#kafkai

Aira finds Hachi during the months Kafka is in a coma (or does Hachi find her 👀)

Hachi is obsessed with Aira (and vice versa of course)

Hachi really makes Kafka work to win her over (she’s liked him from the start but she couldn’t let him know that)

Aira overhears Kafka pleading with Hachi to approve of him because he knows how much Hachi’s opinion matters to Aira

Hachi finally relents with her hard to get act when a typhoon rolls through Tokyo and Kafka rushes over to Aira’s apartment to keep Hachi company so she’s not alone and scared while Aira has to be on duty (and makes Aira fall even more in love with him than she knew was possible)

"Aira?"

She'd been curled up reading in the corner of the couch but at the sound of Kafka saying her name she looked up. He was sitting on the edge of the couch, rapidly tapping his fingers against his thighs.

"What's up?"

"There's something I need to talk to you about."

His voice sounded more serious than she'd ever heard it and he wouldn't look at her. A rushing sound filled her ears and her heart pounded so hard it hurt as her anxiety instantly spiked.

He was going to break up with her.

She knew one day he would realize he could do so much better than her. He was so amazing; there was no way she could ever be enough for him.

She wanted to pretend she hadn't heard him, if only to delay the inevitable a little bit longer.

"What is it?" She asked around the tightness in her throat.

"I've been giving this a lot of thought  and I really think…"

She braced herself, tears already pricking her eyes. But if this was what he wanted, she wouldn't deny him that. She loved him enough to let him go, even though she knew she'd be getting over him her whole life.

"We should adopt another cat."

She looked down at her lap so he wouldn't see the tears falling down her face. There it was, the words she'd been dreading since—wait, what had he just said?

"Another cat?" She repeated dumbly, finally looking at him.

"Yeah, I—what's wrong?!" He quickly moved to her side, reaching out to pull her against him. "It's alright, it was just a suggestion. We don't have to get another cat if you don't want one."

"No, I—," she hesitated, embarrassed to admit the real reason she was crying. But he looked so concerned - and more than a little disappointed - that she couldn't lie to him. "I thought you were going to break up with me."

"Break up with you?!" Kafka pulled away like he'd been shot. "Why would I ever do that?!"

Shame colored her cheeks and she looked down at her lap again.

"I just thought maybe you'd finally realized you deserve better than—"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence," he warned her, his voice serious once again. He reached out and gently cupped her chin so she would look at him. "There is no one better than you, Aira. You understand me and accept me for who I am. You are kind, funny, clever, the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. I love you, so much more than words could ever say. My life is a dream come true with you in it; it would be an absolute nightmare without you."

His eyes were burning with an intensity she'd only ever seen on the battlefield. He loved her. Of course he did. He made it so obvious in everything he did. She felt guilty for ever doubting it. He let go of her chin and gave her a - very gentle - hand chop to the top of her head.

"Don't you ever forget that, ya goof." His was voice was warm with affection and he gave her a fond smile. She couldn't help but smile back.

"I won't, I promise. I'm sorry, Kafka."

"You have nothing to apologize for," he reassured her. "But if you start feeling this way again, please tell me. So I can remind you that I'm not going anywhere because there's no where else I'd rather be."

Aira leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him. He was warm and solid. Safe. Just like she knew her heart was safe in his capable hands. He held her tight and she knew he'd hold her as long as she wanted him to.

Kafka stopped short and whirled around, his whole being seeming to light up at the sight of her. He went over to her, taking her in his arms and holding her close.

“Welcome home, my love,” he murmured softly.

Aira’s heart skipped a beat at the endearment, just as it always did. No matter how many times Kafka called her that, she never got sick of it. She held him tight, savoring the warmth of him.

Their moment was interrupted by an impatient meow from down the hall.

“Sounds like someone is mad you stopped playing with her.”

“I’ve chased her down that hallway probably twenty times already today. She’s relentless,” Kafka said, fond exasperation coloring his voice.

Aira laughed and reluctantly pulled back from his embrace.

“I take it you haven’t gotten much decorating done then?”

“I got the boxes out but as soon as I opened the box the garland was in, Hachi struck fast. I shouldn’t have chased her that first time. I think I accidentally turned it into a game for her,” he said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.

“If it wasn’t the garland, it would’ve been something else. She’s a menace.”

They both looked down the hallway and laughed as Hachi’s mischievous little face peeked around the corner.

“I’ll go retrieve the garland. Let’s see how much we can get done before the next round of chase,” Aira told him.

She got the garland from Hachi, who chased her back to the living room. Kafka had several boxes open and spread around the room. Aira connected her phone to the speakers and put on some Christmas music.

She started stringing up the lights as Kafka began setting up the tree. They both sang along to the music, pausing every now and then to steal a kiss.

Hachi was - at least momentarily - content to lay on the couch and supervise.

They were just putting up the finishing touches - two standard size stockings monogrammed with a “K” and an “A” and one miniature stocking monogrammed with an “H” - when Hachi decided she was rested up enough and ready to cause more mayhem.

She launched herself at the tree, making it sway precariously. Kafka and Aira hurried to catch the tree before it fell. While they were distracted dealing with the tree, Hachi made a beeline for the leftover garland in the box. She snatched it and sprinted out of the room with a chirp of victory.

Kafka and Aira exchanged a disbelieving look before chasing after her, both of them laughing so hard they had tears in their eyes.

Later, they sat on the couch wearing their matching reindeer onesies, Aira snuggled up next to Kafka. Hachi was curled up sleeping peacefully in Kafka’s lap. A cheesy Christmas movie played on TV, the only lights the Christmas lights they’d hung up earlier and the tree.

Aira thought back to all the Christmases she’d spent alone when she was growing up, her father always prioritizing work over spending time with her. Eventually she’d learned to stop caring about Christmas. It became just another day to her.

Until she’d met Kafka and he’d made this time of year her favorite.

She laid her head on Kafka’s shoulder and he wrapped his arm around her. He pressed a sweet kiss to the top of her head before resting his head on top of hers. On his lap, Hachi stretched and yawned before curling back up into a ball and putting her paws over her eyes.

“What do you want for Christmas this year?” Kafka asked softly.

“I’ve already got it,” Aira told him. “All I want for Christmas is this right here, you and Hachi.”

Kafka’s shoulder shook slightly as he huffed a small laugh.

“Looks like we both asked for the same thing.”

Aira smiled to herself, her heart glowing as warmly as the lights around them as she snuggled further into Kafka’s side.

I was finally hit with the inspiration beam, it’s like a Christmas miracle