The Fox and the Raven

Safety

Akimi fell asleep on Kaede's hospital bed laying on his side between Toshio's legs and holding his thigh like a pillow. Kaede was laying flat on his back like a starfish right next to Akimi's chest. Nanako was asleep draped over Toshio's chest and face. Akimi woke up to the sound of Kaede's crying. He was pulling the fox's dress.

Kaede was coughing extremely hard and his lips were turning blue from not being able to breathe. Akimi panicked and hit Kaede's upper back reasonably hard. The little boy spit up a huge portion of phlegm. It was disgusting but, Kaede started breathing again. Akimi picked him up and held him close, rubbing his back and shushing him. He leaned back onto Toshio's stomach and pinched his thigh.

"Стой, Алекс! (Stop, Alex!)" Toshio yelled, sitting straight up in a panic.

"Тошио. Вы не в Санкт-Петербурге. Вы и ваша семья в Иокогаме. Алекс никогда больше к тебе не прикоснется. (Toshio. You are not in St. Petersburg. You and your family are in Yokohama. Alex will never touch you again.)" Akimi said, holding his hand up to Toshio's cheek above him.

Toshio calmed down and snuggled Nanako again.

"What happened?" Toshio asked Akimi.

"I need you to grab the oxygen mask behind you and give it to me. Kaede just had a coughing fit."

"One second."

Toshio placed a hand on Nanako's back to keep her secure while he reached as far as he could behind him and grabbed the mask, handing it to Akimi. The fox placed it up to Kaede's face, setting it within an inch or so in front of him since he didn't know if Kaede was claustrophobic or not. Akimi was.

"パパ、お腹が空いた。(Daddy, I'm hungry.)" Nanako said sleepily, still attached to Toshio's neck. He kissed the top of her head.

"Kitsune, I'm going to take Nanako out for breakfast. What would you like?"

Akimi flushed red.

"We are not going through that whole force feeding scenario again, Kimi. You scared me."

"Fine. 卵焼き。たぶん味噌汁。(Tamagoyaki. Maybe miso soup.)" Akimi said reluctantly.

Toshio smiled, satisfied.

"As you wish, dear~"

"行きましょう、プリンセス。(Let's go, princess.)" Toshio said, taking Nanako's hand and letting her walk beside him. She was about as tall as Toshio's thigh, if that.

"ベイブ！あなたは彼らのためにいくつかの服を拾うことができますか？クレジットカードをご持参ください。(Babe! Can you pick up some clothes for them? Please bring my credit card.)" Akimi asked.

"はい、親愛なる〜 (Yes, dear~)"

Akimi rolled his eyes and kissed Toshio before letting him leave with their daughter. Kaede slept on him like a baby angel.

Toshio left the hospital with Nanako wrapped inside his jacket which was now covering both of them. He placed her in the backseat and buckled her seat belt before entering the driver's side and starting the car.

"ななこちゃん、好きな色はありますか？(Nanako-chan, do you have a favorite color?)" Toshio asked the little girl.

"白、青、黒。(White, blue, black.)" She said playfully, kicking her little legs.

"黒も私のお気に入りです。(Black is also my favorite.)" Toshio said with a smile. He could tell this was about to be his new best friend.