Yukina learned about loneliness the second month of her stay in the Kuwabara household.
�Don�t worry about a thing Yukina-san, I�ll be back in a jiffy.�
Kazuma�s favorite photo of Eikichi was taken when he picked up the kitten from the pound. �Are you sure you don�t want to come with me?�
Eikichi was a �feisty� one, as Kazuma said, and he had scratched his new owner as soon as Kazuma had picked him up.
�No, it�s all right. Don�t worry about me, and take your time.�
Eikichi�s mother had been run over by a car when Eikichi was a month old.
�You heard her, bro. Go on, have fun.�
Even though Eikichi�s claws were small, they left a considerably deep scratch on Kazuma�s face. If Yukina leaned in closely, she could still see the marks.
�Aw, what�s the rush? I could stay a little�crap, the train!�
Shizura had teased Kazuma and warned against adopting such a vicious kitten, but Kazuma had fallen in love and insisted on the little creature.
�See ya, bro.�
The kitten continued to hiss and wriggled, but Kazuma only held on patiently and calmly.
�Good-bye, Kazuma.�
After deciding on a name, Kazuma slipped the collar on the kitten�s neck and declared him, �Eikichi.�
�Bye, Yukina-san! And don�t mess with my room while I�m gone, sis!�
Eikichi turned his claws to the collar instead, and after scratching at it for a few seconds, seemed to accept his fate.
�Bye.�
A drop of blood from Kazuma�s scratched cheeks dripped onto Eikichi�s fur. Kazuma, who could not bear the sight of Eikichi�s fur dirty, tried to wipe away the offending splotch.
�It�s hard to believe he�s going to college already. He might be visiting now, but he�ll be attending come September.�
Eikichi swatted away Kazuma�s hands and saw the red gashes on his face.
�It�s so far away. Where will he live?�
Without any trace of guilt or responsibility, Eikichi lapped away at Kazuma�s cheeks.
�We�ll be looking at apartments next month, though he says he can�t stand the thought of being away from you, Yukina.�
Shizuru, with a keen sense of aesthetics, snapped a picture with her camera and framed it.
�I can�t, either.�
