Mari awoke in the wee hours of the morning. She was not sure what woke her up, but she was pretty sure she had received a kick to the face from Himari who had somehow turned upside down in the bed. Once she had finally got the girls to settle down and go to bed, they all piled into her bed because the guys had taken the three futons to sleep in the next room.
Tangled in tiny but strong limbs, she somehow managed to extricate herself. With Nayuta in the middle, Melanie on her right side and Himari on the left, Mari carefully tucked the comforter around them being careful to leave Himari's face uncovered at the foot of the bed.
Slipping on a hoodie, she tiptoed out to the living room. Yoshida lay flat on his back, hands folded on his chest and legs straight out. The way he lay there like a dead man without a coffin made her shudder. Denji lay on his side with his pillow held hostage by an arm and a leg and hugged tightly to his torso. That was usually her. Power was in the middle of the other two, his arms and legs splayed in starfish fashion but somehow did not touch them yet came awfully close. His mouth was wide open with a terrifying snore rattled from his nose and throat. He sure sounded like something straight from Hell.
"Jesus," Mari muttered, resisting the urge to cover her ears as she padded to the kitchen in her sock covered feet.
Opening the refrigerator door, she pulled out a bottle of water. Leaving her head inside the cold chamber, she twisted off the lid to take a hefty sip. It had been hot sleeping in a disorderly pile of humanity. Closing her eyes, she rolled the chilled bottle against her aching cheek. She smiled. It might be a little inconvenient and sometimes painful, but it was wonderful having a family and friends.
Sensing a presence behind her, she attempted to back out of the refrigerator. Her behind came into contact with what was definitely the anatomy of a man. Although not clear of the fridge, her head popped up and hit the interior so hard the bottles and dishes inside rattled.
"Ouch, dammit!" she whispered, feeling hands take hold of her hips. She donkey kicked backwards but her leg was blocked by a knee from a leg bent to protect his most sensitive area which was her target.
"Hey, it's just me," Denji hissed, patting her behind.
"Dammit, Denji," she muttered, rubbing the throbbing crown of her head.
Denji took hold of her hips again, slowly backing her out of the fridge until her head was clear and safe for her to stand up straight. He kissed the top of her head before hugging her.
"Are you okay?" he chuckled, embracing her again.
"No," she growled with feigned grumpiness.
"Good reflexes by the way," he complimented her, reaching past her for a bottle of water. "Your training with Yoshida is really paying off.
"Idiot, I could have really hurt you, you know," she mumbled, punching him playfully in the belly. Cold water shot of his mouth hitting her right between the eyes. She issued a squeak before he covered her mouth with his lips to cover her cry of surprise. "Well," she said, wiping the water from her eyes with a sleeve of her sweatshirt. "My reflexes are good but yours are still better."
"Sorry," he apologized, using the tail of his t-shirt to wipe the water from her cheeks. "But they have to be."
Mari gazed up Denji, watching him chug the bottle of water. Her drifted down to watch his Adam's apple bob up and down with each swallow. Water trickled from the corner of his mouth and down his neck, raising a trail of goosebumps in its zig zag bath. Using her sleeve, she swiped away the water.
"You know, there was a better way you could have done that," he teased her, tossing the bottle into the recycling bin.
Yeah, she knew. But now was not the time and the place was a bit crowded for that kind of thing.
"Hey, want to get a little fresh air? I'm sure the dogs are ready for a walk. How about a nice romantic dawn outing to the park?" she asked, kicking the refrigerator door closed to envelope them in the darkness. She wasn't even sure if it was time for the sun to rise.
"Yeah, let's do that. I'll go get them leashed up. Meet you out front?"
"Sure."
Mari stretched and ran in place not only to get ready for the dogs walking her but also to keep warm. The air was growing colder and colder lately. The seasons were changing. Everything was changing. But so far, for the good. She hoped it stayed that way.
Barking and whining and chuffing dragged her out of her head before she could resort to catastrophizing an unknown future. Putting on a happy face, she turned and bent down to be greeted with sloppy wet doggy kisses before being pushed over on her back and nearly mauled with love.
"Sit!" Denji commanded them.
All seven of his charges sat though they showed their excitement by shaking and wagging their tails but never raised up from their rumps.
"Wow! Someone else's training has paid off too!" Mari exclaimed, giving out pats and ear scritches. "Good job! Good babies!"
She heard a different whine that wasn't one of the dogs. Her eyes went to Denji who stood holding the leashes, his lower lips poked out, his big golden brown eyes sad - true puppy dog eyes. He issued another whine, jutting his head forward.
"Oh, Denji," she giggled, throwing her arms around him. She patted his head, finger combing his sleepy tousled hair to pet him. Pushing up on her tiptoes, she pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. "You're my best boy."
"Ruff!" he barked at her, his tongue lolling out of his mouth.
Mari broke into giggles that echoed down the street.
"Hey! What's all that noise out there?!" a tenant in their building shouted out the window.
"Nothing, Mr. Kimura! Just taking the dogs for a walk! Sorry for the noise," she apologized and bowed to the grouch older gentleman glaring at them from his balcony.
"Oh, Mari, it's you. Try to keep it down," he requested good naturedly, turning to go back into his apartment.
"God, we're going to get kicked out," Mari mumbled to Denji, taking two of the leashes from him. "Let's go."
"We'll move before that happens. I'll make sure of it," he promised her.
The dogs walked side by side, filling up the wide sidewalk from edge to edge. They panted excitedly, practically leading the way to the dog run they had been there so often. Once they were inside the fenced in area, Denji threw a ball and they were like a swarm of bees chasing after it in a group.
Mari leaned on the fence watching the dogs while Denji hooked an arm around her waist while observing them as well.
"Are you happy?" he asked her.
"I've never been happier," she replied truthfully, leaning her head on his shoulder. "What about you?"
"Same." His fingers squeezed her waist pulling her close. "Are you afraid?"
"Afraid something will happen to take it all away?" she clarified.
"Yeah."
"Terrified."
"Me too." He leaned his head over on hers. "I'll do anything and everything to keep this family together. To protect all of you."
"I know," she sighed, turning toward him.
When he turned to face her, she buried her face into his black hoodie, pushing her hands into the pouch. The heat from his body radiated through the fabric to her face. He slid hands into the pouch alongside hers to hold them.
"I love you so much, Denji," Mari murmured, burrowing into the folds of his hoodie.
"Mmmm," he sighed, taking out his hands to envelope her in a bear hug. "I love you too."
Denji kissed the tip of her nose. "You nose is like an ice cube."
"It's okay. I'm warm cuddling with you."
"A few more minutes then."
He continued to hug her, swaying her slightly while they watched the dogs. Whoever had the ball would eventually throw it with a toss of their head, setting off the fuzzy swarm to chase after it. Once it was retrieved, all would chase the lucky winner trying to grab it away from them. After a while, the one holding the ball would set it free to start the fetching all over again.
The black sky started to lighten, quickly turning a light gray with the coming sun. Then it changed to blue, continuing to brighten. The wispy clouds changed from pink to gold before the sun's rays broke above the horizon.
"It's beautiful," Mari sighed then sniffled. The chilly morning air was making her nose run. "As much as I like this, I guess we better get these guys back home. And before anyone misses us and freaks out."
"Yeah and that snotty nose isn't sexy," Denji remarked receiving a swat on the chest.
"Come on furry kids! Let's go!" she yelled grabbing the leashes hanging on the fence and opening the gate.
The dogs ran to her obediently, sitting down when commanded and waiting for her to clip the leads to their collars.
"They listen to you and Nayuta better than they do me," Denji pouted, taking the four leads chains she handed him.
"You obey quite well too, Puppy," she teased him, watching a blush spread across his nose and cheeks.
"It's easy. Because I love you. I trust you. With my heart," he added.
Mari smiled up at him. "I trust you with my everything. My heart and my life."
"You do?" he asked as if unable to believe his ears.
"I do. Why are you so surprised?"
"I'm not. I just like hearing it."
