Sky & HE★VENS

Tall, Dark and Bunnies

"We're not allowed to keep real animals in the building, are we?" Hikari mused as she leaned back on the couch.

"If we were, Kira would run his own animal shelter by now." Nagi said indifferently. He was playing pool with Van.

"Yeah, but he visits the pet store every weekend..." She shook her head. "I mean, Shining Agency... If I recall correctly, Rockmaru plays with the stray cats that come by, ice princess has a dog that can turn into a horse and Shining himself has a pet lion!"

"Wow, the Shining family must be nuts." Van commented as he hit he white ball.

"There was Cecil too. Something about a curs-" She was cut off by the sound of something hitting the floor.

"Eiji, you okay in there?" Nagi called over his shoulder as he watched the white ball hit a yellow one.

"I'm okay! Just dropped the pot by accident!" His reply came.

"Good luck with the ice cream, Eiji!" Van said as he watched a blue ball fall into a hole.

"Thank you!"

Hikari sighed exasperatedly. "Oh come on! His birthday is in three days! I want to get him something at least!"

"You two must've been really close buddies back at school." Yamato, who had been silent while in a plank position, stood up and stretched.

"Yeah, you could say that." She sighed again. "I still can't forgive myself for forgetting him..."

"Well, to be fair, he forgot you too." Nagi said with a shrug.

"That doesn't make me feel better." She hung her head over the back of the couch. "I guess I'll just buy something simple. Like, maybe a plush toy."

"Remember that Kira doesn't like parties too much." Eiichi said, finally deciding to look up from his book. "What about a picnic? There's a place I know that looks a lot like the fields in Kochi Prefecture."

"It's usually really rocky or surrounded by flowers, right?" Yamato asked, scratching the back if his neck. "Definitely sounds like Kira's ideal place."

"Find a lake with sakura trees surrounding it." Shion suggested from his seat.

"That'll be the most cliché thing ever." Nagi said, cringing.

"I don't think he'll mind." She said, sitting up properly. "He likes those kinds of things. Not to mention, it'll be the most relaxing thing we could do since who-knows-how-long."

"Yeah, then the next thing you know, it'll turn into a thunder storm and we'll have nowhere to go." Yamato said sarcastically.

"Then we cuddle togther to keep warm..." Van continued.

"And by the time it clears up, the whole thing is ruined..." Nagi mused.

"And we'll have to find something else to make up for it..." Shion replied.

"Which leads us to spend time at home like we're supposed to from the start." Eiichi finished with a smirk.

"That's not going to happen!" Hikari defended. "Gosh darnit guys, do you want to celebrate his birthday or not?"

"Of course we do." The brunette said, slinging an arm over her shoulders. "We're just trying to think of a possible out come."

"That or reciting a romance novel..." She muttered. She stood up and stretched. "Okay well, I know he likes bunnies." She grabbed Eiichi's hand and tugged on it. "Come on. Let's go to the toy store."

"I wanna come!" Nagi said, raising his hand up and jumping happily.

"No way." Hikari shot him down immediately. "If you come, then we'll be buying things that you want." At this, the boy pouted, but eventually agreed to stay behind and help Eiji taste-test the ice cream.

~~~~~

The two arrived at the toy store and found a whole section for stuffed animals.

"That's a dog."

"Okay, but it still had long ears."

"Those are cats. You're holding their tails."

"No wonder they felt so small."

"..."

"Is this it?"

"... That's a dolphin."

"Ah... And this one?"

"That's a bunny."

"Oh. So we're at where the bunny plushies are?"

"You just turned your back on them. The bunnies are behind you now."

"... This is why I don't go out to shop with you guys..."

Eiichi picked out a black plush with a yellow ribbon around its neck. They both got home and spend the next two days planning their friend's birthday.

~~~~~

"Sumeragi-san. Good work today." One of the staff members said as he bowed. Kira nodded in response and the staff continued to speak. "The other members of HEAVENS seem quite lively today. Shouldn't you join them?"

Kira thought back to earlier that day. He had, by accident, over heard the conversation that took place at the lounge room with the other six plus Hikari. He shook his head at the man. "It's not a good time to go see them right now..."

The man watched him walked off wih a confused face.

~~~~~

"Eiichi..."

"Oh come on. This is the first time we actually get to do something for your birthday. Last year and the year before and all the other years we've known you before that one, you never let us do anything."

"... If it isn't a bother to you..."

"Of course it's not. Now, buckle your seatbelt. The others are already waiting for us there."

"...Speed limit is 60 mph."

"The road's empty!"

When they arrived, Kira saw the whole picnic was set and everyone was just happily chatting among themselves. Eiichi nudged him forward and they joined the rest.

"Happy birthday Kira!" They cheered as they passed the cake over to the raven haired man. He blew the candle without hesitating and expertly cut the cake to equal pieces for all eight of them.

"Kira!" Hikari plopped herself on his back, holding out the present box in front of him. "Here you go!"

He took it and nodded in thanks. When he opened the lid, a small smile appeared on his face. "Thank you... It's cute."

"You're welcome!" She squeezed his back tighter.

Kira blinked at this and cast a glance at his leader, who caught him and turned away. He stared at Hikari. "Sora... What about Eiichi?"

"Don't worry. He has to learn to manage that jealousy anyway." She told him. Kira could only nod. How else was he suppose to respond?

The day ended with everyone being happy, calm and relaxed, aside from constant grumblings from Eiichi. Kira watched as the rest set out to play a few rounds of tag. Eiichi and Hikari were the only ones who still stay seated near him and the three talked about many different things. The raven haired boy smiled. They truly are his closest friends.