My Girlfriend, My Pet.

Chapter 12

Elizabeth stood and strolled across the hallway of Raiden's suite, shutting the open window and cutting the chilly morning draft. A meeting with potential contractors had been arranged and she had showed up, uninvited, to his place to offer a ride. Raiden had insisted on meeting her there but she had other plans. "Carpooling makes it easier. Plus, you're a big enviromental guy, aren't you?", she said just as he led her to the living hall to wait while he got ready. 

"Do you always leave the windows open?", Elizabeth asked just as they were on their way out. 

"Huh?". 

"Your window? The huge one in the main hall? I'm surprised you're not feeling even a little bit cold...". 

Raiden was about to respond, knowing full well that he wasn't one to leave his windows open, when the doors to his private elevator dinged. Everytime he met Elizabeth, it was a given that she would show up in a different car. This time a dark blue Porsche was parked right in front. "I know how much you like your cars.", she winked as she tossed him the keys. "C'mon, no need to be shy.". 

"Elizabeth? Which window did you say was open again?". The thought had nearly vanished from Raiden but it bugged him just enough to bring it up again as they left his residence. 

"The big one. In the living room.". 

"Huh. Weird.". Raiden barely even got near that window, let alone opening it and forgetting to close it. He may be tired from recent events unfolding in his life but he was pretty meticulous when it came to his personal possessions and even more so when it concerned his house.

He did not open that window. 

~~~

"Can I see it? Please?! Puh-lease?!", Maggie begged as Iona and her cleaned out the storage room of the shelter. 

Ever since breakfast this morning, Maggie was desperate to get a look at the Shikoku form that Iona had adopted. "Not now. Soon, okay?". 

"Awww, come on!", Maggie pouted. 

"You'll see it when you complete your mission.". 

"But! I already did! I tried calling this morning but he wasn't picking up. Probably busy. Dropped him a text saying that YOU found a dog that he might fall in love with.". 

"Me?! What?! Why?! What if he wants to see the dog and me at the same time?". Iona was about to pull her hair out. 

Maggie smirked at her. "You wanted to do this. I can't possibly take the credit for everything, right?". 

"Alright. Alright, fine. You wanna' see the dog?". 

Maggie's eyes lit up. 

"When Raiden is on his way to pick it up, you'll get to see it then.". Iona gave her best troll impression before Maggie nearly hit her with a flying leash.

Right after lunch, Raiden had called Maggie to clarify her text message. When she told him the breed, there was an audible gasp over the phone. Within a minute, he had hung up and was on his way to the shelter. 

"Iona! Show time!", Maggie called out wildly from the office. The shelter had closed for the day and the last of the volunteers had left when Iona had to awkwardly remove her clothing in the vicinity of Maggie. "Oh, come on...it's not the first time for heck's sake!". 

"It is when it comes to this form.", Iona said as she slowly made her way out from behind the desk in the office. "Remember, you can always look away.". 

"Only if it gets really, really weird like-"

Before Maggie could finish, Iona was already on the floor with her eyes closed, fur sprouting all over her body. No matter how many times she tried, the sound Iona's body made when she was shifting was beyond anything she could get used to. The looks, yes. The sounds, no. Light cracking noises coupled to wet, slurping ones was enough to make her almost lose her lunch.