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"Meow," said the cat.
"Meow," replied Cookie.
He crouched down and held out a piece of raw meat to her, on his palm, and she immediately swallowed it.
"You don't look very hungry, Pumpkin, but I give you one more bit since you are heavy with all those baby kittens," Cookie said and reached to a little bowl he brought the meat in, but a sound of footsteps, fondly familiar, startled him, and he fell on his back, meeting the eyes of the comer.
"Good morning," he mumbled awkwardly.
He had, though, all rights not to feel awkward, since this took place in his backyard – the backyard of his small hotel – and there was nothing unusual in him being here a little after dawn, especially for the person with whom he shared the hotel (in a quite broad sense of the word).
"Hello to you too," King-Lu smiled and extended his hand to help Cookie get up.
Cookie eagerly accepted the help, because his bones had been feeling less springy lately than before (not that they ever felt significantly springy) and took care to try and kick the bowl away as inconspicuously as he could.
"Such nice weather today," King-Lu sighed with content and turned his face to the sun. Its rays were warm and soft, pink as watered down strawberry jam, all thanks to yesterday evening's storm.
"What have you been doing here? Did I interrupt something?" King-Lu asked, smiling cunningly.
"Nothing in particular," Cookie lied, shrugging. Pumpkin, meanwhile, was chewing on what was left in the bowl right in front of them.
A waft of wind brought the smell of fresh hay, and Cookie felt a sting of warm melancholy – a feeling he had every summer since… the very beginning of his life? He reached out to take King-Lu's hand, but his fingers caught nothing, because the man held it behind his back.
"And why did you come here?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.
"N— nothing in particular," King-Lu blurted out.
"You came to feed Pumpkin, didn't you?"
"No," King-Lu said slowly. "I came to feed Ruomei. Here she is, eating what you've brought for Pumpkin."
"This is Pumpkin."
"No, that's Ru… why didn't you tell me about her before?"
"I thought you didn't like cats. They are messy and sketchy, and you don't really like that. And she's pregnant, which means even more cats," Cookie explained hopelessly.
"Sounds like I am a cat," King-Lu grinned proudly. "And she's pregnant? I just thought she was plump."
"She's due any day now. Oh, maybe… Can we," Cookie hesitated, "can we bring her inside until her kittens grow up a little?"
King-Lu snorted, "I thought you would never ask. And it's your house, you can do anything you want here, you don't need anyone's permission."
"I know, but…" Cookie sighed. "I must know you don't mind too."
"Cookie," King-Lu whispered, leaning closer to embrace him, but then groaned and stopped to put the bowl of milk before Pumpkin first. "You are the most generous person I've ever met."
***
"Maybe you were right, and I don't like cats," King-Lu grunted, unable to move without bothering three kittens sleeping soundly all over him.
"It's too late," Cookie murmured sleepily, and the kitten who settled next to his beard gave a tiny yet indignant roar.