Duran-kun & Kiyo-chan's Omake Theater

(featuring the Kuga-Fujino family pets)

It was a quiet evening at the Kuga-Fujino household. Kiyohime was curled up asleep on her favorite purple pillow (one corner stitched due to an unfortunate pillow fight incident), while Duran worked on the puzzle of his rubber squeaky bone, gauging how much bite pressure was required to make the bone squeak without destroying the toy, a task that took focused concentration lest the mind wander and metal jaws close down too hard, as the ghosts of previous squeaky bones could testify.

Natsuki found herself in sympathy with her pet, since she could best describe herself as dog-tired after completing the last of her exams.

"Is it true that in America they don't have college entrance exams? Because if so you can put me on a plane tomorrow," she mumbled. She was stretched out on the sofa, a videogame controller lying on the floor by her hand where it had dropped. The demo screen scrolled by on the TV, mute evidence (well, muted evidence, since the volume was off) of just how wiped out Natsuki really was.

"There we go," Shizuru announced, as she tied off the handles of a plastic garbage bag. "The leftovers are in the refrigerator, the dishes are being cleaned as we speak, and the take-out containers are rinsed and ready for recycling."

She set the bag aside, ready to be taken out.

"Thanks, Shizuru," Natsuki said. "It was nice of you to take care of all that."

"Ara, but Natsuki takes care of me when I am busy, so why should I not return the favor?"

"Well, I appreciate it. I swear, if I see one more answer sheet, I'm going to go stark raving mad." She brightened when a thought struck her. "Hey, if I go to Fuuka University, the escalator system means I can skip the entrance exam!"

Shizuru gave her a sparkling smile.

"And why do you think I decided to go there?"

"You mean that it wasn't in order to stay close to your cute high-school girlfriend?"

"We weren't yet dating when I decided to go to Fuuka," Shizuru pointed out. "No, the truth is that if I can get out of that much extra work, I certainly will."

Natsuki laughed.

"Don't let your fans hear you admit that; the shock won't be good for their hearts."

"Why, Natsuki, surely you know that only you get to see all of me."

"As often as you can trick, tempt, or cajole me into seeing all of you," Natsuki agreed with a grin.

Shizuru pressed a hand to her chest, eyes widening in mock surprise.

"Ara, ara, could you be suggesting that I would have immoral designs upon you?"

"Well, like my fortune cookie said, 'True wisdom consists of seeing through appearances.' And since I just spent the last three days cramming for these exams, I feel pretty full of wisdom right about now."

"Well, in that case, I don't need to beat around the bush, do I?"

She leaned over Natsuki, getting one knee on the couch alongside her, one hand on the back and the other next to her head. Her long hair dangled down, brushing against Natsuki's face.

"Um, Shizuru, I'm a little tired out, here..."

"That's all right. Just lie back and I'll take care of everything."

"And what happened to this evening being about me since I'd survived my exams?"

"It's been shown that if you don't properly mark your achievements with a celebration, then you lose out on valuable building of self-esteem, and are less likely to continue that success. So it's really all for your sake, Natsuki."

"You are completely incorrigible, did you know that?"

"Ikezu," Shizuru said, pouting.

"Huh? What's so mean about that? Usually I have much sharper insults than that when you say something that ridiculous."

"I know! You missed your cue. Natsuki was supposed to say 'Idiot!' and make that sullen-pouty face that's so cute. What's the point of thinking up such an elaborately silly excuse to tease you with if you don't properly reward me?"

Natsuki chuckled.

"I'm sorry, then. I'll try to be more put out the next time you tease me."

"You had better. Good nonsense is not easy to think up, you know. And I have a very strict audience to please."

"Oh, she's a pretty hard taskmistress, huh?" Natsuki said, grinning up at her lover.

"Mm, very much so."

"Then maybe you'd better get in some more practice."

Her fingers slid through Shizuru's hair, cupped the back of her head, and brought her mouth down to cover Natsuki's.

Duran's bone gave a particularly loud squeak.

"After we let out the dog."

Duran wagged his tail, thumping it loudly on the carpet. After all, true wisdom also lay in recognizing priorities.

~X X X~

A/N: Actually, this one featured a lot more fluff than pet comedy. But as you could see, it was Kiyohime's nap time.