MBP: I know, it's been a while… I'm horrible with updating, so feel free to spam me if you want…
Rini: Work's been killing her, not to mention family issues… so everyone should PM her relentlessly about stories they want updates for so she makes time to do them… even if she has to give up sleep!
MBP: …I like my sleep… But I will make time if there's anything in particular any of you want to see updated specifically! Anyways, this is a prompt from Anime Otaku TB15! Hope you like it!
Chapter 12: Pets
"Yikes!" Atemu barely avoided getting run over during the merry chase the dogs were having; they'd found a cat and refused to let it get away. He looked over his shoulder to see the cat dash towards the road, instead of up a tree like a smart cat would. He shook his head slightly, wondering if anyone else realized how dangerous this place was.
Besides the seven dogs that had just run by him, there were multitudes of cats that came and went, four recently adopted puppies, two domesticated squirrels, eight mice, three horses, one cow, and a pregnant sheep. It was getting to be a mess.
Atemu entered the house carefully, hoping he wouldn't find some strange animal popping out at him. "Mana?" He called softly so he wouldn't attract animal attention.
"Atemu! Hi!" Mana was out in seconds, grinning cheerfully. The now twenty-year old girl had lost none of her childhood energy, which was sometimes a trial for her twenty-three year old boyfriend. She was always running off to the next activity, and even though he knew she loved him, Atemu always had to wonder if she'd get manipulated by some other guy and leave.
Atemu smiled and kissed her forehead gently, taking her hand in his own. "To the porch?" He led the girl there, smiling as she laughed at the poor cat that finally realized the advantage climbing gave it.
"Poor Whiskers! They're always chasing him around!" Mana laughed helplessly. Atemu shook his head, wondering why there were suddenly eight dogs barking at the cat instead of seven.
"Mana… you haven't brought any more animals into the house, have you?" He asked carefully, remembering what had happened last time he'd shown concern over her pet obsession.
"Well…" Mana drew out the word with a sigh. "There is one more… for the moment…"
Atemu sighed, wondering if this would ever end. No one would be willing to take all these animals off her hands, and Mana refused to let her "precious babies" be separated from each other. "What is it?"
"Um… something no one else can know about!" Mana grinned and pointed towards the guest bedroom. Guests that came to stay with her quickly learned that if an animal needed it, they'd be booted to the couch. "Go see! But you can't tell anyone about Hayley!"
Hayley? Names meant it was as good as kept. Atemu got up and went to go see, leaving Mana to laugh at the dogs as they tried to climb the tree.
He opened the door to the guest bedroom carefully, wondering if something would try scampering out. His eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw what was lying on the bed.
A WOLF? Yes, this pet obsession had definitely gone too far…
"Isn't she pretty?" Mana asked quietly, showing up behind him silently. "Of course, once she's healed, she's gotta go to a zoo or something…" Her eyes were miserable at the thought of such a beautiful creature in a cage. Atemu felt it, and he gave in, just as he always did.
"I'm sure we'll find a way to keep her," Atemu said to her, earning a hug and a bright grin.
"Thank you Atemu! And I'll try to do better about bringing more animals in!" Mana promised recklessly, running off to go get the pets fed. Atemu watched her with a smile on his face.
She might have an obsession… but she was too cute about it to be really mad.
MBP: …I'm sorry if that wasn't what you expected!
Rini: Review please! Reviews are love!
Kio: Um… hope y-you liked it… Jaa nee!