I'm spamming. So sue me.
Since obviously Astronomy is good for my output. Here's another next-gen fic.
Title: Next Time, They'll Do Research
Fandom: Nabari no Ou
Pairing/Character: Raikou/Gau, Kouichi, offspring
Rating: G
Letter: C
Notes: Still a few spoilers.
It turns out that Gau is allergic to cats. Unfortunately, they find this out too late.
“Daddy!” Kouchin calls from the next room, “Come see what Ao-chan can do!”
“In a minute,” he replies blearily, sneezing violently into a tissue. He adds it to the growing mountain in the trash can - he’s on his third box already. If they could get rid of the kitten, they’d know better for the next time. But Kouchin is already in love with her new pet, which she named by herself; so neither Raikou nor Gau has the heart to take it away from her.
Besides, a little bit of sneezing is worth his daughter’s smile.
---
A week later, Gau is no longer so sure. Kouchin’s happiness is all well and good, but the housework is piling up, they’ve had ramen for the last three nights, and the allergies only seem to be getting worse. Even Raikou, who dotes on Kouchin even more than Gau does, has started to suggest they give in and return Ao. But Gau is stubborn, and he flatly refuses to entertain the idea.
---
”How would you like it if Ao goes to live with Aunt Raimei? Would that be okay?”
Gau has to forcibly restrain himself from throwing open the door and blazing into the room. He clutches the edge of the sink so hard his knuckles turn white. He and Raikou have been arguing over this for the past two days, and he is not happy that Raikou is going behind his back. But it will just upset Kouchin if he starts a fight in front of her.
Then he sneezes so loudly he misses her response. He refuses to let go of his indignation.
“I know you love him, Kou. But Ao-chan is making Daddy very sick.”
Gau is going to kill him. It is going to be a slow, painful death. By kitchen utensil.
“Ao-chan is why Daddy won’t stop sneezing?”
Gau pauses in his internal rage. Kouchin doesn’t sound particularly traumatized, or even upset. Instead she sounds thoughtful, or as thoughtful as a seven-year-old can.
“Can I still visit Ao-chan?”
“Of course, sweetie.”
“Okay, then.”
She doesn’t sound very happy, but then, she doesn’t sound heartbroken either. Gau waits until Raikou sends her to bed - without brushing her teeth, which he’s going to have a a talk with Raikou about sometime soon - and walks into the living room to confront him, box of tissues in hand. Raikou is waiting for him.
“I can’t believe you would do that to her. I told you, I’m fine.”
“You aren’t,” Raikou counters bluntly. “You’re tired and sick and snappish, and it’s not any better for Kouchin than it is for you. You’ve been too stubborn to notice, but she misses you, Gau. You don’t ever feel up to playing with her, and it upsets her when you snap at her. She loves the cat, but she loves you more.”
Gau finds himself speechless, mentally going over his actions the past few days and trying to find evidence of Raikou’s claims. With a sinking heart, he realizes there are all too many instances that come to mind. Something of his expression must show on his face, because Raikou steps forward and presses their foreheads together.
“And I love you too much to let you make yourself unhappy, even for her sake. Kouchin will be fine, Gau. And we’ll both be happier when you’re feeling better.”
Raikou moves to kiss him, despite his runny nose and scratchy throat, and Gau thinks it’s a shame that he ruins the moment by sneezing all over Raikou’s lavender sweater.
---
”Sorry again for imposing on you like this,” Gau apologizes, probably for the sixth or seventh time. Kouichi laughs and pushes his glasses up.
“I promise, it’s fine. Ren loves his new playmate, and it’s been nice to have a cat around again.” His tone grows wistful, and Gau carefully doesn’t ask. Kouichi is a nice guy, but he’s a little mysterious, and Gau is uncomfortable with the idea of someone who has been alive as long as Kouichi has. If only because cause he can’t begin to understand what it was like, how lonely it must have been.
“Daddyyyyyy!” A young, wailing voice summons, and Kouichi winces.
“It seems duty calls,” he jokes, and goes to see what is the matter with his son this time. Gau only has a moment to enjoy his pain, however, before a female voice joins the wailing.
“Daddy! Ren won’t let me hold Ao-chan!”
At least life is never boring.
Title: Next Time, They'll Do Research
Fandom: Nabari no Ou
Pairing/Character: Raikou/Gau, Kouichi, offspring
Rating: G
Letter: C
Notes: Still a few spoilers.
It turns out that Gau is allergic to cats. Unfortunately, they find this out too late.
“Daddy!” Kouchin calls from the next room, “Come see what Ao-chan can do!”
“In a minute,” he replies blearily, sneezing violently into a tissue. He adds it to the growing mountain in the trash can - he’s on his third box already. If they could get rid of the kitten, they’d know better for the next time. But Kouchin is already in love with her new pet, which she named by herself; so neither Raikou nor Gau has the heart to take it away from her.
Besides, a little bit of sneezing is worth his daughter’s smile.
---
A week later, Gau is no longer so sure. Kouchin’s happiness is all well and good, but the housework is piling up, they’ve had ramen for the last three nights, and the allergies only seem to be getting worse. Even Raikou, who dotes on Kouchin even more than Gau does, has started to suggest they give in and return Ao. But Gau is stubborn, and he flatly refuses to entertain the idea.
---
”How would you like it if Ao goes to live with Aunt Raimei? Would that be okay?”
Gau has to forcibly restrain himself from throwing open the door and blazing into the room. He clutches the edge of the sink so hard his knuckles turn white. He and Raikou have been arguing over this for the past two days, and he is not happy that Raikou is going behind his back. But it will just upset Kouchin if he starts a fight in front of her.
Then he sneezes so loudly he misses her response. He refuses to let go of his indignation.
“I know you love him, Kou. But Ao-chan is making Daddy very sick.”
Gau is going to kill him. It is going to be a slow, painful death. By kitchen utensil.
“Ao-chan is why Daddy won’t stop sneezing?”
Gau pauses in his internal rage. Kouchin doesn’t sound particularly traumatized, or even upset. Instead she sounds thoughtful, or as thoughtful as a seven-year-old can.
“Can I still visit Ao-chan?”
“Of course, sweetie.”
“Okay, then.”
She doesn’t sound very happy, but then, she doesn’t sound heartbroken either. Gau waits until Raikou sends her to bed - without brushing her teeth, which he’s going to have a a talk with Raikou about sometime soon - and walks into the living room to confront him, box of tissues in hand. Raikou is waiting for him.
“I can’t believe you would do that to her. I told you, I’m fine.”
“You aren’t,” Raikou counters bluntly. “You’re tired and sick and snappish, and it’s not any better for Kouchin than it is for you. You’ve been too stubborn to notice, but she misses you, Gau. You don’t ever feel up to playing with her, and it upsets her when you snap at her. She loves the cat, but she loves you more.”
Gau finds himself speechless, mentally going over his actions the past few days and trying to find evidence of Raikou’s claims. With a sinking heart, he realizes there are all too many instances that come to mind. Something of his expression must show on his face, because Raikou steps forward and presses their foreheads together.
“And I love you too much to let you make yourself unhappy, even for her sake. Kouchin will be fine, Gau. And we’ll both be happier when you’re feeling better.”
Raikou moves to kiss him, despite his runny nose and scratchy throat, and Gau thinks it’s a shame that he ruins the moment by sneezing all over Raikou’s lavender sweater.
---
”Sorry again for imposing on you like this,” Gau apologizes, probably for the sixth or seventh time. Kouichi laughs and pushes his glasses up.
“I promise, it’s fine. Ren loves his new playmate, and it’s been nice to have a cat around again.” His tone grows wistful, and Gau carefully doesn’t ask. Kouichi is a nice guy, but he’s a little mysterious, and Gau is uncomfortable with the idea of someone who has been alive as long as Kouichi has. If only because cause he can’t begin to understand what it was like, how lonely it must have been.
“Daddyyyyyy!” A young, wailing voice summons, and Kouichi winces.
“It seems duty calls,” he jokes, and goes to see what is the matter with his son this time. Gau only has a moment to enjoy his pain, however, before a female voice joins the wailing.
“Daddy! Ren won’t let me hold Ao-chan!”
At least life is never boring.