Fish and Sticks

by, Dandelion-san

(1/1)

The feeling of alone is the the worst kind of feeling in the world. It digs deep into the soul and rips a heart apart. It is long nights of waiting for closed doors to open and learning not to trust. It is also wondering, why? Why don't they look at me? Why won't they love me? Why won't they come back?

Tadashi was digging through the trash when he heard it. A cry for help. A cry of alone. It was small and weak and pained.

There were mean sounds with it too, deep growls that were unfortunately familiar to his ears.

He paused, tilting his head. Then he abandoned his trash hunt to move down further into the dark labyrinths of the street, following the directions of the sounds.

He knew those growls. They were from Yama and his goons. They liked to bully smaller animals and Tadashi, still warm and concerned, tried to help as often as he could.

He turned a corner, seeing the sight of a large robust bulldog and three other skinny looking mutts circling around the front of a dumpster.

Old bitter Yama. Mean Yama. Yama who once was loved but he was alone now, like the rest of them. Only maybe it was worse for him because he was alone even when he was surrounded by his followers.

"Aw, come on out kiddo, we ain't gonna hurt ya," Yama was saying. His tone was dripping with mockery and his sidekicks laughed nastily.

There was another high pitched, frightened sound from whatever they were surrounding, and Tadashi had had enough. He stepped forward from the shadows, his hackles rising and his ears bent flat on his head.

"Yama, what a surprise," he said. "Meeting you here like this. Didn't I just see you here last week?"

The bulldog flinched at his voice and he whirled around. He snarled when he recognized Tadashi.

"You! What are you doin' here?!"

"I could ask you the same thing." Tadashi drew himself up to full height and snapped his jaw at the other four dogs in front of him. "I told you once and I'll tell you again. Beat it!"

Yama looked mutinous but he knew it wasn't a good idea to start a fight with Tadashi, considering how well liked he was in these areas. Not to mention that Tadashi was bigger, stronger, and despite being outnumbered, Tadashi was still smarter and could beat them all. With an angry huff, Yama and his cronies slinked past him.

Tadashi waited until they were out of sight before he turned his attention back to the dumpster, looking for whatever unfortunate soul that had caught Yama's attention. He blinked when he saw nobody there. Had the critter run away?

His sharp ears told him no. Curious, he bent down low to the ground and peeked underneath the dumpster.

Oh.

He could barely see anything with how dark it was, but he could make out a pair large eyes, shining bright amber in the surrounding blackness. He could also see the tips of tiny pointy ears. There was a shuffling sound as the owner of those eyes tries to press themselves further back.

"Hey there, kitty," Tadashi said, soft and gentle. "I'm not gonna hurt you. Promise. Why don't you come out from there?"

There was a squeak. "Nuh-uh!"

Aww. Tadashi's heart melted. He laid down and shuffled back so he wasn't so close and intimidating. "Yama likes to be mean to everyone but he's not going to hurt you anymore." Tadashi wouldn't let him hurt anyone. Tadashi was alone, but he wasn't going to be like Yama who turned his loneliness into anger and bitterness.

There was a pause as the eyes seemed to contemplate something.

Then the smallest, fluffiest kitten that Tadashi had ever seen slowly crept out from underneath his hiding place.

"Try anything funny and I'll claw your eyes out!" the kitten threatened and Tadashi just stared.

His tail thumped on the ground.

He said, "You're so cute."

That proved to be a mistake because there was a shriek, a blur, and the next thing he knew, the kitten swiped a claw across his face. Tadashi reeled back with a yelp.

"I. AM. NOT. CUTE," the kitten screamed and Tadashi decided to keep him forever and ever.

"Where is your mom and dad?" Tadashi wondered, an hour into their acquaintance. They were walking down the smelly street. He didn't know where the kitten was going but Tadashi was following him. Already, he'd scared off several dogs and two toms.

The kitten was trouble, he realized. And he worried and worried.

The kitten's shoulders hunched. "Why won't you go away?" he snapped. It didn't matter how much the young cat had tried to evade the German shepherd. Tadashi found him every time.

"You're too little to be out by yourself," Tadashi said. "What if a bird flies off with you?"

The kitten paused. "I… I didn't think about that," he mumbled. He whirled around, fur rising. He opened his mouth to show off his little fangs. There was a small gap in the front of his teeth. "Okay, fine! I'll stay with you. But only because I need a bodyguard. Nothing else!"

Tadashi resisted the urge to coo and he wagged his tail instead. "Alright," he said happily. "I'm Tadashi. What's your name? Do you have a name?"

"Of course I have a name!" The cat looked proud. "It's Hiro. It is a good name. I picked it myself!"

Wow. Tadashi was amazed. His parents had chosen his name when he was really young when they had picked him up from among his litter. Tadashi, they'd said. Tadashi, Tadashi. Mom always loved to drag the last syllable out, especially after he ripped up another pillow. Tadashiii, bad dog!

"Where is your mom, Hiro?"

Hiro arched his back and growled. "Where is yours?!" he retorted. At that, Tadashi remembered and he felt miserable again.

He visibly drooped. "Gone," he replied sadly. "I went on a walk with mom and dad and then something hurt them. Then they went inside a big box with loud sounds. I tried to follow them, but they went too far and I was too tired. So I went back home to wait for them but they never came back and then strangers came and kicked me out."

Hiro looked stunned. "Oh," he said. "Oh, you're talking about a car. A car hit them and an ambulance took them away. You – you used to be a pet."

The German shepherd tilted his head, wondering what a 'pet' was, but Hiro pressed himself to Tadashi's side and he didn't say anything in fear that he would scare him off. He didn't want to scare Hiro off.

Hiro was so small and so fierce. He was the size of Tadashi's paw and he was afraid that he would accidentally crush him, so Tadashi was being very careful. He didn't want Hiro to leave or be hurt. Tadashi loved him already, from the moment he saw him.

Hiro awkwardly rubbed his head against Tadashi's leg. "Mother didn't want me," he admitted, "because I was a runt." He looked up. "I waited too. I waited for her to come back but she never did."

Tadashi licked Hiro's head and snuggled close. "I will never leave you," he promised.

Hiro purred all the time after that. It was constant and Tadashi loved it, especially deep in the night with nightmares of running after mom and dad. But he'd wake up and there would be little Hiro, curled up on his neck, rumbling loudly for such a small thing.

And Tadashi knew he wasn't alone.

They lived together in a dusty abandoned building. Hiro had explained that it was once used as a storage facility for the university's robotic research. Hiro knew a lot of things. A lot of strange human things, but Tadashi didn't mind because he liked hearing about it.

Hiro was some sort of genius, Tadashi had come to find out.

Tadashi was smart too. He knew how to get food and which ones to avoid. He knew how to get along with others and how to plan, and how to protect.

It was nice, wandering around the streets with Hiro entwining around his legs or sitting on top of his head. Hiro talked about a lot of things from up on his head.

"Did you know that there is a human town with a cat for a mayor? Do you think I could be mayor?" Hiro chattered on, trilling occasionally when a new thought popped into his head. "Cats are lactose intolerant, did you know that? Humans keep trying to give us milk, though. They're so silly. But they're most like cats! Our brains are ninety percent similar to a human's; that's so cool, right?!"

"Really cool. How 'bout dogs?" Tadashi asked, a little distracted. He was keeping a wary eye out, in case a hawk tried to swoop down to steal Hiro away from his head. He always worried about that, and he wasn't so sure he would be able to get Hiro back if he flew away. Dogs couldn't fly, after all.

"Canis lupis familiaris," Hiro said. "Dogs have 1,700 taste buds and they're easy to train." Hiro licked Tadashi's ears, purring. "You guys are so domesticated."

Tadashi plodded on forward, peeking out from the corner where the weird speedy things were zooming about.

"Those are cars. Don't go near them or they could hurt you like they did with your parents," Hiro said flicking his tail at the speeding boxes. He sounded distressed.

"I used to ride in one," Tadashi sounded wistful. "It was fun, especially when I stuck my head outside."

Hiro rolled his eyes. "Dogs," he muttered. He sat up when he noticed their destination. "Ooh, you're taking us to the park!"

"There are usually families there on the weekends for picnics. They give out food if you beg cute enough."

"You have no dignity." Hiro yelped when Tadashi shook his head, sending Hiro tumbling off his head and down his neck.

Tadashi rumbled in amusement, but Hiro got his revenge later in the park when he found a stick and sent Tadashi fetching after it.

"Nerd!" Hiro had rolled over on his side lazily. He sprawled out into the grass, enjoying the warmth of the sunshine. "You're the nerdiest dog in the world. You like chasing sticks and begging and taking walks. Nerd, nerd, nerd~"

Tadashi came back, dropping the stick and curling up around Hiro. He nuzzled the cat's head, snorting into his fur. Hiro responded by licking his nose with his rough tongue.

"Bad dog," Hiro said. He yawned, his paws stretching out.

Tadashi laughed. Hiro was so unbelievable.

Sometimes it was hard. There was one time that it go so cold that Hiro had almost frozen to death. Terrified, Tadashi had snuck inside the basement of one house. They'd stayed there all winter as Hiro regained his strength, until spring came again and they were forced to move on before the owners could discover them.

Another time, Tadashi made a mistake and he was caught by animal control (as Hiro had whispered in terrified tones). He was trapped inside a small cage with many other scared smelling dogs and cats, but he quietly analyzed his situation and waited for a chance to escape.

It turned out he didn't have to because Hiro had done it for him. Hiro had rode along in the van, following after the humans in silence. When nobody was looking, he undid the latch and he and Tadashi slipped away quietly. Hiro hadn't spoken to him throughout the whole ordeal, but that night, he pressed himself against Tadashi so tightly that it felt like he melted through his skin.

"I'm not gonna wait for you," Hiro said and that was that.

Life continued. Tadashi was sad and happy at once to watch Hiro grow from the small fluff-ball of a kitten to a sleek, agile cat. He was definitely bigger than his paw now.

Hiro was delighted with his change and at the fact that he could now reach the bottom of Tadashi's snout without having to stand up. Although it meant his perch on top of his head had to be sacrificed.

Along with his growth in size, Hiro's penchant for trouble also grew. Somehow he kept getting into various fights with different cats and dogs and birds! Tadashi lost count for how many times he had to go and fetch him out.

But for all of Hiro's fierceness, he was surprisingly shy when it came to meeting new people.

"Look Hiro. This is where Honey Lemon works. She's very kind and gives out good treats." Tadashi sat down at the back entrance of the clothes shop, waiting for the woman to come out. Hiro hid behind him and the wall. He soon discovered why Tadashi called the woman that though – she had the scent of fresh honey and lemon.

"Either she's really yellow or that's just my color-blindness talking," Hiro muttered, and quickly dived behind Tadashi again when the human reached into her pocket and pulled out a biscuit.

"There you are!" Honey Lemon grinned as she knelt down, hand out. Tadashi took the treat, whining in bliss. He nudged his head into her hand in thanks, asking for scratches. The woman complied, scratching behind his ears and Tadashi practically melted.

Hiro jealously peeked out and was noticed. The woman's eyes lit up in utter delight.

"Oh, did you bring a new friend?" Honey Lemon reached into her jacket and pulled out a bag of something delicious smelling. "Here kitty kitty…"

Hiro cautiously walked out, sniffing the treat in wariness. He quickly snatched it out and retreated back behind Tadashi, chowing it down. He relaxed when nothing happened and came back out.

"You're alright for a human," he purred. "More?"

Honey Lemon grinned, putting a handful of treats out on the ground. Tadashi watched him, pleased. The woman cooed, petting them both as Hiro shuddered in bliss. He purred louder, meowing his thanks.

"Your girlfriend is so cute," she told Tadashi. The German shepherd merely wagged his tail, oblivious. Honey Lemon sighed when there was a shout from inside the store. "I have to go now. Come back tomorrow!"

Hiro finished up the treats, licking his lips. "We should come back tomorrow," he said seriously when the human left. He flicked his tail and rubbed around Tadashi's legs and under his chin.

Tadashi huffed and picked him up by the scruff of his neck. Silly cat. "We're going home now," he mumbled around his grip. "Or Honey Lemon is going to be in trouble."

"Aw man!"

Tadashi's ears twitched in amusement. He was happy. He was really happy he found Hiro that night. He couldn't imagine what life would be like without him and he never ever wanted to go back to being alone again, wandering aimlessly in the streets and alleys and howling the occasional song.

"Let goo," Hiro mewled, twisting around. Tadashi relaxed his jaw and he fell with a thump. "Ow! Nerd!" Tadashi sloppily licked the back of his neck up to his head, making the fur stand up. Hiro made a noise of disgust, rubbing it out on the ground. He glared up and hissed.

Tadashi nudged him up. "I love you," he said and Hiro's ears flattened in embarrassment. He scrambled ahead, tail waving.

"I know," he grumbled. "Now come on before animal control catches us!"

Maybe such happiness wasn't meant to last long.

One day, Tadashi woke Hiro up.

"I'm going to find some food," he told him. Hiro blearily opened his eyes and snorted, rolling back over.

"Kaay," he mumbled. "Come back soon."

He heard Tadashi shuffle out and fell back asleep. The next time he woke up, he was surprised because the dog had not woken him up.

"Tadashi?" he yawned. He looked around the empty building, his tail flicking in agitation. The dog usually didn't take this long to find food.

So he waited.

Tadashi didn't come back.