My Girlfriend, My Pet.

Chapter 2

Half past nine in the morning and Iona was still in her bedroom. God! Running late because of her. Maggie stuffed the remaining pieces of scrambled eggs into her mouth, gulped down her juice and headed for Iona's room. 

"Iona? Iona?! Wake up! We're going to be late for the adoption drive!". She pounded on the door. 

A muffled whine. 

"Iona! Come on! I said we were-"

Maggie nearly lost her breakfast when she swung the door open to find Iona morphing into a dog. No, wait. A reverse transformation from dog to woman. "Oh my...eww!", she covered her mouth and turned around, waiting until Iona called out in her human voice. 

"Oi! It's all good now!". Iona tapped Maggie on the shoulder as she walked towards the kitchen. She poured her juice, downed it in one go and poured another before attacking the bread. Maggie wandered into the kitchen, still dazed from what she saw. 

"You could've told me you were doing...your...crazy transformation thing! That was not what I wanted to see first thing in the morning.". Maggie stressed the 'not'. 

Iona stuck her tongue out as she poured herself another glass. "I did! I tried to say I wasn't ready.". 

Maggie arched her eyebrow. "Yeah? In case you haven't noticed, I don't speak dog. Next time, tell me when you have lips and not a muzzle. Gosh! That was...does it ever hurt?". 

Iona swallowed the last piece of her bread and finished her juice. "No. I told you, it never hurts, it just feels...odd and weirdly nice.". Maggie just looked at her. "Whatever, come on, we're late.". 

"Yeah, all thanks to you.". Maggie was already out the door before Iona could think of a comeback. 

~~~

It was a beautiful Sunday morning, hints of spring already peppering the air as Raiden took a deep breath. He barely had time for himself these days so whenever he could, he would grab the chance to wind down, take a stroll through the park or sleep in. Today was too good a day to sleep in. 

A crowd caught his attention at the other end of the park. Checking his Grand Seiko, he still had plenty of time before he needed lunch so might as well poke his nose into whatever was happening over there. 

As he closed in, the sounds of dogs and puppies and cats and kittens punctuated the air. Ah, an animal adoption drive. Raiden had a dog many, many years ago. A beautiful Shikoku from his homeland in Japan. He had grown up with it and when the day came to put it down, he cried more than when he actually broke off his engagement. 

He nodded and smiled to a couple who passed him, a brown puppy in the girls' arms. He always cared for animals - at least that's what he kept reminding himself to do every now and then, but over the years reality had shaped him into a man driven by logic and everything rational. He would help them when he retired. 

"Hi! Can I help you?". A rather attractive and overly bubbly girl snapped him out of his daydream. 

"Uhh, just looking around. Thanks.". 

"Sure! If you need any help, just look for me. I'm Maggie.". She smiled and left before he could even reply. "Okayyy...", he whispered to himself as he reached inside the cage to stroke a purring kitten. Maybe I should get a pet. He could use the company, after all. 

He walked over to the dogs and surveyed the different breeds available. Some purebreds, some mongrels. No Shikokus in sight, obviously. A dog with an unevenly distributed dark brown coat, cream-coloured legs and neck and the most entrancing blue eyes caught his attention. Again, he reached inside only to have the dog send him a warning sign. He pulled back immediately, his watch hitting the bars of the cage. "Damn it.". 

"That's why you don't put your hand inside.", a soft voice came from behind. 

Turning around, he almost tripped when he got a good look at her. Raiden had seen many beautiful women his entire life but this one was different. How clichéd, he caught himself there. It was true, though. She was jaw-to-the-floor pretty but she didn't seem to realize. Either that or she was a fantastic actress. Her dirty blonde hair wasn't unkempt but it did not look like she spent tons of cash on it. She was adorably freckled, thin lips he could imagine kissing, a delicate nose coupled to a set of strong cheekbones. Her body wasn't worth shouting about but every curve and dip was proportionate - at least from what he can gather when she was dressed in nothing but a dark blue T-shirt and fitted jeans and Converse sneakers. 

Okay. She had an ass worth shouting about. 

"Are you alright?", she asked, her eyes flickering between worry and...something else. Oh shit. Does she think I'm checking her out? Does she think I'm some sort of pervert?

"I'm fine. Thanks.". Raiden tried to say something else to make it less awkward but he couldn't. He was nervous, his armpits already damp. 

"Sure? You look...off.", she asked again. Stop talking! Even her voice was beautiful. 

"I was just...curious...looking around.", he croaked and inhaled, drinking in the early spring air and her scent. "I was considering a pet. Just looking around.". 

"Was?". How can someone look so adorable and confused at the same time. 

His phone rang and for the first time in a very long time, he was thankful he had work calling in on a Sunday. "Excuse me.", he looked her in the eye one last time as he took the call. It was Mike. 

"Hey man, sorry to call but we got a code red.".