Ai No Kusabi Fan Fiction ❯ The Unexpected ❯ Growing Pains ( Chapter 4 )

The Unexpected   Chapter Four: Growing Pains       Disclaimer: The Ai no Kusabi world and its characters were created by Reiko Yoshihara. And the puppy is based off a real counterpart.   Author Note: Thanks Kira for your support and help! Sorry for those who’ve been waiting for the next chapter, I’ve been busy with life and college. ****   Riki found out real quickly that Sunito was no push over. From the moment Iason left the penthouse the following day she put him to work. First having him do odd positions in muscle stretches before making him run endless circles around the penthouse, Sephria following. Running around them as if was all a game; catch me if you can. Sunito ran right next to him with Niken padding just behind her on her right. For fifteen minutes she had him steadily jog until Sephria gave up, utterly exhausted and plopped down for a nap. Riki was very winded and breathing harshly when he was finally allowed to rest. Daryl was quickly there with towels and water. Riki was in good physical shape compared to most pets, but it had been a long time since he had to do any running.   “We’ll be doing this for now on, every single day. Tomorrow you’ll put on her leash before we begin.” Riki could only nod, too out of breath to even mumble a reply. If he thought that was it for the morning he was sadly mistaken. As soon as he caught his breath and was breathing normally she had him get Sephria, who was very unhappy about getting her nap interrupted, and lead them into the now dubbed puppy room. She took out a few things from one of the drawers put them on a tray. She left the tray on the counter and showed Riki how to hold Sephria with one arm around her belly and the other around her neck. Sephria didn’t like it but didn’t struggle either. That was until Sunito returned with the tray, gloves on and a wicked looking object as far as the puppy was concern. Quickly as she gave soft words to the puppy the blood was drawn and the needle was out. Minutes later Sephria was glad to be out and high tailed it as soon as the doors were open.   Riki then watched and learned on how to put the blood into a bottle that was placed into one of the machines. “You’ll have to do this every few months once she’s grown. That is until a vet who is checked out and certified moved out onto your planet.” Riki hoped that happened soon, very soon. Once the blood was in the machine they left the puppy room. Sunito left Riki to feed Sephria and retreated to her room with Niken.   Riki found himself taking a nap on the couch as Sephria napped just below him on the floor. It didn’t last long, soon the puppy was up again and begging for his attention. For a while he was content to just throw any of the toys she brought to him and played a game of fetch; if you call her running off with them until she was bored and then bring them back at her leisure.   At noon Sunito returned with Niken. They had the lunch Daryl prepared but nothing was said. Sephria was fed and within an hour Sunito was watching him train Sephria and correcting him when she saw fit. But made no move to do it herself, she watched and instructed, nothing more. She had him practice three more times before Iason came home in twenty minute sessions. When Iason returned Sephria went off in her normal greeting; running around him and the furniture near him in every effort trying to gain his attention. Iason elegantly avoided tripping over the certainly joyful puppy and as soon as he sat in his favorite chair she was on her back legs pawing at his lap. Sunito took out a tiny camera and took several pictures of Sephria’s antics and Riki attempts to get her to stop. Completely unnoticed she slipped the camera back into her pouch and went to help Riki correct the behavior.   “I’m sorry to say Sir Iason but you will have to acknowledge her when you come home. First though let us get her to sit, once she is sitting reward her with attention but the moment she start to jump on push her off and tell her sit again.” Riki was surprised to see Iason followed her instructions without a word. After a few attempts Sunito called Sephria over to her and distracted her from Iason. “It’s a start, in a few days she should get the idea. It just needs to be regularly repeated in order to learn.”   With Sephria now settled down and not quite so hyper she left for her rooms, Niken trailing behind her. A few minutes later she reappeared in the main room changed with Niken on his leash. “I’m taking Niken for his evening run. I’ll be back in about thirty minutes.” Iason only nodded and she disappeared out the door.   Riki finally couldn’t contain himself anymore. “I can’t believe you let her talk to you like that; her tone and everything!” Riki was even more ruffled by the amused look Iason gave him.   “She’s exactly as her Uncle told me when she is under this kind of pressure.” When Riki gave him a skeptical then annoyed look Iason laughed softly. “Not you pet. She left a lot of things to come here and help you train Sephria that really needed her attention. That is what she is doing when she is in her room, constantly working, trying to get things done. It is her way of showing the pressure.” This gave Riki to something to think about.    “Well, if this is what she is like under pressure, what is she like when she’s not?” Iason was very much amused by his pet’s interest but didn’t say a word, he would let that happen as it would come. Besides, seeing his pet freak out the day the pressure is lifted and her real personality show though was something he deeply wanted to see.   Riki sat quietly for a moment, pondering things, something he rarely ever did.  “What is her planet like?” Iason only turned to stare at him with a raised eyebrow.   “That pet is a question you should ask her.” With that Iason departed into his study for an hour.   * * *     For a week Sunito continued to have Riki exercise with her in the mornings. Beyond that it was just another daily training. Riki was still trying to figure Sunito out. Riki was one to push his limits with Iason but he did not want to get punish harshly. Knowing she was the niece of an ambassador was one thing keeping him at bay. The other was the fact she was a guest in Iason’s household. But the biggest reason was that if he drove her off Iason may return Sephria. As stupid as it sounded just to him he didn’t want to see her go.   It was nearing the end of Sunito’s  second week at the penthouse when a delivery arrived while Iason was gone. A medium sized box that was slightly heavy. To say the mood swing in Sunito was startling was an understatement. She was nearly shrieking in joy, her behavior change had Sephria cautiously watching behind Riki’s legs. “She didn’t wait even a day! I should have known. But it seems she sent a few more… articles than what I asked for…” She began to open the box.

“What exactly did you order? It better not be more stuff for Sephria.” Riki did not like the giggle she gave in a reply as she began to rummage through.   “Why no silly,” Came her muffled reply. “Its clothing for you! I had a good friend of mine buy some clothing found on my planet for you.”   Riki couldn’t take it anymore and blew away all the manners he had tried so hard to keep up since Sunito’s arrival. No longer could he stand to behave as pet and transformed to his born self in an instant. “What the fuck do you mean clothing for me? You don’t even know my size to begin with you crazy bitch.”   “Sure I do, Iason gave me your measurements and I gave them to her.” That didn’t calm Riki down at all. He was still fuming. “Don’t worry, she’s very sought out designer on my planet. I think you’ll like whatever she got. Believe me, it’s nothing like you have here on Amoi.” If Riki had just paused to think he would have realized that Sunito gave no reaction what so ever to his vulgar language he was suppose to reframe from using.   Out of the box came three pairs of heavy sweat sets for winter in red, gray, and of course black, Also matching sweats of a thinner fabric for lighter weather and six moister absorbent shirts, two of each color. Next came twenty pairs of athletic sock and two pairs of running sneakers. Everything was plain and not elaborate, which gave Riki a weird feeling of puzzlement. Ever since he became Iason’s pet all types of clothing he was ever given or allowed to wear was made from the highest quality of fabrics and stylish looks.   “It may not be very flashy but it will do its job and keeping you from getting ill or sickly. Starting next week you and I will be going down for short jogs with the dogs every other morning.” With that she left Daryl to put away Riki’s new clothes and headed toward her rooms, Riki watching her as she left. She had a different air around with each step Riki had never seen anything like it.   He looked down at Sephria still sitting behind his legs. She had grown a lot since she had first arrived. When she first came she had been maybe ten pounds. Now she was pushing near fifty as her four months of age was days away. Sitting down her head was just above his knees. She was still having accidents now and then when she couldn’t find the dog door. Sunito suggest Iason get a matching sets of figurines that would stand one either side of the door for visual reference since the glass walls were giving her such a hard time. Iason wasn’t happy when she did have an accident but you could tell she was trying but by the time someone got to her sometimes she couldn’t hold it. One accomplishment however was Iason was not getting jumped on. She jumped around in circles of him but never on him or against him.   Taking a chance Riki headed toward her rooms and entered for the first time since Sunito had moved in. Past the couch and entertainment system in the corner of the room sitting with her feet propped up watching him, as if she had expected him to follow her. Her eyes were so intense on him he couldn’t move.   “Sorry I’ve been bitchy but things are better now at home so I’ll be able to be… more myself.” Her grin spooked Riki out of his mind. The light in room gave her eyes a feral glow. “Now go put on some swim trunks. We’ve got two dogs to bathe.” She was out of her seat before she even finished the sentence and pushed him out the door before shutting it again.   “Bathe?” He quickly turned around and found the door locked. Slamming his fist on the door once he stomped off cursing to go change and had the strangest feeling Sunito was laughing at him as he went. Behind the close door Sunito headed for the bedroom and pulled out her one piece suit. Once changed she left her room barefoot, Niken following dutifully; Sephria was running in circles in the main room along the glass wall rope toy flying around as she swung it. Upon seeing them her toy forgotten jumped and shoved at Niken trying to get him to play. With Niken following Sunito and Sephria following Niken all three went into the dog room then into the redesigned bathroom. Sunito took two bottles of dog shampoos and two different conditions out and placed them out on the counter. At that moment Riki came into the bathroom in his black suit.   “Shut the door, would you Riki.” He did as she asked and leaned again the now closed door. “We’re going to bathe Sephria in a special puppy shampoo and Niken in the adult base. However, just so you know there are a variety of shampoos you’ll be using on Sephria when she’s full grown.” Opening one of the shelves there were dozens of different bottles of shampoos, Riki’s eyes were disbelieving. She pointed to each shampoo as she explained them, “These top shelves are medicated shampoos. The first is medicated; if she ever gets minor cuts and you’re bathing her use only this over the area. The next is if for any itching she encounters. Powers, even perfumes, rubbed onto her skin from encounters can cause irritation. Last are bottles of oatmeal compound. Use that once a month to keep her coat soft. Twice if the weather ever gets very dry. The second shelf is shampoo for her white coat. The third are conditioners that go with that shampoo. The bottom shelf are shampoos and conditions that I will be using on Niken, they are simply cleaning shampoos. You will only need the puppy shampoo until she is past eight months of age. Then you will be using small amounts of the others until she is past 18 months.”   “All that for one dog?” Sunito only smiled at him sweetly.   “That is nothing compared to some dogs. You’re lucky; her coat is not water resistant. Dogs that type of coat take hours to bathe properly.  And this is nothing. There are hundred of herbal shampoos that could be used. The oatmeal compound is just one of them. I had that one because of how it softens the coat. You’ll bathe her in it before a night out where she will get much attention. Now, let’s get to work.”   To show Riki how to bathe a dog properly she brought Niken into the shower first and attached a special collar, that wasn’t really needed for Niken just stood there, to the wall and floor. She had him fetch the bottle on the counter while she turned on the water and set the temperature. She had Riki wet him down and rub his fur at the same time. Niken just stood there, taking it all in stride. She put the shampoo on him, showing Riki how to lather the fur and work it down. She showed him how to rinse properly to protect the dog’s eyes. She had him repeat everything with the conditioner. Sephria was watching from a safe distance, not sure what to make of it. As if the puppy had an inkling of what was to come.   Once Niken was rinsed Sunito turned off the water and had Riki get out and take six jumbo towels out from under the counters as she squeezed as much water off his body. She had Riki lay two towels down for Niken as she commanded the giant dog to lay down on them. Of course, Niken obeyed, and Riki learned just how much work it took to dry off a huge dog. Half an hour later Niken was in heaven, groaning in pleasure Riki and Sunito rubbed him down.   Sunito had Riki gather Sephria and carry her to the shower. As soon as the water was one the battle begun. Even with Riki holding her Sephria squirmed and fought and Riki found it rather hard after a few minutes. Once she was drenched she managed to wiggle out of his grip and went running in circles as Riki tried to catch her. With all the shrieking coming from the bathroom it wasn’t surprising it had Daryl listening in just on the other side of the door. Finally Riki managed to grab Sephria and hauled her back into the shower and as they were soaping her down she wiggled free again. Apparently she heard some familiar footsteps heading toward the door because she made a beeline straight for it and it opened with Iason standing in its frame. Sephria dashed right between his legs as both Sunito and Riki screamed at him to shut the door two seconds too late.   Now a very soapy and wet Sephria was running for her life, slipping and sliding as Daryl, Riki, and Sunito were running trying to catch her. Niken was found sitting beside Iason on the sidelines. Although Iason was not pleased about his furniture being drenched by both Riki and Sunito as they often jumped or climbed over them in attempts to catch Sephria he was far too amused and hardly able to contain his own laughter to care at the moment. Finally Sephria made the mistake of running behind Iason for safety where they able to catch her and carry her off back to the bathroom to finish her bath, leaving poor winded Daryl to clean the soapy mess left behind.   An hour later a clean and dry Sephria came running from the dog room with an exhausted Riki with flips of white hair covering him walking toward his room. “Aren’t you forgetting something Riki?” Iason was sitting in his chair waiting for Riki to greet him while Sephria was sitting dutifully waiting for attention.   Riki stopped and gave Iason a very annoyed look. “You can punish me later, right now I stink of dog.” And with that Riki walked around the corner down the hall to his room. Iason’s full laughter erupted and followed him until the door to his room closed. Punishment to hell, he felt sticky and icky from sweating and bits of fur covering him. For the first time feeling this in his life he found it utterly disgusting. The fact that Sunito didn’t even react to it in the slightest and he did made him feel pathetic; which only made him even more annoyed.   All too soon the day arrived Riki was least looking forward to. His every movement visible to the prying eyes of other pets and masters as Riki would have his first morning exercises outside with Sephira. He wasn’t going to be totally alone, Sunito and Daryl would be there, but he hated how the eyes followed him. He could stand it in the slums far better than in the high society of Amoi. He was only allowed a light breakfast and cup of coffee that was tiny compared to the regular amount he drank every morning. That put him a bad mood right off. In the slums coffee was something you heard of but couldn’t phantom because it was so expensive, imported from tropical planets. Since Iason had allowed him to try some he had become addictive to it, during his one year of freedom is was something he craved more than once a day.   “You ready?” Sunito’s voice broke through his brooding and he looked up from the table to find her dressed in the same outfits as him, but instead of red light blue and grey and more suited to her body. Standing Riki took Sephira out again and soon they were heading toward the elevator with Daryl in tow, Iason had left shortly after waking him. Daryl carried a bag of goodies for the dogs and more importantly water for both parties of two legs and four. Once at the pavilion level Riki began to get nervous. As they walked toward the deserted center Daryl sat on the outer rim to observe them. Riki became painfully aware that most movement had stopped and almost all eyes were on him, Sunito and the dogs.   Once the dogs were in their stay positions Riki and Sunito became their stretches. Why she hadn’t let them do this while they were upstairs he couldn’t understand. Stretching easily took half an hour with Sunito. So caught up in his nerves Riki failed to notice that even with everything going on Sephira had stayed put, even though she was constantly moving around in her spot to look at anything that caught her attention she  hadn’t left it. Niken was just laying there with no interest, relaxed and dozing.  Finally Sunito deemed them done but they didn’t start at a jog like normal. Instead she had them slowly walk the inner rim of the pavilion, not once but twice. And even when they did jog it was only one time around. Riki felt like all that time stretching was a wasted point. Once they had done the lap she had them do one lap of another walk to cool down.   Sunito lead Riki over to Daryl, who had put bowls out with water for the dogs and have cold drinks ready for them. Once Sephira was not longer panting and ready to play Sunito brought out the goodies, toys! Since she had yet to learn to bring the ball back she only gave the rope out, three feet long with four. Riki was very wary about letting Sephira off leash. Sunito finally convinced him and they went to the empty center and began to toss around the rope, Sephira running along after it. They allowed her to get it and run off with it and Niken was there to tug her back. Soon Sephira began to tire and Sunito called it to an end. She doubted Riki would be pleased to carry the heavy puppy all the way back upstairs.   Unknown to all of them, even Daryl, Iason watched from above in one of the balcony cafes with Raoul and a few other blondies.  As they headed toward the elevator Iason and Raoul and the other blondies left the café and headed off for work an two hours late.