Episode 6
The Meeting.

The day of the meeting arrived. And Hyde had spent the whole night dreaming nightmares of break-up with Tetsu because of the dog. He was a nerve-wreckage, and could barely gather himself to speak to his lover, who remained sitting on the bungalow sofa, caressing the sleeping puppy on his lap.
Tetsu had a very sad expression on his face.
"Well... Here they come." Hyde snapped looking through the window. Tetsu didn't answer and kept stroking his beloved pet that was going to be taken away from him.
"Tet-chan... I know you hate me, but... please, think that the poor little girl must have been feeling very sad after losing her dog..."
"I understand how she must have been feeling..." Tetsu said in a soft, painful voice.
"You are a grown-up... she's a kid..." Hyde tried to make Tetsu reason.
"Feelings don't change, Haido."
"Un. Sou desu ne. Well, I'll open the door..."
Hyde opened the door and greeted the family, they greeted back and the little girl suddenly caught sight of the dog on Tetsu's lap.
"Pocky!" She screamed.
"Huh? Where?! Where pocky?!" Hyde said startled. "If you found pocky in the house, it's mine!"
"Pocky is mine!" She retorted angrily.
"All the pocky in the house is mine!" Hyde argued madly.
"Uh... Haido... I think maybe she named the dog "Pocky"..." Tetsu commented from the couch, and watched the little girl run towards him.
"Please, hand my dog back... please..." She begged him. The dog raised its head and immediately recognized her. It waved its tail and barked happily.
"It's her dog..." Tetsu said sadly and nodding he handed the pup to the little girl.
"Uh... so, no pocky... I see..." Hyde mumbled.
"I'm so grateful you took care of my daughter's pet." The girl's father said pleased.
"Dad! Look! Pocky is back!" The girl squealed happily.
"I see. Yokatta, ne..." The father nodded smiling.
Tetsu remained on the couch, bending slightly forwards and looking at his empty hands. "Goodbye, Cutie-chan..." He mumbled.
"Ne... mister...?" The little girl said, catching sight of Tetsu. "Are you sad?"
"Well, kinda... I grew to like your dog a lot..." Tetsu tried to smile at her.
"Oh... poor you. But I can't give you my dog... I love him dearly."
"I understand. I wouldn't either if I were in your place. He's a very good dog. He's pretty and good..."
"Yes, he is. I wish I could give you something to make you happy..."
"Ne... Give him a sweater..." Hyde suggested.
"Huh?" The girl turned to stare at Hyde.
"Nothing. Bad joke. Bad timing." Hyde said shaking his head.
"Please, ignore that jerk." Tetsu snapped bitterly.
"Yeah, no problem. I will." The girl nodded.
Hyde looked at the ceiling in embarrassment.
"Please, take good care of him. He's little and he needs lots of love and attention. Don't let him go astray anymore..."
"I won't..."
"Yeah, cuz next time we won't return it." Hyde warned pointing at them, and then, after seeing the meaningful glances he was getting he decided to shut up.
"A small dog like him..." Tetsu went on, "... could get harmed very easily. He was lucky to be found by someone who actually likes dogs... other people might have hurt him."
"Yes. You are right. I'm sorry. It will never happen again."
"Yakusoku?"
"Yakusoku!"
"OK. Then, I guess it's goodbye..." Tetsu sighed. He remained on the couch.
"Goodbye, mister. If I were you... I'd get another dog..."
"Yeah... maybe."
"Oh, no..." Hyde let out.
"... and also, lose that idiot of your friend..." The little girl added.
"I might." Tetsu nodded.
"Nani?!" Hyde protested.
"Yeah, you, baka. If you can't understand his feelings, how can you call yourself his friend?" She retorted angrily and bending a little forward she slightly pecked on Tetsu's forehead. "Good luck, mister..."
Hyde swallowed a lump in his throat.
"Good luck, owner of Cutie-chan..." Tetsu tried to smile and nodded.
The whole family greeted them and left the house.

Hyde closed the door and rested his body weight on it.
"Well... it's over..." He said.
Tetsu didn't move or answer.
"I know you hate me..." Hyde said expecting the usual comforting reply.
"Yeah." Tetsu surprised him.
"Yeah? You do?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Oh... Ah..." Hyde couldn't speak, and stayed still staring at Tetsu.
"But eventually I will forgive you..."
"Ah... well... as long as you don't dump me, I guess I can stand it..."
"Un." Tetsu nodded.
"Cuz I love you."
"Un. Ore mo."
"Please, don't jump from a rooftop!"
"Huh?"
"Please, don't leave me cuddling your platform shoes!!" Hyde wailed.
"What?!"
"Please, promise me you won't do that!"
"Uh... I won't do that, Haido..."
"Ah... yokatta, yokatta!"

"Haido...?" Tetsu whispered softly. It was late, and the pale moonlight cast a ghostly light on the bungalow, that somehow managed to flood the room without waking up its inhabitants. Hyde and Tetsu had gone to sleep long ago... but only Hyde had managed to give in to slumber.
"Huh?"
"Are you asleep?"
"Uh... yeah... sound asleep..."
"I can't sleep..." Tetsu sighed.
"Oh... well... I can do it all right, so count sheep and let me sleep..." Hyde said and turned to go back to his sweet dream of millions of fans around the world adoring him at a Madison Square Garden concert.
"Ne... I won't let you sleep. Do you think Cutie-chan is all right?"
"Hmm..."
"Do you?"
"Hmm!!"
"I miss him... Wish he were here..."
"Well... they say if you wish upon a Star... Go outside and wish, man..."
"If you hadn't been so selfish..." Tetsu whispered.
"Oh... Oh, shit... I know how this thing goes..." Hyde said and threw his arms in the air. He propped himself up and sat on the bed, then he turned on the lamp on the night table.
"Listen, Tet-chan, that little girl was probably crying night after night for the flea-bag too. You are a grown up man, you are not a child. One day when you have your own children-"
"When?!" Tetsu interrupted startling Hyde. "When will that happen? Huh? Baka! I'm planning to spend the rest of my life with you... so, tell me, how can I possibly become a father?!"
"Uh..." Hyde stared at him gaping and speechless.
"Come on! Explain to me! I'm dying to listen to one of your smart-ass explanations!"
"Uh... I don't think I can get pregnant..."
"I know that..."
"Though, I don't mind if you try to get me pregnant..."
"I'm being serious here..."
"I know, I know... Anyway, it's OK if you try. But... I doubt it'll work..."
Tetsu looked up at the ceiling and swallowed. "Yeah... I know it won't work." He whispered.
"Oh, but don't let that stop you..."
"Will you cut it out with the stupid jokes?!"
"Ne... I'm not joking... Please don't stop trying!!" Hyde urged him rising his voice.
"Cutie was, to some extent... like a baby..."
"Oh... Oh, I see..."
"I can't help feeling like I've lost something..."
"Oh... Oh, I get it... I get it... uh... I've been a bad dad too..."
"No, you don't come close to being a parent."
"How mean. Uh... sibling?"
"Not even a relative."
"Wakatta. I can sleep in the dog's bed if that fills the emptiness..."
"Ne... I should make you do that... but I won't cuz deep inside I know you did the right thing. Even if it hurts... even if you did it for the wrong reason... even if I wish you hadn't..."
"Oh, Tet-chan!" Hyde threw himself in Tetsu's arms crying. "I'm so rotten! I always cause you trouble! I'm such a piece of shit!"
"Nah... you are not. You are just a brat, a selfish brat..."
"I'll sleep in the dog's bed!"
"No, don't... I have a better idea."
"What is it? I'll do it, Tet-chan!" Hyde sobbed and looked at his eyes.
"I'll try to get you pregnant..."

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