Chapter 2
"Hey, guys, you're up early." Aélita said as the three sat down. "Who's he?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Odd said as the crème haired boy picked up the fork, looking at it with wonder in his face.
"Uh, you hold it like this." Ulrich said, showing the boy how to hold the utensil.
"I think we'd believe anything after yesterday." Jérémie said, referring to when Odd and Kiwi had been one person.
"Ya, well, something happened with that yesterday." Ulrich said, watching the boy trying to eat his crescent with the fork. "That's Kiwi."
Aélita looked at the boy next to her and started at him. "He's Kiwi?"
"When did he become human?" Jérémie asked as Aélita tried to explain you could use your hands to eat the crescents.
"Last night, I'd guess." Odd said, "When we woke up, he was sleeping on the floor."
"I think some of Odd's DNA ended up staying in Kiwi's body after you separated them." Ulrich said.
"Well, after we finish eating we can go to the factory." Jérémie said.
"Oh, when is Yumi getting here?" Kiwi asked after swoling his food.
"Oh, we could surprise her good." Odd said, pulling out his cell phone.
"Odd, she's at church right now." Ulrich said.
Odd put his phone back in his pocket as Sissi came over.
"Oh, hello? Who are you?" Sissi asked, looking at Kiwi.
Kiwi looked up and started to growl deep in his throat. Odd noticed and kicked him under the table. He looked at Sissi and said, "He's my bother."
"Oh, this school's going to be overrun by your messed up blood line, Odd. At least this one has normal hair." Sissi said before walking away.
"Why'd you kick me?" Kiwi asked, looking at Odd. "Normally I'm allowed to growl at Sissi."
"People don't growl." Ulrich said, "Even if the other deserves it."
"Jérémie, you've got to change me back." Kiwi said, looking towards the boy. "I miss being a dog."
"I thought you liked the fact that we understood you." Ulrich said.
"Ya, but I can teach you how to understand me when I'm a dog and I wouldn't have to worry about all your customs, like wearing clothes, or using that smelly restroom."
"Well, let's head over to the factory and see how long it'll be." Jérémie said, seeing Aélita had finally finished her food.
…
"Alright Kiwi, you can come back up here." Jérémie's voice said as the scanner opened.
Kiwi went up the ladder and up into the lab. He stood next to Odd, scratching his chest with his hand. "So, can you change me back?" Kiwi asked, moving so he could scratch his back.
"Yes, I think I can." Jérémie said.
"Are you ok?" Aélita asked, looking at Kiwi.
"My shirt itches!" Kiwi whined, scratching with both hands now. "Can I please take it off!?"
"Yes! If it itches that badly." Odd said, helping his dog get the shirt off.
They got it off and threw it off to the side, Kiwi sighing in relief.
"Hey, is Xana attacking?" Yumi's voice asked as the elevator door opened.
"No-" Aélita started, only to get interrupted by Kiwi.
"Yumi!" Kiwi cried, running over to her and licked her cheek.
"Ugh!" Yumi exclaimed, leaving away from the crème haired boy. She wiped away his spit as she looked towards her friends. "Who on earth is this?!"
"It's Kiwi." Ulrich growled, his cheeks red as he pulled the boy away from Yumi.
"Oh, sorry Ulrich. I know you want her somewhere!" Kiwi said, smiling.
"Kiwi, shut it." Ulrich said, grabbing the boy's shoulders.
"Sorry, it's not my fault that God gave me better smelling abilities than you people." Kiwi said. "And since you can understand me right now, I want to say this. JUST DATE HER! You talk more in your sleep than Odd's sisters! And trust me, they talk a lot in their sleep."
"He does, does he?" Yumi asked, pushing Ulrich away from Kiwi. "What does he say?"
"It's just how he's dreaming of- ughp!"
Ulrich placed his hand over Kiwi's mouth to stop him from talking, his cheeks going red. "Hey, let's give the Einstein's some peace and quiet. They've got to work out Kiwi's issue." Ulrich said, dragging Kiwi towards the elevator.
"Well, I do have a schedule to keep." Kiwi said, standing straight in the elevator as Odd and Yumi followed.
Yumi grabbed the purple hooded shirt that looked like it belonged to Kiwi and asked, surprised, "You have a schedule?"
"Ya, and I promised Manchate that I'd get to the park today." Kiwi said, smiling with a dreamy look on his face.
Ulrich pushed the button and the door closed as they all looked at him.
"Do I want to know who Manchate is?" Odd asked, knowing that face.
"This cute little poodle. She lives over by Yumi." Kiwi said.
"You didn't." Yumi exclaimed, remembering that Kiwi was still a dog on the inside as she gave him his shirt.
"Didn't what?" Kiwi asked, surprised at their discussed faces. He put his arms through and put on the shirt, finding the pull strings to straighten the hood.
The elevator stopped and opened the door so they could walk out.
"Just tell me that there's no little Kiwi's and Manchate's running around." Ulrich said as they headed around to the ropes to get back up to the street.
"It's not like that!" Kiwi exclaimed. "We're just friends. Anyway, she's been vetted so she can't."
"Vetted?" Ulrich asked.
"Where she can't have puppies." Kiwi explained. "I don't know the human word for it."
"I think he means neutered." Yumi said.
"Ya, that's it. You want to meet her?" Kiwi asked, following Ulrich up with Odd and Yumi going up the other rope.
"It'd be something new to do." Odd said.
"But how are you going to convince her that you truly are Kiwi?" Ulrich asked, holding out his hand to help the dog standing on the edge of the platform.
Kiwi stood next to him as Odd and Yumi were placing their feet on the platform.
"I haven't thought of that." Kiwi said, his face full of worry.
"Don't worry." Yumi said, putting her hand on Kiwi's shoulder. "Your hair should be enough."
"And if that doesn't work, she can always smell you." Odd said, smiling.
"Thanks." Kiwi said, smiling back at Odd. He licked the boy's cheek in gratitude.
"Oh, come on!" Odd said, wiping away what was on his cheek. "Not while you're human."
"Sorry, habit." Kiwi said. He looked up at the sun and smiled, "Come on. She should be there now."