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Ding

I shuffled somewhat nervously into the small store before Kaoru, hit by the strong smell of animal fur and pet food. It was a beautiful day, with a sky full of rain to cover the sun, but still bright enough to make it look almost snowy. It was also freezing. This was the first time that year that I had to wear a long sleeved shirt and an actual jacket because the weather forced me. I think I'm catching something: my stomach has been feeling weird all day and my nose felt like it was going to fall off from ejecting mucus too often.

"Kaoru," I said through my stuffed nose, sniffling. I had to actually talk, otherwise the woman behind the desk and the mother with her daughter looking at puppies would totally freak out at how Kaoru just seems to know what I think. "I know how much this symbolizes and I can't believe you're going to help me out with this." I turned around to look at him through the naturally-lit store as we shuffled to the far aisle. His pale skin was like a lightning bolt caught in the air, reflecting off everything in the dim light. He was beaming down at me, excitement contained in the depthless orbs of his eyes. "It's really awesome of you to ask."

"You know it's no problem," he answered as he half-peered into cages, not really paying attention to the animals inside. Every two seconds he looked back at me, revealing teeth as white as the sky. "I'm just so excited to see who you're gonna pick!"

I already know which one I want... I steered us back to the desk to the right of the door, where the woman was staring at the orange nest that is Kaoru's hair. She looked back and forth between myself and the nest before asking in a subtly shocked voice how she could help us today.

"I'd like to know what cat has been here the longest," I said, ignoring my bubbling stomach. "I want to purchase it please."

So she went into the back room and came out three seconds later with a long haired maine coon that was basically a fluffy ball of orangy-red and brown and white and black that very obviously dealt with geriatric issues. "This is Tangent," she said, opening the carrier to reach inside and pet him softly. "He's twelve years old this year, and he's been here for two years. His owners just got tired of him and left him by the door without coming in or leaving a note or anything. He seems to be dealing with depression, but I'm sure a nice couple like you can fix that in no time."

Nice couple? I heard Kaoru suppress a chuckle. "Tangent is beautiful," I whispered, pulling a hand out of my pocket and rubbing the fluffy guy between the ears. "How much is he?"

Five minutes, ten cans of cat food, and forty bucks later, we were headed down the dead side-road hidden from the busier side of the town with a geriatric, half-blind, a little bit senile cat. I felt such a sense of happiness. Fulfillment. Purpose. I'm taking care of another life form. Man I love cats. Kaoru, how come you're cool in the sun?

"Because my mom wasn't a vampire when she had me." He peered into the cage and wiggled a finger at its inhabitant. That hair is amazing. And I can't believe it's natural. Your mom's hair is black, and I'm pretty sure orange/red hair is a non-dominant gene.

"Geez, your thoughts are all over the place," Kaoru commented, smiling down at me.

I giggled a little crazily, gently spinning in a small circle with the carrier. Your eyes are huge. I think Tangent is going to be one of the best things that's happened to me. Besides you.

It didn't feel weird to think, because that's honestly how I felt, and I'm pretty sure that nothing whatsoever could ruin the moment. Like, this moment was destined to be amazing, in the beginning of the rain and all these clouds and their perfect scent hanging in the fog over the blacktop. And boy was that an understatement because my spirits practically caught fire when he kissed me.

And we just giggled in the rain and skipped back to my little trailer, like we were the only people in the whole world.