Into The Rose Garden (Seidou x Kanae/Karren)

Chapter Thirty-six - Angst

Seidou looks around the newer environment, closely by Matsumae's side. He half whispers, leaning towards the female. "Um, so Matsumae...have you actually decided on the lizards you're getting...?" 

Matsumae smiles softly at the male. "Yep~! Kanae helped me decide, he even helped pick out a name!" "O-Oh, really? That's nice of him; which kind is it?"

Matsumae smiles even wider, as she kneels in front of a reptilian cage. "A black girdled lizard! They're not that common to get around these parts, so this is the only store I know that carries them!"

Seidou smiles softly. "Oh, cool. What are you going to name it anyway?" She turns her head to the male. "'Angst'! It means 'fear' in German, you know. Or so Kanae has told me..." Seidou chuckles softly. "Haha, so does Kanae have some sort of weak spot for that kind of thing?"

"So-so, we typically talk about whatever's going on between us, so he just wanted to give me ideas. I like 'Angst', it's kind of badass... Don't tell Kanae or anyone else I said that." Seidou smiles weakly.

"I won't." Seidou continues to look around the store, finding animals such as guinea pigs, rabbits, parrots and even...chinchillas? "I didn't even know Japan sold chinchillas." Matsumae laughs calmly as she gently waved at the caged reptile. "Like I said, many pet shops around here don't carry such creatures. If you wanted something specific, you would need to look into places like these."

Seidou walks over to some type of green-cheeked conure, seeing the tag for a 'pineapple' mutation. Seidou chuckles to himself. "Do you think pineapple conures actually eat pineapple?" Matsumae smirks, giggling at the question. 

"I don't know, I'm not really a bird person." Seidou reaches his finger to the bird, only for it to scoot away, to which Seidou groans with great disappointment. "Don't take it personally, conures, especially green-cheeks, are greatly introverted birds. It takes time for them to actually bond with you, but it's really worth it." Remarked an apparent pet store worker.

She too reaches a finger to the little creature, as it scooted away from her as well. "See? Also to mention that none of us are really allowed to bond with them, that's the owner's job." Seidou looked at her. "Owners...?"

The female nods, chuckling lightly. "Well yeah, whoever buys them. It's their pet, so they have the right to raise it...as long as the bird's happy and healthy." Seidou looks away, putting on this kind of 'thinking expression'.

Matsumae stands up, calling over a nearby employee. "Hey! Can you help me with this lizard? I would like to take this one home!" The same female employee claps her hands. "Certainly, I'll just get you a box real quick!"

Picking out the lizard, going over the checkout, Seidou is still in a state of unclarity while Matsumae was filled with a feeling of fulfillment. "And by any chance would you care to buy a habitat, or some food?" Matsumae shook her head. "No, I have all of that prepared already." Seeing a small glimpse of Seidou's unsure expression.

The pair make it into the car, with Seidou sitting in the front passenger's seat, holding onto the little box containing the even smaller creature. As Matsumae drove, she sighed and began conversation. 

"Hey, Takizawa...? Is everything okay...?" Seidou looked out the window, shrugging slightly. "I-It's...It's nothing..." Matsumae lowers her eyebrows. "Oh I think it's something, I've seen that expression before. What happens in this vehicle, stays in this vehicle. So is there anything you can share?"

Seidou sighs, holding his chest softly. He turns to Matsumae, struggling a little to get the words out of his mouth. "Am...I a pet...?" Matsumae turns her head for a second, wearing a shocked expression. "What...?" "I mean...you guys did buy me, a-and I'm not a full-on ghoul. So...am I really a pet?"

Matsumae focuses her sight on the road, shaking her head slightly. "N-No, of course not! Who told you this?" "No one! I-It's just...it was just some thinking. I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable." 

Matsumae sighs, concern washing over her face. "No need to apologize, I'm glad you told me, but you should know that kind of thinking isn't good for you. You're not a pet, you're way more than that...much more." Matsumae looks over at the male, hitting a red light.

"Maybe it feels that way, because of the circumstances we've met you through, but believe me when I tell you... We wouldn't consider someone as nice as you a 'pet'."

Seidou smiles weakly, looking down at the carboard box. "Thank you, that..." Seidou puts on a compulsory smile. "T-That makes me feel better...!" Matsumae smiles weakly as she turned away, looking back at the road. "Good, I'm glad."

Leaving Seidou...secretly doubtful in a way. Watching as the car drove them home through the highways and roads, watching as the world moves forward along with them. There is much to go by, and much more that can easily be missed.