🐾にゃんこから、あなたを好きになるまで&守護から恋心へ - Ch6

💜💗💜💗💜 Story 💗💜💗💜💗 Quiet Journey Home Night had grown very late. After leaving the veterinary hospital, Gakupo didn't rush the way he usually did. He carried Luka, his pace noticeably slower than on the way there. The vet had only just finished treating her wounds, and he didn't dare let her be jostled too much. One hand supported her chest and belly, the other steadily braced her hindquarters, keeping the injured area in the most comfortable position possible. Luka still hadn't woken. She lay curled quietly in Gakupo's arms, her pink and white fur swaying gently in the night breeze, her freshly re-bandaged wound securely in place. Gakupo glanced down to check on her condition. "Are you okay?" No response. He knew she couldn't hear him right now. But he couldn't help speaking softly anyway. "The vet's already taken care of you." "You don't have to stay outside anymore." He continued walking toward home with her in his arms. The whole way, he made sure Luka's body never shifted noticeably. Whenever he passed over uneven ground, he slowed his steps. Whenever he needed to turn a corner, he adjusted his own posture first, making sure she wouldn't be jolted by any sudden movement. His briefcase hung from his shoulder, and his other hand still carried the bag of medicine the hospital had given him. The walk home after work, which normally involved just himself, now carried with it a life that needed his careful attention. After walking for quite a while, Gakupo finally spotted the familiar residential area. "Almost there." he murmured. Luka in his arms still hadn't woken. Yet Gakupo felt a small measure of comfort all the same, his steps easing slightly. At last, he stood in front of his own door. He didn't set Luka down right away. Instead, he tried to manage his elbow and body to fish out his keys. Throughout the process, he made sure not to let the cat in his arms shift too much. "Wait just a second." Gakupo said quietly. "Don't move." Only after saying it did he realize Luka wasn't awake at all. He gave a small, helpless laugh. "...Although I suppose you're not going anywhere right now anyway." The key slid into the lock. Click. The door lock released. Gakupo pushed the door open. The inside of the house was completely silent. The familiar space came into view. But today, he didn't set his briefcase down the way he usually did. Nor did he head straight for the living room after changing his shoes. He looked down at Luka first. "We're home." Luka's eyes remained closed. Her breathing steady. Gakupo confirmed she hadn't been affected by the motion of opening the door, and only then did he feel a little more at ease. He stepped carefully into the entryway. His footsteps very light. He even deliberately slowed down as he closed the door. The door swung shut behind him. Click. The whole house fell quiet once more. Gakupo stood in the entryway, looking down at Luka in his arms. It was only now that it truly hit him—he had actually brought her home. A strange cat who had, until recently, been lying beside a shrine. Now here she was, in his arms. And from here on, it would be his responsibility to look after her. Gakupo took a light breath. "Alright." he said quietly. "Let's get you settled so you can rest." His arms, still cradling Luka, showed no sign of letting go. He didn't rush further into the house, simply pausing there in the entryway for a moment, working out what to do next. Tonight, this home that had once belonged to him alone seemed to have quietly gained a new resident.