Chapter 3
It took time until Fujima was able to juggle three things at the same time. It was a tough period during the first week he had worked at the shelter, but he got used to it after the second week.
Eventually, he also began to like what he was doing. Taking care of injured and recovering animals can be fun and he developed an attachment to some of them. Asuka-san is a very pleasant but strict woman, then there was Yuri who finally stopped being so hostile to him and they became friends.
Plus his relationship with Lucille, the Doberman, has improved since the dog has gotten used to seeing the brown-haired, blue-eyed guy who regularly drops by at her cage – besides, of course, the purple-haired reddish-brown eyed girl in frameless glasses.
The two of them are quite inseparable, the dog and Fujima that is. He was able to play with her, take her for her daily walk, and feed her. Their relationship changed for the better except for one thing…the manner that she was being bathed.
"Good grief, Kenji, how many times do I have to tell you that you didn't have to bath along with Lucille?" Yuri asked exasperatingly one afternoon.
"She won't get into the tub if I don't do that." Fujima said as he wiped the sweat from his forehead with a soap-covered arm.
"You're spoiling her."
"I'm not. She just got used to having me around that she won't get in without me."
"That's the same thing." She handed him a towel. "Here. Dry up already."
He took the towel and smiled. "Thanks. I'm going to take a bath anyway so it's ok." He said.
She smiled slyly at him. "So…does that mean I get to scrub you too?"
Fujima stared at her, shocked then narrowed his blue eyes. "Nandato?! What do you take me for, a dog?!" He said and grabbed the hose and aimed it at her.
Yuri screamed but retaliated a few seconds later when she grabbed a hose of her own. "Two can play this game!" She shouted as she drenched him with water and at the same time eluded the showers of water coming from his hose.
They ended up having a water fight, shouting, eluding and laughing as they exchanged water from their hoses. Lucille, seeing the exciting scene in front of her began to bark and skip along, wanting to join them.
* * *
"Konnichiwa." Asuka smiled warmly at the couple that entered the clinic. They smiled back at her and sat down on the chairs the vet had indicated. Asuka then went behind her desk. "Is this your first time to come here?" She asked.
"Hai. A friend of ours recommended this clinic since the tenants are well-taken cared of." The man said.
"I see. Why don't you wait here while I get some forms for you to sign?" Asuka stood up and went to a part of the clinic where the new forms are kept.
While waiting, the husband and wife looked around and understood why their friend recommended this place. It was first of all, spacious; second, the vet is a very reliable woman and third, it is cheap while they get the best care.
Then suddenly they heard sounds that made their hairs stand on one end.
"Yamero!"
"Woof, woof!"
"Ieeekk!"
"Woof! Woof!"
"Aaahh!"
"A-Anata, is there someone getting killed there…?" The woman asked in a panicked voice.
"I d-don't know…!"
Asuka returned a few minutes later and heard what the couple had just said. "Oh don't worry about them; they're always like that whenever Lucille is being bathed."
"Oh." The couple nodded, looking unconvinced but relieved.
* * *
By this time, both Yuri and Fujima are now soaking wet, their clothes were almost clinging to their skins. Lucille was as energetic as always, following the two as they splashed each other.
They were fighting over one hose now since the other one was effectively removed from Yuri and it was on the ground, sopping the grass. They tugged at the hose like some stuffed animal.
"Mine!"
"No, mine!"
"Mine!"
Fujima gave one hard yank and was able to get the hose.
But he did not expect that Yuri would join along. He tried to maintain his balance, but with the grass so slippery he lost his footing and fell down the ground. They rolled along the wet grass, laughing and shouting until Yuri was on top of him.
Bronze eyes met sapphire ones.
What in blazes is wrong with him? Here was a lovely girl on top of him and all he wanted to do is run for cover. He was downright terrified, panicked and…happy? He didn't know his emotions were so mixed up that he wasn't able to distinguish each and every of those feelings. Her face so close to his that their noses was almost touching, distracting him further.
To make things worse, he can feel the heat from her body despite the wet clothes mingling with his own warmth. He had never realized on how beautiful she was with her rust-colored eyes, the flush of her cheeks and of course her pink and full lips…
Fujima definitely knows what would happen next and he'd bet Yuri does too.
As for Yuri, her face was bright red not only from all the running and shouting, but from the fact that underneath her is the handsomest guy she had ever met. Her heart began to beat faster, and she can feel his rapid heartbeat, too. She felt entranced when she met his azure eyes, pulling her even closer to him and with the help of the gravity from the ground…
She wanted it. Oh how she wanted it.
"Kenji-kun! Yuri-chan! We got customers!" Asuka shouted.
Yuri stared down at him and saw that he was smiling. "Why don't we dry up now?" Fujima said.
The spell between them was broken with those words. Yuri blinked then got off him, stunned at what had almost happened. Fujima meanwhile, looked absolutely relieved. That was a close one! He thought as he watched Yuri towelling herself and let out a silent sigh.
The two of them went towards the door quietly as Yuri opened it. She turned to him. He stared back at her.
Then they burst out laughing.
* * *
"Asuka-san, can I talk to you for a moment, please?" Fujima asked the veterinarian who was leafing through patient records.
The older woman looked up and smiled. She had always liked Fujima despite his affluent background since he managed to do his job well and never complains about it. Plus he was handsome and charming, which helped increase the number of customers in the clinic. "Sure what is it?" She asked.
"We have a game against Takeishi Jr. High by tomorrow afternoon." He began. "So I won't be here to help out, but I'll be back after the game."
"Oh that's okay." Asuka said. She knew that he was a basketball player and one of the best in the region. "I have this feeling that tomorrow's going to be a slow day anyway."
Yuri passed by and heard the two. "You just asked for a leave?" She asked.
"Yeah, I did."
She smiled sheepishly at the animal doctor. "Uh, well, I was about to ask for one myself before Kenji here beat me to it."
He stared at her. "What for?"
"There's a concert in school next week and I'm one of the participants. It's an all-day affair." Then she added shyly. "You could come if you like."
Fujima grinned at her. "Sure…if you're going to see me play against Takeishi. Deal?"
Yuri stared at him then grinned. "Deal. Let's shake on it."
The two shook hands.
Author's note:
Dang, this chapter is short compared with the last one! But the next chapters will be very eventful so stay tuned! Do I sound like a TV commercial? Reviews and comments are welcome!
Slam Dunk is not mine…