Chapter 6

Curiosity Killed the Cat

Part one of the English Proverb

Hikaru jumped over the battling kittens only sparing them a quick glance of amusement as he ran towards his rival's awaiting form.

"Shouldn't we separate them?" Touya asked, green eyes watching the kittens anxiously.

"Nah. They're alright. They're just playing." Hikaru answered, waving the worry away. "They do this all the time."

"Yes but…" Touya was interrupted as Kira meowed pitifully and loudly, Karu having bitten him rather hard on the ear. The black kitten tried to shake the white and orange kitten off of him, his tiny paw shoving at Karu's face. "That's enough Karu!" Hikaru watched as Touya descended on the kittens way too fast to his liking. The other man made him feel slow and old.

Kira was suddenly hidden in Touya's hands, fur being soothed as Karu was being lectured, a finger being shaken in his face. "If you can't be nice you're going to go back into your room." Karu squinted his eyes, his little ears flattening on his head and he had the distinct air of an ashamed little boy. The young man tsk-ed and then brought Kira up to his face, inspecting the purring black furred body. The little kitten wriggled in his hands wanting to get closer, making Touya smile. "Hold still." He stated gently. He inspected the injured ear and sighed finding a small drop of blood. "Oh Kira," The young man sighed, bringing the kitten to his chest in a comforting manner. Kira snuggled immediately into the dress shirt, eyes closing softly. Hikaru came closer, awed again by Touya's instinctive parenting. It made his mind spin. Sometimes he felt like he was watching a father and two children rather than his rival and two kittens.

Only a couple of days had passed since he'd moved here but already the four of them had settled into a rather comfortable routine. The rivals lived, played, and bickered with each other just like the kittens did. Kira was rather more calm than Karu to say the least, resembling his human counterpart. Where Karu broke vases, scratched up the furniture, and played so hard with his toys until they resembled little more than fluff, Kira was gentle and happy to curl up and watch what was going on around him. That is until Karu—tired of being reprimanded and placed in time-out—would turn all his attention on Kira and pounce on him. The two would then usually be found rolling around on the floor biting and swatting at each other. They could also be found grasping each other with their front paws while trying to kick each other with their back legs. Hikaru always thought the sight was hilarious. Touya never did and usually tried to separate the two.

"Is he actually hurt?" Hikaru asked making sure to avoid stepping on Karu who was now sitting on his haunches looking up. His heart went out to the little hyperactive bundle of energy. Karu's green eyes were focused on Touya alone and he gave a soft meow before patting Touya's foot with his paw. Touya spared him a stern glance before nodding to his rival. Hikaru wondered at times if Touya realized how attached Karu was and how intensely possessive he could be. He'd noticed in the couple days that they'd been here that a lot of the fights started between the two kittens when Karu spotted Kira getting Touya's attention. Especially when this little one was coming out of his now daily time-outs. Hikaru reached for his own kitten, protective streak being ignited and made a mental note to share his observations with his rival at a later time. Touya gave him up readily enough and Kira was soon snuggling under his chin. Karu meowed again, a bit louder.

"You." Touya started. He picked up the little guy before it started climbing up his pants and brought him up so that they were face to face. "You need to be more careful." At the new meow, Touya shook his head and placed Karu on his shoulder. "Anyway," His rival started. "Did you find the paper, Shindo?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, I did." Hikaru started belatedly. "They needed their second de-worming shot yesterday." He shook his head to get his bangs out of his face. "I called the pet store and they said they would still do it today for free. They close in three hours."

"Might as well go then. We can get something for Kira's ear there as well." Hikaru nodded; he hadn't thought that but it made a lot of sense.

"I'll do the research for a vet when get back. I swear." He followed Touya quietly as they found their prospective cat carriers and got ready.

….…

The pet store was smaller than he had imagined it to be. Or at least the outside was, his perspective changed as Shindo opened the door and slipped in. A bell chimed as they made their way in and he gave it a glance before going back to looking at his surroundings. There were aquariums of all shapes and sizes on the one side of the store filled with fish, snakes, amphibians, lizards and Akira suspected with slight horror, even some spiders. And were those crickets? The smell of animals hit him full force as he followed his rival deeper into the store. There were black beady eyes staring at him from glass panes with tiny little clawed paws scratching at the smooth surface. They looked like rats but were smaller and chubbier. He could only imagine his mother's reaction if she ever came across these creatures. One moved furtively and he realized that they had little to no tail. His curiosity was definitely piqued and he wondered if they'd have time to look at them more closely. There were aquariums with rats and mice in them and ferrets as well. The smell grew when they neared them and Akira felt like sneezing. The smell was slightly unpleasant. Aquariums blended into cages. Movement in the cat carrier tugged at his arm muscles as Karu suddenly went forward until his little face was pressed at the opening. He meowed silently, eyes wide. Akira made sure to re-balance the carrier as he brought it closer to his face. He spoke lowly to his pet, hoping that the sound of his voice would be comforting.

Karu pressed his face harder into the metal door, meowing pathetically. He wanted out of the carrier and into Akira's arms where it was safe and warm. With his free hand, Akira gently scratched the forehead with the one finger that passed through one of the many door holes. He hated it when Karu made that sort of noise. It always tore at his heart. He sighed and wondered when exactly the little creature had won over his heart so thoroughly that he couldn't imagine his life without him. Even at his most exasperated, Akira couldn't stay angry at Karu long enough to make his point clear. Karu suddenly yanked his head back and hid in the back of his cage. Akira looked up and around, spotting the problem right away. There were cages with dogs, cats, birds, and rabbits surrounding them from every corner and at the very end of the store, was the desk. Hikaru was already there, his cat carrier resting on the counter. The owner was peering intently inside the cage and then came out Kira more unwillingly than willing.

"De-worming is it?" The woman asked gently, making sure Kira's little toes did not hold on to the carrier as he desperately tried to stay within its confines. He meowed indignantly and Karu echoed his meow from the back of his carrier. "Oh don't worry little one. You're next." She nodded towards Karu. Akira doubted that this announcement had any calming affect whatsoever on the kitten. "You may look around the store while I take care of these two. It'll just take a couple of minutes." Akira hadn't had any intentions of leaving his charge but Shindo grabbed his hand. In the split second where he was surprised at the contact, he was pulled to the other side of the store.

"What do you think will work on Kira's ear?" Shindo asked. The man had yet to release his hand.

"Uhm, Shindo…" Akira started tentatively.

"Hmm?" Shindo blinked at him innocently, letting his hand go. "What is it? Is there something wrong?"

"No." He shook his head. "Nothing's wrong." He bent down to look at the variety of cat products before them. "I just don't know anything about all of this." He sneaked a peek behind him at the desk. "Don't you think we should just ask her?"

"Eh." Shindo shrugged. "It's gotta be some sort of antiseptic for cats. She didn't seem to be too worried when I mentioned the bite to her." He continued to scan the shelf and then made a noise of triumph. "Look at this! Here's an antiseptic and here's another one for the claws, just in case we cut them too short." He straightened up in one fluid motion and held out his free hand for Akira to take it. Without a thought, Akira took it. Shindo looked at him thoughtfully. "Maybe she knows a good vet around town."

"Trying to get out of doing research, Shindo?" The young man laughed at the attack, rubbing the back of his head.

"Ah, no fair. You know me too well."

"Young man! Young man!" The woman called out. The two of them turned as one to face her. Her wrinkled face broke into a gentle smile. "They're ready to go home, I think."

"Thank you!"

….…

"I called the vet Touya!" Hikaru called out from his room. He was feeling lazy and didn't want to move from his chair near his desk. He leaned his head back and waited a couple of minutes, confident that his rival would soon appear at his doorway. Touya despised shouting from room to room. The little fact cracked Hikaru up each time, especially during their post-game conversations when Touya was yelling. Right on time, Touya knocked on the open door making Hikaru roll his eyes. "Tou-ya," Hikaru sighed. "If the door is open you don't have to knock. Just come in." His rival ignored the comment and made his way in, two kittens following him. Kira sped up and at a run, leaped onto his lap. He scratched his kitten behind the ears.

"And?" Touya prompted finally.

"We have an appointment for tomorrow. After both of our games." Hikaru added. "Seems nice. Woman. Uhm…yeah. That's it." Touya arched a fine eyebrow.

"And you had to yell at me throughout the apartment for that?" Hikaru grinned.

"Didn't wanna move and you don't come in here nearly enough." The teasing was either ignored or totally went over his rival's head. In the end, it didn't really matter as the outcome was the same. Touya gave a slightly irritated sigh.

"Dinner will be ready in a couple of minutes."

….…

"Please enlighten me," Waya started, keeping a wary eye on Touya Akira. "What the heck is wrong with him?" He nodded in the pro's direction. Hikaru followed the movement and smirked as he saw his rival once again pacing the hallways.

"First vet appointment." The announcement did little to help Waya.

"And…?"

"And he's nervous for his baby. I don't know. Ask him." Isumi snorted in his coffee and coughed a couple of times before looking incredulously from Hikaru to Touya. It didn't seem like Hikaru was yanking their chain but still. This was Touya they were talking about. The dragon of the go world whose intensity alone warned people away from him. Waya was squinting at Touya and shook his head, folding his arms on his chest.

"You're serious." The older of the three muttered weakly. "Why is he nervous? It's just a check up, right?" Hikaru sighed.

"I made the mistake of telling him that they'd be receiving some vaccines."

"And…?" Waya felt like he was repeating himself. An anxious Touya was unnerving him. "What's the big deal? Didn't they get a shot yesterday?" The ½ bleached head shook.

"A de-worming shot." He tried to clarify. "Not necessarily a shot. They basically give the cats syrup in what looks like a syringe. It's not though."

"Ok." Waya muttered under his breath. They stayed silent for a few more minutes until Waya sat up abruptly. "Enough is enough." He stepped away from the table. "Oy Touya!" Hikaru watched, vaguely amused. "Get your ass over here." A couple of gasps rang out throughout the go institute. No one had ever addressed Touya like that! Not even Hikaru dared to curse in the building though he'd been tempted a few times. Touya turned around and faced the older boy, an irritated look on his face. As soon as he was close enough, the redhead looped an arm around his neck and dragged the taller player bodily to the table. "Sit down and relax. You're giving me an ulcer just looking at you." He shoved him in the chair he'd been sitting in previously and sat in the one next to it, glaring at the boy as if daring him to protest. Surprisingly, Touya didn't. He just smoothed his suit out with his long pale hands. Apparently having his rival move in with him had won him a couple of points in Waya's book. He vaguely wondered whether it would be the death of him. It certainly gave him a heart attack whenever the redhead acknowledged his presence with something other than a glare or mumbled curse. "They'll be ok, you know that right? They probably won't even leave your sight for the entire visit." Touya looked up, a slight blush only now coming to paint his cheeks. Now he wasn't just embarrassed by his behavior, he was ashamed of his not so flattering thoughts. Waya was trying to help him?

"I know I'm being silly." He whispered, green eyes staring off to the side. Hikaru lost all trace of amusement. Damn the man for making his heart suddenly ache like that.

"You're not silly." He muttered, scooting his chair closer to his rival. He grabbed the hand. The simple contact came easier to him since he'd moved in with his rival. He hesitated before blurting out the rest of what he was thinking. He knew it was only the four of them though and that out of the four, Waya and Isumi knew about his feelings for his rival. The others in the hallway wouldn't hear him... He debated a bit longer before giving the hand a squeeze. "You're being adorable."

Even Waya nodded solemnly and no one cracked a smile as Touya ducked his head, blushing a darker red. Hikaru did wince however when Touya's shoe connected with his shin.

….…

Hikaru looked at the sleeping kitten in Touya's arms. The two of them were resting on the couch, glad that the appointment was done and over with. Both kittens had gotten vaccines and had made very heartbreaking noises at the treatment. They had recovered faster than their masters however with Kira already eating a couple feet away from them and Karu...well…He shook his head in disbelief.

"I can't believe he's a girl." Touya glanced up at the words and smiled, his face softer and more relaxed than it had been the entire day.

"Yes. She is." He stroked her head gently, not waking her up at all. A small ear twitched and then the little face turned towards the touch. If cats could smile, this one would have the biggest one. "Is there something you want to share with me?"

"Eh? What do you mean?" Hikaru asked, his mind still stuck on the girl kitten instead of boy kitten. Touya's mischievous smile and arched eyebrow should have warned him off.

"Well Karu is you in kitten form." His tone was light and deceptively bland. "So, I ask again, is there something you want to share?" Hikaru frowned, puzzled at first before it dawned on him.

"I'm no girl!" He yelped. Before he could protest further and more loudly at that, strong fingers pressed against his lip.

"She's sleeping." Touya went on amused. "I'm glad you're so convinced about your own gender. However, you were rather convinced about Karu's as well. Maybe you should pay a visit to the vet. A rather intelligent and competent woman." Hikaru glared at his rival. This was low. Especially after having been nice to him this afternoon and not teasing him about his anxiety. The fingers were still at his lips. An idea formed at the back of his head. If he couldn't yell… He opened his mouth slightly and bit the tips of those fingers. Not hard but still putting enough pressure to get the point across. He only hoped he wasn't crossing too many boundaries today and pushing either of them past their comfort zones. The effect was instantaneous. "Shindo!" He'd never heard his rival sound this scandalized before. It was amazing that he hadn't jumped off the couch already and started lecturing him. Hikaru forced his own heart to calm down, once he realized Touya wasn't going to hit him or leave or anything like that. Maybe it helped that Karu had stayed in his arms throughout the little scene. The piercing glare was the normal rival-I'm going to kick your ass at our next game. Good. "You're impossible." The man gritted out. Karu meowed crankily, one eye cracked open while the other remained closed.

"And you're an idiot." Hikaru bantered back.

"Says you, which doesn't add up to too much."

"To-ya… you're being mean today!" The last was ignored and Karu settled back to sleep as Kira jumped up and took his usual spot on Hikaru's lap. Kira's gender at least had remained the same though Hikaru thought with a slight grimace, the little fact only increased Touya's amusement with the entire situation.

"You do realize this complicates things just a bit." Hikaru shrugged, busy petting his kitten into purring oblivion. "A male cat and a female one, Shindo? Think a bit." The young man sighed. "I refuse to have any more kittens."

"Why are you even worrying about it now?" He asked with a groan. "They're too young to even think about doing anything like that." And boy wouldn't that be weird if Karu and Kira had kittens. Let's not even go there, Hikaru shook his head, on the verge of being thoroughly disturbed.

"They reach their sexual maturity around four or five months depending on their sex. They're already a month and a half!"

"Really? That early? Jeez…" He passed a hand over his eyes. "That does complicate things." It was hard to believe the little fluff balls would grow up that fast. He'd miss them being so small and cuddly.

"We'll have to get them neutered and/or spayed the minute it's do-able." Hikaru winced at the thought of that.

"Awh man. Poor Kira."

"I've been told its worse for the females." Touya stated calmly.

"Where do you get all this information?" Hikaru finally asked. "You can't just know all of this stuff. And actually…don't answer. I can see it on your face that you're just going to make me regret ever asking. I don't need to know." His rival sniffed at that but kept quiet. "Ok. So I agree with you on the subject. I don't think I could handle more than two of these guys anyway. And I don't wanna see what Karu would be like when PMS-ing." He paused and ignored the strange look he was currently on the receiving end. "I also can't see myself as a dad."

"Mother." Touya corrected. "Kira would be the dad."

"You know what I meant! Anyway, it's not like I am Karu. She was just named after me. There's a difference." Touya chuckled softly and nodded.

"Glad you realize it." Hikaru rolled his eyes in response and let himself sink deeper into the couch. He closed his eyes for a couple of seconds and then turned to Touya.

"You'll make a good dad." The words seemed to make his rival uncomfortable. The green eyes suddenly focused on Karu and the silence that descended upon the room felt heavy. Hikaru frowned. What had he said that would cause this?

"I don't think," Touya started gently. "that I'll ever be a father." The voice was gentle, pensive even.

"Eh? Why? You're great with kids!" And Hikaru wasn't talking about just the kittens here. He'd noticed over the years, that younger children seemed to gravitate towards his rival whenever they were doing an exhibition or something. It had never made any sense to him before but now…Why did Touya look so sad?

"It just wouldn't be fair to them." Wh-what? Hikaru blinked feeling like he'd missed the conversation completely despite being the one who had started it. He wanted to ask and yet couldn't. Touya shook his head and carefully moved Karu so that she was cradled against his shoulder, her back being held firmly into place with his one hand. "How does take-out sound?"

"F-fine." Hikaru stammered weakly as he watched the man walk into the kitchen. Maybe Isumi would understand the meaning behind the words better. Maybe…

A/N- Another chapter done! Yay! Hope you guys are still enjoying the fic. I'll try and update as soon as I can.