Sorry I was slow with this one, I started running out of juice on it. If anyone has something they want to see/think should happen, say so!
Also I did a thing: I poked at my Nintendogs game because I remembered there was a Calico option and lo and behold, I found the perfect kitten! She looks just how I imagine Akiha does so: { raelinae. tumblr post/64553221160/if-anyone-here-is-following-my-sl ice-of-life} That's also my Tumblr, if anyone wants to follow me (FRIENDS! 8D)~
Chapter 6- Of Snow and Gifts
Haru looked quizzical. "...Makoto we can't bring Akiha to school."
Makoto frowned, resolutely holding onto their kitten. "But something could happen to her if she's alone, Haru-"
"We're not bringing her to school."
Haru mentally kicked himself. He knew Makoto's sudden surge of protectiveness was due to his oversight of Akiha and the tub the other night.
The brunette fixed his boyfriend with big watery green puppy dog eyes and Haru had to bite his lip to fight the urge to give in. "Makoto. No.
We'll get in deep trouble if we show up with a kitten."
"But what if- I mean, the toilet- what if she-"
Now the brunette is just being ridiculous. Still, Haru sighed and said pragmatically, "Our kitten is not going to drown in the toilet, Makoto."
"...you're sure?"
The black-haired boy resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "We'll leave the seat down. Now let's go or we'll be late for the train."
The day and their practice passed quickly but yet not quickly enough. It was Monday and the Captain and Vice-Captain of the Iwatobi team were always a little subdued after a weekend with their lover. Gou sighed heavily upon seeing the pair.
"Honestly," she groaned at lunch, watching the two pick at their food. "You and Onii-chan are so alike."
Before the older boys could mount a defense Nagisa leapt in with a cheerful grin and threw his hands up. "It's the power of LOOOOVE!" He yelled.
Rei jumped halfway across the table to clap his hands over the excitable blonde's mouth. "Nagisa-kun!" He chided. "Not at school! It's a secret!"
Because virtually none of Japanese society would take well to a threesome and teenage schoolkids were possibly one of the worst groups to come out to.
"Right!" Nagisa stage-whispered, holding a finger to his lips like he was telling his older friends to be quiet. "Sorry Mako-chan, Haru-chan."
"It's... It's fine, Nagisa." Makoto hedged.
"Just don't do it again." Haruka agreed.
"Anyway, cheer up!" Gou said brightly. "Who knows?" She exclaimed. "There might even be a surprise waiting for you at home!"
Her voice was too chipper and coy to be regarded as anything but suspicious.
But it did mean Haru and Makoto were the first ones out of their classroom that day.
Haru lit up when they opened the door and encountered a familiar yet unexpected pair of shoes.
"Rin?" He called out, hope ringing in his voice.
A laugh is his response and Haru shucked his bag and rushed into his living room. Makoto, smiling, picked it up and hung both their bags up and followed at a more leisurely pace.
Rin was lying on the floor and playing with Akiha, the tiny kitten ripping at his sleeve (ineffectually) with her back claws as he tickled at her belly every few seconds. A squeaky, rusty-wheel growl echoed from the small throat and made Rin laugh again.
Haru went to his boyfriend's side and knelt next to the redhead, rolling him over to kiss the younger. Rin hummed and his not-mauled hand came up and twisted in inky hair.
"Yo," the redhead said. "Makoto, c'mere."
The brunette smiled and made his way to his lovers' sides, sitting and brushing his fingers down Rin's throat before he leaned in for his own kiss.
They separated and Rin regarded them both with darkened red eyes and a smirk.
"What are you doing here?" Makoto asked as he decided to idly run his fingers through the supine teen's crimson locks.
"New rule: no practice on Mondays. I think it's so Mikoshiba can go on dates with my sister." Rin admitted with a grimace. "But I won't complain because it means time with you. Which, thinking about it, is probably another reason he decided on today. Making up for yesterday and all. So I came home."
His lovers smiled at each other at the mention of 'home' and Rin snapped his fingers between the pair.
"Hey! Don't go off and do the telepathy thing and ignore me, I have an important question."
He was given his due attention and he rescued his hand from their excitable kitten to fold his arms under his head. "I say we go out."
Haru tilted his head. "Go where?"
"Just out, shopping, maybe see a movie? I don't know, I'm just dying to spend some time with you two."
Haru seemed to be deep in thought and all of a sudden he blurted out "I want a collar."
Rin and Makoto choked, both looking wildly at their boyfriend who simply looked to be deep in thought.
"A collar with a bell," he amended, smiling. "And we'll need plenty of toys." He added suggestively.
"H-Haru?!" Makoto yelped as brilliant red crept up his neck to suffuse his cheeks.
"And we can have the bell engraved with her name and this address so if she gets out somehow whoever finds her will know where to bring her back-"
"This is about the cat?!" Rin barked, a disappointed line appeared on his brow.
Haru lifted an eyebrow. "...yes? Why, what did you think I meant?"
Both his boyfriends looked aside, flushed bright red.
"Nothing," Rin snapped.
"N-never mind." Makoto stammered.
"It's true though," Rin muttered eventually. "Akiha needs a lot of things, and I have some spare money I've been saving up, so that's okay. Luckily we already bought a litter box at least."
Makoto nodded, propping his chin on his palm with a thoughtful sigh. "That's true, she needs hard food soon, probably the kind for kittens, more soft food, some toys, maybe." Rin reached for him and he extended his other hand with a gentle smile.
"So it's a date?" Rin asked, threading his fingers through Makoto's.
"It's a date," Haru agreed. "Let Makoto and I shower and change real quick and we'll be back. Keep Akiha distracted, okay?"
A soft peck to the redhead's lips and Haru vanished up the stairs.
"Thanks for this morning," Makoto murmured. He leaned down and brushed the back of his hand over the redhead's cheekbone. "I love you."
"I miss you when I have to go," Rin whispered back, nose brushing across the brunette's chin. "It was the least I could do."
The lovers stayed quiet and basked in their closeness for another few moments... Until the water pipes hummed overhead.
Makoto chuckled. "I guess that's my cue. I'm looking forward to this, Rin. It's not often we get to spend a weeknight together."
"Forget the weeknights," Rin laughed. "When was the last time we had a date?"
The brunette nipped at the shell of his boyfriend's ear. "Three months and two days," he breathed into it.
Then, with Rin's shocked and betrayed eyes watching him go- how dare Makoto leave him after that little tease?!- the brunette went to join Haru in the shower.
"Ten minutes!" He shouted at Makoto's back. "If you don't come out in ten minutes I am turning on the sink and flushing the fucking toilet!"
His freezing-water threat made a laugh drift down the stairs.
The threesome boarded the soonest train, dressed up for the late winter weather. They made small talk as the train trundled onto the shopping district. They exited slowly, hand in hand in hand to prevent being separated, and Rin and Haru's eyes widened at the sight of the shopping area. Makoto couldn't help but admire the fact that Haru's jackets fit Rin. He also adored the flush on the paler boys' faces, their tucked chins and wide eyes.
He laughed softly to himself and only opened his eyes again when Rin jabbed him in the shoulder and squawked "What's so funny?"
"You're so beautiful, you two."
Haru smiled and the expression made him at least twice as angelic. Rin flushed but accepted the praise with grudging good grace.
"So where to? D'you know, Mako?"
"Yeah, this way."
"How do you know?" Haru asked.
He chuckled. "I come here often with okaa-san for shopping. I always liked to stop and pet the animals, since I can't have one myself. It was the closest I could get." He beamed back at his wide-eyed boyfriends. "Now we have Akiha."
The switch from 'I' to 'we' didn't go unnoticed and the trailing pair smiled at each other. Rin edged closer to his boyfriend and muttered in Haru's ear, "Trust Mako to be a sap." Blue eyes twinkled pleased agreement.
His lovers followed him through the snowy sidewalks and side streets until they happened upon the bustling shop-street from a completely different angle than anywhere else. Glancing up and down the packed strip Rin realized that Makoto's winding detour had dropped them in the center without having to go through the crowds.
"Wow, Mako, good going."
The tall brunette laughed. "It's a good route to know. The pet store is this way."
The younger pair followed the orange hat over the crowd, safe in the knowledge that with his unusual height they could hardly lose their boyfriend.
Green eyes caught theirs as they moved around a small throng of giggling schoolgirls and the beatific smile was heartwarming.
"In here," he murmured when they got close, a large hand resting on first Haru's waist then Rin's as he ushered them into the shop.
Both shuddered with hidden delight.
The pet shop was bustling with workers and animals and ecstatic children. Haru was wide-eyed, looking almost as thrilled about the pet shop as he was upon seeing water, and he wandered off immediately.
"Oi, Haru-!" Rin called after him but a hand wrapped around his wrist. He glanced back at Makoto and the brunette tilted his head with a smile.
"Let him look. He's very excited about this."
"So are you," Rin scoffed, gently tugging his hand away before anyone could see and be scandalized. "You're practically on cloud nine, Mako."
"I've always wanted a pet," the brunette admitted. "Akiha's been a dream come true for me. Rin..." And red met green and Rin didn't even need to see it in those emerald irises; he could feel how badly Makoto wished to kiss him as thanks. "...thank you for bringing her into our life."
Rin chuckled. "Yeah, yeah- what?"
Makoto had gone still and now lifted his gaze as he turned around. Rin followed his eyes and blinked- Haru, completely invisible to Makoto when he was facing Rin, was staring at them- then punched his boyfriend in the shoulder.
"Fuck that's creepy- he didn't even say anything! Stop that!"
But they headed over to Haru anyway.
"It's perfect," he said as they approached, holding the collar out to them.
It was perfect- sage green with the familiar design of The Great Wave sewn in- and a little silver bell hung from the front that tinkled merrily.
"I love it, Haru. Akiha will love it too, I'm sure."
Haru beamed at them- his version at least- a small smile that showcased an inner glow. "I'll go buy it."
"Haru, I said I'd-"
The black-haired teen shook his head firmly and went to the register.
"She's really important to him. This is just something he really wants to do himself."
"I get it." Rin muttered, watching Haru's subdued chatting with the cashier. "And I'm glad he's so enthusiastic. About, you know..."
"...something other than swimming." Makoto finished for him with a laugh. "Agreed. Now come on, let's go find some toys and buy her food."
Haru joined his boyfriends a few moments later, while Rin was bent over examining the label of a bag of kitten food. Makoto had ten cans of soft food, which Haru gave him a quizzical look for, and he simply said "It's best to buy quite a lot so we don't have to come back too soon."
Haru nodded and Rin stood, tucking a bag of kitten food under one arm.
"Now toys!" The redhead grinned.
Forty-five minutes later, the low sun streaking the sky with red and purple, the threesome boarded a return train carrying a laden bag each. Makoto's held all the cans and packet of treats, Haru's the collar and at least a dozen toys (there had been so many options they'd all gotten something they thought she would like), and Rin's the dry food and a bottle of kitten-safe shampoo.
"You never know," he'd grumbled.
They'd eaten a quick, quiet meal because being unable to be themselves, be free about their relationship, was a constant drag and the less time spent being good boys and more time being affectionate the better. They'd stopped back into the pet store for the newly engraved collar which Haru had received with a bright-eyed look.
On the quiet train trip home they made small talk, cautiously held hands, and watched Haru admire the collar he kept turning around and around.
"She'll love it, Haru." Makoto assured the black-haired boy.
"I know. I hope she will. I do."
Rin rolled his eyes and slouched in his seat. "We noticed."
Akiha was happy to see them. Ecstatic even, seeing as they could hear her cries halfway down the stairs to Haru's. It put a rush in their pace until Rin was laughing and running up them two at a time. Haru narrowed his eyes, Rin being ahead of him an automatic challenge, and sped up to match until they were even step for step. Makoto watched his lovers race up the stairs with a contented smile and was happy to take his time.
Until he found them entangled at Haru's front door.
Rin had pushed Haru into the wood and claimed his mouth and Haru was certainly not complaining, free hand under Rin's shirt.
The brunette sighed good-naturedly and nudged them aside (Haru reached for him but he dodged away) and unearthed his keys to unlock the door.
A white blur leapt for his face.
Makoto yelled and backed up but not fast enough- Akiha climbed up his torso and headbutted his chin and purred all the while- and that broke his startled lovers apart.
"Mako- oh. It was Akiha?" Rin hummed, watching the brunette scratch under the kitten's chin.
"I guess she missed us."
Akiha clambered up to Makoto's shoulder and regarded the other two with predatory eyes. She wiggled her puff-tailed rump and leapt for them. Rin caught her, suffering a few pinprick scratches, and she nuzzled his chin and rubbed against his nose like she had Makoto previous.
"She missed us a lot," Rin muttered around a mouthful of cat fur, "and that's worrisome."
"It's okay." And Haru looked blindingly happy again. "She's attached to us so that's okay."
Ocean-colored eyes landed on her next love-attack target but before she could claw her way to the last of the trio Rin handed her over to Haru's waiting arms.
Peeping and purring the kitten began kneading his jacket and happily nuzzling against the oldest's nose.
"It's getting cold, let's head in." Makoto coaxed his lovers into the house.
Akiha was unhappy about the collar around her neck for all of a few minutes before her myriad of toys were introduced and she looked about in wide-eyed wonder before pouncing on a feathery ball. A bunch of other toys were pounced on and mauled and batted before Rin remembered they'd gotten her food and cracked open a can. For a little thing the Bobtail ate voraciously- like Nagisa, Rin had joked in a deadpan tone- until sated. After a couple more rounds of wildly chasing toys and strutting between her owners with stubby tail wriggling for attention, she tackled Makoto and buried into his lap.
With the brunette immobilized his lovers engaged in teasing- kissing and touching and overdone moans- until Rin's phone buzzed in his back pocket and the groan against Haruka's throat was very real.
He opened it, clicked a few times, then hissed a sharp sigh and locked it again.
"What is it?"
"Time got away from us," Rin whispered, standing. "If I don't hurry I'm going to miss curfew and land my ass in hot water."
Haru's brows drew together and he looked depressed. Makoto sighed, disappointment clawing at his gut (and Akiha at his calf in her deep twitchy sleep), but mustered up a smile for the redhead.
"Well then. Good night, Rin."
Rin snorted darkly. His mood had just shot into the toilet. "I wish I could just live here." He growled. "I'd be a lot happier."
"We all would," Haru whispered.
Rin exhaled sharply and knelt, drawing Haru into a deep kiss that the black-haired boy didn't object to a bit, then came to Makoto for the same.
Makoto tried to pretend his heart didn't drop into his stomach when Rin waved farewell.
He missed them.
The thoughts never strike him harder than when he's alone at Samezuka. Nitori's steady breathing is a quiet backdrop to Rin's attempt at homework but he can't make himself think properly. His thoughts keep circling back to his lovers.
He's got no doubt they're together. If they aren't now they will be before the night is through. During the day he can push away the idea of them, what with classes and practice and Nitori always talking. Alone with nothing but the homework and the silence, he thinks.
He missed them.
To go from no interaction with anyone to falling in love hard with two people was a sudden change and his world was still shaken from it. Not that he truly minded. He wouldn't trade his lovers for anything. If the choice were the Olympics or his lovers he knew the answer would be the latter. He needed them like oxygen now.
He glanced at his phone and worried his lip a little. He could always just text them...
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. No, it was late, and they're probably in bed. He couldn't be this needy, it was undignified.
But... Looking at the phone made him think.
There had only been three numbers in it all his time in Australia. His mother's, his sister's, and... Makoto's. And that last number had been on the receiving end of dozens, hundreds, maybe thousands of texts over the years.
He never told Makoto about his troubles (never in detail at least) or about the race with Haru. It had eaten away at him and he had wanted to but he hadn't been comfortable telling Makoto such a thing about Haru. Even in Australia though- they were there even then; Haru pushing him to be better and Makoto firmly standing as his anchor regardless of their lack of physical presence. He had needed them as badly as he did now.
He glanced at his cell again. And shook his head. And picked up his pencil.
His phone buzzed before he put pencil to paper.
Blinking, he grabbed it and checked the screen.
'New text from Makoto.'
There's no way, he thought deliriously. No way could Mako have known.
But somehow, some way, against the conceivable laws of the universe, the text simply read 'I love you. We love you. You think too much. Especially at this hour. Go to bed.'
He had to muffle his laugh with his sleeve- though he wasn't quiet enough and he heard Nitori giggle and murmur "Kenji..." in his sleep- because they knew him far too well.
'All right, all right. Good night. How's Akiha?'
'She misses you, I think. She's wandered around the house a few times meowing at nothing. Go to bed, Rinrin. Good night.'
He closed his books and did as his lover(s) ordered.