Chains that bind, For Harifah [[Rated 18+]]

[GodofMischief]

Thumping his head back against the wall behind him, a snow white haired individual raised dull crimson eyes up to the concrete ceiling over his head. Leaning against a cold cement wall in a small enclosure, knees bent and arms settled motionlessly between them, the Inugami gave no signs of giving a damn about anything. If anything, by the droop in his shoulders and the way his white canine ears remained slightly lowered, the man gave of a sense of bone weary defeat. Something extremely uncommon in a man that had always held himself with grace and discipline....It was hard to believe that it had only taken one event to bring the grace of the man crashing down to the ground.

 

Raiza had been one of the best in his canine division. His skills had been well above his fellow Inugami and his intelligence had been on par with only that of the division Director and the man's own Inugami. The snow haired agent had often turned heads and caused whispers of awe and admiration to explode every time he left his division to walk around the normal groups of the police agency. However, he hadn't been the only one who had been admired. His partner, his best friend, his Handler had also been just as well known...if not more. Kinoue Ukitake had been a man many considered a friend and mentor. A man who always wore his heart on his sleeve and was rarely ever seen without his easy smile and friendly twinkle in his emerald eyes.

 

They had been polar opposites, Kinoue and he...however, they had made their partnership work. Kinoue had become a beloved individual in Raiza's life after the canine had first seen Kinoue as a nuisance not worth being his Handler. Kinoue had taught Raiza of kindness and patience. Of handling situations with strategies other than race in and tear everything apart. Kinoue had matched Raiza's temper with his determination to tame the Inugami....at least a little bit. He had brought life and warmth into Raiza distant and cold existence after the Inugami had lost his parents in an assassination. Kinoue had made everything better for his Inugami from the moment Raiza had fallen into his care. They had bonded throughout the years and had come to love one another deeply.....

 

Yet now Raiza was alone again. Kinoue wouldn't be coming back for him. He wouldn't hear his Handler's easy going tone or feel the painfully familiar, loving pat on his head. There would be no more "Sheesh, Rai....you're such a pain sometimes. You're lucky I love you enough to put up with you". Kinoue wouldn't be there to drag Raiza out of whatever confusing predicament he had landed himself in. Kinoue wouldn't laugh at Raiza's comical annoyance at situations he still couldn't comprehend, no matter how many times he had been in the same situation. There would be no more warm arms that wrapped around him when Raiza's mask threatened to fall and reveal the nervous, weary individual that lay beneath all the stern nature. No more whispers in his ear of "Everything is going to be alright, Rai. You just wait and see. Trust me, puppy, I'll make sure that everything turns out fine".

 

Blinking back tears of frustration and heavy grief that seemed to want to suffocate him, Raiza thumped his head once more against the wall and closed his watering eyes as he grimaced silently. He hated this. Hated that instead of being killed, the higher ups had decided to keep him alive. He hated that they had stopped him from following after Kinoue in death. They couldn't understand that all he wanted was to be with Kinoue again. This world meant absolutely nothing without Kinoue in it and Raiza had no will to keep on living. His heart longed for Kinoue, his mind rebelled at the thought of not being allowed to be with his Handler again.

 

The higher ups had claimed they had run into a man determined to keep Raiza alive. Claimed that the man would suit Raiza just fine and bring one of their top Inugami's back from the hole he had sunk into.....Raiza called bullshit to that. Nothing and no one would be able to give him the will to live again. However, the choice wasn't his. The decision had been made and now all Raiza had to do was wait in his "kennel" as the obedient Inugami he was expected to be while his new Handler came to get him....

 

Raiza couldn't hate the situation anymore than he already did.

[Harifah]

The news revealing the death of his close friend utterly shocked him, not knowing how to react when he heard it so suddenly. Why wouldn't it? He was an idol and an inspiring person to him, the motivation and moral support in the path he was choosing. Kinoue was Yuuta's senior and he was persistent enough to talk to him when he would usually ignore most people out of disinterest. In a sense, his senior taught him everything he knows and never asked anything in return. They had a common understanding, always giving each other shoulders to lean on when troubled. Kinoue's personality will bring fondness from anybody, not just him. It is not a wonder that everyone was disheartened when words of his passing had spread, realizing how adored he was by the ones that know him including himself. His contribution to the society was highly valued, another reason why he was deeply cared.

 

As someone from the canine unit, Yuuta knew his friend had an Inugami, whom he had recognized how excellent he is by the stories Kinoue told him and also how strong their bond was. He could tell how precious the Inugami was to his close friend by the expressions he made and the tone of his voice every time the person came up in their topic of relieving what had happened when they were not together. He could only imagine how the Inugami was faring but would not be able to know how accurate it was until he would see the person himself. His impression of him was mostly positive even though he heard complaints but they had never bring a negative meaning behind it, he knew his friend well enough what he really felt when they talked. Finding out about the Inugami's status after the loss of his partner, he was not surprised that the Inugami had refused to ever be bonded. There should still be remnants of his loyal friend's memories filling his mind, understanding how hard it is to let go of something that was so special to you when he still had lingering moments with just the two of them inside of his head.

 

A dream fulfilled once he was accepted into a work concerning law enforcement. Initially wanting to do normal field work, he had not expected to be in the canine unit of the police force instead. He did a last-minute change while he was still in the academy just to save a life, a life that was has a great worth in saving. Persuasion was his only weapon at that moment and he did not back down even once after being rejected. There was no way he was giving up when the higher-ups did not try to think twice on their actions, finally being able to convince them after several attempts. He had only known Raiza from just a few meetings, his fabricated image from the tales and description he was given matching the real person. They both had their discussions, of course mostly relating to the person that made their meeting possible, Kinoue Ukitake. After being satisfied during his visit to Kinoue's grave out of respect, he finally head out to pick up his requested Inugami.

 

Entering the building to meet his soon to be partner, he was guided by an officer stationed there. He chatted with him about the condition of the Inugami for a bit but he could only get little answers and they were rather unhelpful, concluding that asking the person himself was best. They continued to walk in silence while he was thinking how to confront the Inugami properly. Finally as they stopped but he did not really paid attention and only noticed that he had arrived when there are only sounds of his footsteps, the Inugami was clearly visible before him. Giving the officer a nod and also thanking him as well, he was left alone with the white-haired male.

 

"Raiza," he called out his name in a cold manner as he approached him, surely the other had heard the sound of him approaching. "I'm not sure if you remembered me or not, but we have met once or twice. From now on, I will be your handler," he added, trying to find the Inugami's gaze as he looked down on his figure. It was much worse than he had expected, not exactly confident for a moment that he could bring the person right in front of him back into his normal state before completely brushing the thought of his mind. He was the one that got himself into this and he planned to not chicken out and will definitely succeed.

[GodofMischief]

Flickering his ears at the sounds of footsteps approaching, Raiza didn't bother to open his eyes until the footsteps stopped in front of his kennel. Breathing in the air around him, the Inugami briefly noted the two scents that filled the air before one of the two began to move away again leaving the second one behind. On other occasions, Raiza would have been quick to raise his guard and watch the person standing before him with caution, however, he had no reason to now. Not only was he sure he wasn't in danger, he just simply didn't care. Years of training melted into a gray nothingness at the emptiness his handler had left inside the Inugami. Thus, the canine couldn't really careless about who had decided to pay him a visit. Though he could take a simple guess.

 

Opening his eyes slowly when a somewhat familiar voice addressed him with words that made his insides burn with dislike and hostility, Raiza turned his head slightly to direct his crimson eyed look towards the man that stood before him. Red eyes observed the man with a distinct hollowness in them. They weren't cold or haughty....they were simply empty, almost as if what had been left of the Inugami was simply a shell of what the man had once been and what he had once stood for.

 

"You?" he asked softly, voice a hint raspy from disuse. Raiza had been in this kennel for a bit more the a week and a half and from the moment he had arrived, the Inugami had not said a single word. Feeling a lifeless smirk lift the corners of his lips, Raia chuckled a sound that held no essence to it. No life....just blankness. "Why would you think you could become my Handler? Furthermore...why waste your time coming here anyways?" the white haired man asked, voice never rising nor taking on any sort of emotion as he spoke.

 

"I do remember you and I do recall that Kinoue was rather fond of you......however, understand one thing.....I have a Handler and though he might not be part of this world any longer, I will not accept a new one. I belong to Kinoue and to no one else....Don't kid yourself into thinking you could ever change that" Raiza murmured quietly before turning his face away again to close his eyes once more and tilt his head back against the wall.

 

"Leave, boy. I have no interest in you, nor will I follow you anywhere. You're wasting both our times and I'd much prefer to be left alone" Raiza finished without a moment's hesitation as he dismissed the human.

[Harifah]

The look that had no emotion or whatsoever coming from Raiza was unnerving to him, making Yuuta ultimately feel pity towards the person. He managed to keep his expression from changing to avoid from angering Raiza even though it seems that he has none at the moment. The Inugami clearly handled the situation of his previous handler's death much worse than anyone else he knew. Was this species so fragile that it completely breaks after the partner whom was thought to always be by their side no matter what had been gone for good? Planning to get the person right back on their feet, he mustered his own courage in order to prevent himself from ever giving up. He knew the other could help so many people and was not going to let that go to waste. Uncertain if the person was aware of it himself, he would make sure that the Inugami would acknowledge that fact in the future.

 

The harsh response he received from Raiza who showed no sign of wanting to move had no effect on him and he still wanted to stand his ground. It was not like he did not expect to be completely rejected without a second thought however he at least figured the part-animal will accept him since he seems to be able to tolerate him before. There was absolutely no use coming here and leaving empty-handed. He never thought it to be a waste of time even if he had to spend persuading the Inugami. Although, he found himself to be slightly glad that he was remembered. Thinking of how he had been told about the Inugami countless times, he wondered how much Raiza knew about him and how he was depicted by his friend towards another. He was curious but reading the atmosphere, now was not the time to ask about that. The first step should be convincing the other's to give their cooperation which should be possible when he withholds so much information regarding the Inugami.

 

"On your behalf, your handler may remain to be Kinoue but to most, that is now false. I am officially recognized as your handler now," he exclaimed as he brushed off what Raiza had said without even blinking, decreasing the distance between the two of them to none at all. "I have no intention of leaving without you. I will use force if I have to," he continued with his tone turning more serious and stern, grabbing his chin and pulling it so that the Inugami would look at him while he bended down. Their faces were just inches away as he examined his facial features, being worse for wear. He could not use the same approach as Kinoue when he first became Raiza's handler when they had contrasting behaviours, not wanting to mimic anyone but only wished to keep his own character.

[GodofMischief]

Frowning slightly when the male's scent grew closer instead of drawing away as Raiza had hoped it would, and the frown only grew all the more when the man's voice sounded from an unnervingly close proximity. Instincts alone had Raiza's nails growing slightly and sharpening on edge as his mind told him to put space between them. Nevertheless, Raiza did nothing. Instead, he opted in listening to the man's words in silence, giving no indication of caring in the least that the human was actually talking to him. Perhaps the Higher Ups no longer believed that Kinoue was Raiza's handler now that the human was dead, but that changed nothing for the Inugami. The world could believe what it wanted to believe, Raiza would not leave Kinoue behind though. The years they had spent together were to precious to him, to close to the heart, for him to even entertain the idea of accepting another as his handler. Everyone could go to hell and take their opinions with them at the matter, Raiza would not yield from his chosen mindset.

 

Freezing when his chin was caught and his face was angled to look in the direction of the man's voice, Raiza's eyes once again opened up to reveal their red intensity. However, unlike last time when they had been a hollow wasteland, this time though it was distant, there was a note of warning in them. Raiza had never liked being touched much. Kinoue and a handful of others had been the only ones to be able to get away with laying hands on the snow haired Inugami. Everyone else knew that Raiza would tear whatever limb they had laid on him clean off if they overstepped his boundaries....yet this man didn't seem to care. Feeling his hands twitch with the want to lash out and get the man's touch away from him, Raiza glared at the human with open distaste and anger.

 

In retrospect, he knew that if he attacked the man that was meant to be his new handler, the Higher Ups would finally set their feet down and claim he truly was a lost cause. He would be sentenced to death for sure and no one would be able to pull him out of the hole he had swan dived into. He would finally get what he wanted.....yet he knew that Kinoue would not be pleased with his actions. His handler would probably nag his ear off in the afterlife and lecture him on why he shouldn't have hurt someone Kinoue had considered a precious friend in this life. And as much as Raiza wanted to see and be with Kinoue again, he didn't want to disappoint the man he had loved above all else.

 

"Use force?" Raiza chuckled, a coldness finally entering his voice. Something a bit more familiar and welcoming than the emptiness that had previously occupied it. "I assure you, you may use whatever force you would like, however it'll be just a waste of time and effort on your end. I am not leaving" Raiza growled softly, defiance clear in his eyes as his glare never faltered from its intensity. Jerking his chin sharply out of the grip of his new "handler", Raiza peeled back his lips a bit to reveal sharp teeth made to tear things apart. "Do me a favor and keep your bloody hands off me...And while you're at it...Get. Out" he snapped, not at all amused by the position the man had taken in this situation.

[Harifah]

Yuuta was utterly displeased to observe nothing but an empty husk of the Inugami he knew that inside of him, Raiza had more compared to what he was displaying presently. However, he was determined to change that and the opportunity was laid just in front of him without anything that would be able to discourage him. While having their gazes locking each other, he had admired the sight of vigor that the crimson eyes before him held when he first witnessed it. Now all he saw was a pair ruby-colored voids with a single hint of being threatening but they have a great chance of healing themselves. He was not afraid of getting close to the Inugami and that also includes touching him roughly, knowing he would not dare to harm him as he himself would not do the same to the other. The reason was purely fueled by Ukitake himself and nothing else as he could tell that the two of them had always and would forever be respectful and loyal to all of his wishes. Being told how quite similar he was to the Inugami when being compared with each other, his senior had never lived it down until his death. It had already become a normal thing that he would joke about having to take care two puppies while Yuuta would brush that statement without even trying to laugh it off, now regretting it slightly.

 

Delighted to see the spirit that had returned back to the Inugami after his hand was forced to release its captive, Yuuta knew that he was on the brink of being succesful on the only purpose he was here for. He pulled his hand away as he was greatly satisfied to see the fire inside Raiza sparked and he will ensure it will turn back to the brightest flame it used to be. Straightening his figure, he fixed his clothes that had been ruffled up after being in an uncomfortable posture. Although he was given a few days to persuade the Inugami, he was not fond of the idea that will delay him in helping those in need.

 

"I apologize. I am afraid I will not and cannot do as you say," he stated, crossing his arms out of spite. "No matter your preference, I am still your handler. If you insist on it still being Kinoue, think what you will. All I require is your cooperation." The fangs he had noticed when Raiza had revealed them seemed to still be well maintained, relieving him. At least the person was not completely broken although the display had no effect on instilling fear in him. One of his hands moved to his chin as a thought came to his mind and also a painful memory. "I do recall Kinoue mentioning your ambition is no different from mine. To bring peace? Or was that just a mere bluff for your own amusement? How petty." Provoking was one option but it was still a risky one with the outcome having the chance of turning out very different from the one that should have occur as he willed. He had only the intention of trying to motivate the other into focusing more on the job at hand than still hanging on to the reality of his handler's death, never really wanting any topics regarding Kinoue, even if it was just a short note, to arise from the start. The ideal world they shared could also be the thin string that holds their partnership together, uncertain if the Inugami will feel the same.

[GodofMischief]

Hearing the man's words, Raiza felt rage bubbling up inside him. "Don't presume to know anything about me, human. What my goals are hold no concerns to you. I do not and will not answer to you, nor will I tolerate you claiming that I lied to Kinoue about my ambitions. What I told Kinoue is between him and myself. And even if my goal had been to bring peace, it doesn't matter anymore. Kinoue isn't here and without him, the ambitions we shared amount to nothing" Raiza snarled softly. He didn't like what this man was implying, he didn't like the man bringing Kinoue up in their conversation. His ears slowly pressed back in a sure sign of his building anger, something he hadn't felt in the past few weeks. Whoever this human thought he was, it was clear he had no idea who he was provoking. Perhaps Raiza would not attack him physically, but he would attack him verbally despite knowing that wherever he was, Kinoue was probably shaking his head and frowning at the tense situation between two people he had cared for dearly yet in different ways.

 

"Give me one good reason why I should go anywhere with you? Why should I waste my time in following after another human who has done nothing to gain my trust? Why should I fight by your side when I have no interest in lending my strength to you?" he growled, tone low and threatening, more alive than it had been seconds ago. Though he didn't want to feel anything, Raiza couldn't hold down the frustration and irritation this man was surging in him. He didn't trust him, despite Kinoue having been friends with him. He didn't want to trust him......in fact, he wanted nothing at all to do with him.

 

"What could you understand about pain? Do you know what it feels like to have half of your being ripped away from you in front of your own eyes? Do you know how it feels to be helpless to save the life you had sworn to protect above all else? Do you even understand the depth of the bonds between a Handler and his Inugami?" Raiza questioned the man with icy venom in his tone of voice, crimson eyes producing a feral gleam to them as he continued to stare down the human in front of him. One who he wanted nothing more from than to be left to his misery.

 

"You're just a pathetic human the Higher Ups have decided to throw at me in hopes of saving one of their best. I will not be controlled by the will of those unworthy. I don't care who you think you are, but if you expect me to leave with you, it'll be over my dead and rotting corpse. So be my guest, use whatever method of force you want to. I. Am. Not. Leaving" Raiza finished with a furious snarl, never once taking his eyes of his would-be new Handler.

[Harifah]

Shocked with Raiza revealing how his goals had faded away completely all because of Kinoue's death, Yuuta was still baffled by how deeply the Inugami was disheartened by the event. However, he would not let that to simply hinder him from his own ambitions he could achieve with the help of the person right in front of him. He listened in to how the Inugami questioned him on various feelings he experienced when his handler's death happened before him, not daring to even display an expression that lack interest. There was a clear difference in his friendship with Kinoue and the bond the Inugami had with his handler although there was one similarity, their strength.

 

"No, I cannot understand your pain and I would never be able to," he answered bluntly, his tone soften but only slightly as he was reminded of bits and pieces of his close friend's images. He had already gone through the five stages of grief as a month had passed, however it was only some of them. Denial, when he could not accept that he was in a reality without Kinoue. Anger, where his performances while he was still in the academy had dropped but fortunately, not enough to get him removed nor expelled. Bargaining, willing to carry out anything that would force him to wake himself up from the horrid dream which ultimately lead him to the current situation he was in. He was hoping that meeting and helping Raiza will allow Kinoue to rest easily. Presently, he had exactly situated himself on the very slim line that would almost be invisible, separating depression and acceptance. Moving on was difficult but he still had to think of the future but what was stopping him was his own insecurities.

 

It was plainly obvious that all of the harsh words that Raiza spitted out just then had more emotion compared to before when Yuuta first spoke with him these past minutes, the words were completely devoid of them. "The reason why you should accompany me is simple. You are my Inugami." He had an intuition that the reason he just gave would not convice the other but it is what he believed in what was a fact, even if it made him seemed conceited. "And let me clarify. Your trust and your strength would not be wasted on me. Only to those who need it."

 

If the Inugami was rejecting doing any kind of teamwork with him, that would be fine as they could manage tasks separately even though it was the same mission. He would not mind if Raiza had been partened up with someone else and while at it, he was accomplishing so much like he had been with Kinoue. However, never had he prefered the idea of allowing Raiza to waste his own life without any second thoughts. He was sure that his close friend would also be oppose of the idea and he had seen the potential of the Inugami to help the world change into a better place. "Your effort in the field is all I care about," he added, finally taking his eyes of the Inugami to examine his surroundings where the other had stayed in, for how long, he was not sure.

[GodofMischief]

Studying the man in front of him, Raiza frowned slightly as he pressed his back a bit more against the wall behind himself. He didn't want to leave, he didn't want to follow the man out of this kennel and face the world again. He didn't want to accept a world without Kinoue in it, yet in the back of his mind, he knew his Handler would not have wanted him to waste away into nothing either. Kinoue would have wanted him to be strong, to stand up for their shared dreams even if he couldn't physically be there to accomplish them. Raiza's heart and mind rebelled against having to acknowledge that his Handler was gone from his reach, but he knew that turning his back on all Kinoue and he had accomplished and could still accomplish, would bring shame to them both.

 

He still rebelled at the concept of allowing his man to become his Handler and he would do everything in his power to resist any bonds that were attempted to be created. However, if he followed this man out and once again took the place Kinoue and he had once stood, he could avenge his Handler. He could destroy the people and the organization that had taken Kinoue away from him. He could bring a little bit of peace towards the innocents....just as Kinoue would have wanted. And when the organization had fallen and burnt to ashes, then he would be free to join his Handler again....And when the time came, he wouldn't allow anyone or anything to stand in his way.

 

"The only reason I would willingly go anywhere with you is if you allow me to get my revenge on those who took Kinoue from this world. If you do not stand in my way of slaughtering them all and their organization, then I will agree to fight again. I won't create a bond with you nor will I consider you my Handler....however, I will stand by you until my task is done" Raiza murmured softly, ruby eyes narrowing a bit at the other man.

 

Tucking his feet under his body, Raiza winched slightly as the wounds he had gathered the night Kinoue was killed, protested violently. His body hurt from misuse as Raiza had barely moved more than a few feet after being brought in here weeks ago. His joints ached as he pushed his body to stand upright again, weight heavily leaning against the cement walls. His wounds, ones that had been wrapped the night of the murder yet been unable to be treated due to the Inugami's refusal to allow anyone to touch him, throbbed by they didn't stop him.

 

Keeping noises of pain tightly locked inside him, Raiza dug his nails into the wall behind him while once again directing his gaze at the man in front of him. "Will you agree to my conditions, or shall I sit down once more?" he asked with a hint of his previous haughty side making itself known once more.