you've made Kiyoran here." Kenichi gave Kiyoran's head a pat as he said this, and the dog in turn rolled over onto his side, pressing his back up against Kenichi. The dog's eye's caught Natsuki's as he did this and he let out a soft grunt and wagged his tail at her.

"...Thanks," Natsuki said, unable to keep herself from smiling. Her nose was telling her that dinner would probably be ready soon though, and there was something she had to ask Kenichi while she had the chance. "Um... speaking of being a companion... there was something I wanted to ask you," she said, not quite meeting his gaze.

"Of course."

"Er, okay, I'm not asking this to be traditional or anything, 'cause that's really not my style," Natsuki said. "I just want to know... Well, I know you've already given me that phone and key and all, so you kind of think of me like family, so... I, uh..."

"Yes," Kenichi said simply.

Natsuki blinked, looking over at him in confusion. She hadn't even asked anything yet.

Shizuru's father got up out of his seat, giving a final pat to Kiyoran, and he walked toward Natsuki. He reached his hand out to her with a proud smile on his face. "You have my blessing, Natsuki. Nothing would make me happier than to see Shizuru married to someone like you."

Natsuki's voice caught in her throat. All she could do was to reach out and take Kenichi's hand in her own, giving it a firm shake.

X-X-X

Author's Note: I'll try not to make you wait too long for the next chapter. Within the next couple of days, I promise. Thank you all for reading, and happy Valentine's Day!