The bonds that hold, For Cazuki

[Cazuki]

"I don't understand how I was so amazing. I was merely calming down a family member before a brawl broke loose. A fight would have benefited no one." Hotaru still smiled at Raiza, nodding his head.

"Still, not often I meet a guy who can shut down somebody like that with just words." Hotaru continued walking.

"I don't see why my living arrangements should be the topic. I can take care of myself, if I must....I don't need anyone looking after me." The words were lined with pride, though they were also sluggish.

"Pfft." Hotaru blew a raspberry, looking Raiza in the eyes, one eyebrow raised incredulously. "Says the Inugami who can barely walk straight through injuries, has their ribs clearly visible and looks so exhausted they'd fall-asleep standing up." He looked away again. He deepened his voice, impersonating Kinoue again. " 'You're strong, but stubborn. Expect to die first unless you start thinking like the weak.'... Kinoue left you in my care and sure hell I won't disappoint him or you. " He smiled at Raiza.

 

A few moments later, as they reached the end of the corridor, having taken a few turns and twists around the building, the reached a set of double oak doors. A brass plate screwed into the right door read: 'Director Nazushima', while one on the left read 'Akihiko Kashou'. Hotaru walked to the door, knocking once and waiting. Footsteps clacked through the door and a few moments later it was opened, revealing a tall, well-dressed Inugami. Cream ears flickered to attention as green eyes stared at Hotaru.

"Hotaru-san, correct?" His voice was slow, but authoritative and, for once, Hotaru didn't think correcting the Inugami was the best idea for politeness.

"Um... yes?" The Inugami kept his mouth a flat-line.

"Good. Nazushima was expecting you." The Inugami looked around and, catching sight of Raiza, his eyes widened fractionally and a small smile graced his lips. "It is nice to see you up and moving again, Raiza-san. The director will be extremely happy to see you." A muffled sound came from inside and the Inugami looked inside, keeping himself in the frame. "Yes?... Yeah, they're here... both... okay... okay, yes and why are you cleaning your gun on the desk again? You know the oil gets everywhere." More mumbles were heard followed by a heavy sigh from the cream-furred Inugami. He turned back outside, looking at Hotaru and Raiza. "Come on in." He stepped away from the threshold, bringing the door with him as he stepped back to allow Raiza and Hotaru into the room.

 

Hotaru stepped through first, flicking his head from left to right, looking all around the area. The room was rectangular in shape, extending to the left and right of the door in a capital 'T' shape. The door they had come through was evidently on one of the long side of the rectangle with bookcases and filing cabinets, as well as a window or two, lining the other long side opposite them. The room overall was befitting of the two highest-ranked people in the division. To the left of the room, behind a desk and filing out paperwork was Akihiko, the Director's PA. He waved at Hotaru as he walked in and Hotaru waved back. Akihiko turned, as did Hotaru, to a female black-haired Inugami who was walking around, idly clearing up coffee mugs from the table Akihiko was working at. "See Ai. Told you he could do it. Pay up." Ai smiled down at Akihiko, batting him lightly with her tail.

"Yes, alright, alright." She turned to Hotaru and Raiza, bowing lightly to both. "It's nice to meet you two, especially you Rai-san." She looked over at Raiza, her bright blue eyes staring deeply into his red.

 

"Yes, we all are." A masculine voice called from the other side of the room. Hotaru looked over to see a desk very similaur to the left side, though this one was a lot cleaner and well-organized, save the oil stains. A muscular man sat behind the desk, fiddling with small brush as he cleaned the detached barrel of a hand-gun. He put down the brush and barrel, interlacing his fingers on the desk and leaning forward slightly. "Thanks, Hikky." He looked at the cream Inugami.

"Think nothing of it... but could you please not call me that around the new recruit? It can lead to... unfortunate habits." Hikky's ears flicked down, obviously remembering an embarassing experience.

"Fine, Hikaru. Anyway," Director Nazushima pointed to the two comfortable chairs in front of his desk "sit down you two. We have some matters to discuss about your," he looked pointedly at Raiza "living arrangements."

[GodofMischief]

"Kotetsu, Inari and I all grew up together. We know just what to do when one or the other gets to uncivilized around other people" Raiza put in calmly. It had always just been the three of them after Raiza's parents had been killed. He had spent much of his childhood on the streets before being pulled into the Academy when he ran into the man in charge of it years later. But during the time he had spent on his own, he had met and come to love Kotetsu and Inari as if they were truly his siblings. It had been a slow road at first, all three wary of letting eachother past their walls, but in the end it had worked out for the best. Through them, their Handlers had become great friends as well and thus their family had grown to spend years together and strengthen with every obstacle thrown their way. However, not many people knew all that about them so Raiza could understand why Hotaru might have been impressed.

 

Glaring at Hotaru darkly when the man blew him a raspberry and spoke both in his normal tone and a tone that was very similar to Kinoue, Raiza grunted in annoyance and turned his gaze away sharply. "Rest assured, my body will heal adequately in a short amount of time....Kinoue had a habit of being over dramatic about my health and apparently you are similar in that matter. As I told him many a time, I'll tell you...I can take care of myself, I don't need a babysitter" he growled quietly. Having Hotaru impersonate Kinoue made Raiza long for his Handler all the more, but it was somewhat comforting as well. It almost made it seem that Kinoue wasn't really gone...yet Raiza knew better. And just because Hotaru seemed to know what Kinoue would say and exactly when he'd say it, didn't mean he'd allow to man to take over the empty spot left by his former Handler.

 

Managing to make it to the Director's door without making an embarrassing face plant to the ground, Raiza leaned slightly against the wall and waited for the doors to open. His mind snapped at him to stand at attention or try to appear presentable but at the moment, the man was much to tired to give a damn about appearances. Looking up from where his gaze had landed on the ground a bit distracted, Raiza watched the cream furred Inugami greet Hotaru while a small smile flickered onto his features. Meeting green eyes with his crimson hues, Raiza inclined his head slightly when Hikaru greeted him, his tail lifting momentarily to give a subtle little wag. "It's nice to see you as well, Hikaru-san....and I'm sure he is, I suppose I'm somewhat eager to see him as well" he responded, tone taking a respectful little note to it and if one listened closely, there was the barest hints of friendly affection in it.

 

Raiza had been working by these men for several years now. He and his group had been a few of the best the Canine division had to offer and they lived up to expectations. Though he knew his reaction to Kinoue's death had rocked them all, he hoped that whatever the Director had wanted to meet with him and Hotaru about wasn't going to be too problematic or troublesome. He was truly under no mood to deal with ridiculous requests, even if it came from his "boss".

 

Fighting down a chuckle at Hikaru's words to what was more than likely the Director, Raiza shook his head in mild exasperation and barely restrained himself from releasing a soft chuckle. Normally, Raiza wouldn't find much amusing, however the Director, his PA and the Director's Inugami had a way of bringing rare smiles onto his face. However Raiza had never really had a chance to meet Akihiko's Inugami, even after hearing quite a bit about her. He had caught glimpses of her around the halls but never had a chance to actually speak with her.

 

Following Hotaru into the room after taking a deep breath and straightening his posture just a bit, Raiza flickered his ears while taking in all the noises around him. Turning his gaze on both Akihiko and a black-haired Inugami, Raiza didn't hesitate from locking eyes with the bright blue gaze of the female Inugami. Dipping his head just a bit in a show of respect, knowing that trying to bow would more than likely land him in an undignified heap on the ground, Raiza observed her calmly while saying "Yes, it's a pleasure to meet you as well, Ai-san. I've heard quite a bit about you over the years".

 

Feeling his ears swirl around on top of his head when a masculine voice lifted into the air, Raiza turned his head slowly to look upon the man who ran them all. Blinking a bit amused at the exchange between Hikaru and the Director, Raiza's fur bristled lightly when his living arrangements were brought up once again. However, instead of reacting in annoyance, the snow furred Inugami walked forward and with as much grace as he could, though it truly wasn't much at this point, sank down on the seat offered. "What is it that is so important about my living arrangements, Nazushima-sama?" he asked plainly after a moment, not bothering to beat around the bush. He was much to tired and in pain to play any games at the moment.

[Cazuki]

Hotaru followed Raiza, sitting in the seat adjacent to him. He'd already been briefed on the best-case scenario of this conversation, but based on Raiza's clear hesitance, it seemed like plans would be changed. He interlaced his fingers in his lap, relaxing into the chair as he let Nazushima handle negotiations.

 

"What is it that is so important about my living arrangements, Nazushima-sama?" Nazushima wasn't overly surprised at Raiza's straightforward question, after all it was one of his strong points. Nazushima took a deep breath, fiddling with his fingers for a moment before looking Raiza directly in the eyes, his mouth set with a gentle smile but firm eyes.

"Raiza." The inflection of his voice was slightly deeper, lending more authority to his tone. "All of us here at the division know you have been through a crippling and irreplaceable loss. Kinoue-san was probably the best man in this department, even better than probably even I..." Nazushima paused, looking down at his fiddling hands. "We all understand it must feel like your whole universe has been torn apart. We know how close you and Kinoue were." He looked over at Hotaru. "Hotaru-san has probably already told you that he had a close link to Kinoue as well and that he volunteered himself to become your nex-... become friends with you." He looked back to Raiza. "We have kept your living accommodation just the same as it was a month ago. Nothing has been moved. We understand if you want to go back there and equally we understand if you want to go somewhere else."

Nazushima glanced over to Akihiko, who nodded reassuringly.

"We as a division will wholly support whatever decision you choose to make in the future. However, it is necessary, at this point in time, to have someone monitor you and bring you back into peak condition. In other words, Raiza, we would like you to consider allowing Hotaru-san to help with your recovery. The details you can organize between you, but that is what the division requests." Nazushima leant back. "Anyway, that is the serious point. In terms of your service, until you are in a more stable physical condition you are on paid leave. The department is open to you and you may come in for training or for whatever purpose at whatever time you normally would, but until then you will not be required to go on any ground missions with the other units."

 

Hikaru, ears flicking back at what must have been a pre-established cue, walked forward, standing beside his handler and smiling slightly at Raiza.

"You have the rest of the day to do as you please. Once you and Hotaru-san have agreed on your living arrangements, Hotaru can contact us through his transceiver and we will get your transportation there." He bowed. Nazushima nodded, rising as well.

"You are both dismissed."

 

Hotaru had listened quietly through the whole speech, eyes flicking to Raiza once every little while to assess his reaction. He didn't expect this to go smoothly whatsoever, and the Director's mention of his connection to Kinoue might bring up some uncomfortable questions. He sighed, getting up and bowing to the Director and his Inugami. He then looked over to Raiza, smiling as usual.

"You wanna talk about this outside?"

[GodofMischief]

Listening to Nazushima talk, Raiza's ruby eyes widen just a fraction when he was told that he was put on leave until he had more stability. Anger churned inside him and the want to lash out built up within him, however, the Inugami did a marvelous job in swallowing those emotions in favor on pulling on a mask he had not donned for a long time. His eyes grew cold, icy and whatever bristling that might have been going on along his fur, instantly stopped and his pelt settled down once more. In a sense, it was almost like a door had been slammed shut inside him.

 

In a reasonable sense, Raiza figured it would have been for the best of everyone to take him of ground missions. He was weaker than ever before and Kinoue's death had indeed felt like someone had torn up his universe. Nevertheless, Raiza couldn't accept it....no, he wouldn't accept it. He wouldn't allow anyone to get in the way of his revenge...not even if they were doing so with his best intentions at heart. Raiza wouldn't let the division get in his way. He had sworn to avenge Kinoue and with or without the division, he would do just that.

 

Besides, Kinoue wasn't around anymore. It meant Raiza didn't have a Handler to answer to and in turn, answer to the division for. He was a free Inugami now, no bonds held him tied to anyone. No matter what plans the Director had had for him and Hotaru. Raiza didn't have to do as he was told anymore, he didn't have to obey anymore. With no bond to hold him or his loyalty, he could do as he pleased, when he pleased. And he'd be damned if this division and it's leaders had anything to say against that. There had only been one man Raiza had listened to without a mark of hesitation and that man was no longer with them....

 

When they had been dismissed, Raiza turned his head slowly to look over when Hotaru spoke. Cool, frigid eyes gazed at the smiling Inugami for several heartbeats before his lips parted to speak. "I don't believe we have anything to talk about" had there not been a layer of ice in his way of speaking, his tone might have come across as calm and passive.

 

It had not escaped his notice that the Director had mentioned Hotaru's close link to Kinoue. Whether Raiza felt betrayed about Hotaru not telling him that himself or unease due to Kinoue holding a sort of bond with someone else, the Inugami couldn't tell at the moment...Nor did he really want to figure out. At the moment, he wanted to be left in peace, away from all these people that wanted what was "best" for him.

 

"You may organize everything as you wish, Hotaru-san. Exchange ideas with Akihiko or the Director if you like, I care not....Once you're done, you may come to find me where I will be with my family" he finally spoke again, pushing himself to his feet in an impossibly smoother manner than before. It was almost like his body had grown a bit numb when his mental walls had slammed down and his doors had been closed with force. He could still feel his injuries and fatigue, but it almost seemed to be rather distant in a way.

 

Dipping his head politely, though he didn't feel any level care at the moment, Raiza turned on his heel and headed towards the door of the office. "I will be eager to hear what you come up with in the end, Hotaru-san. Please, take your time" Raiza called over his shoulder as he reached the door, pulled it open and slipped out of the office.

 

Once out in the hallway, the man allowed his ears to lower a bit in a brief display his emotions that bubbled beyond the icy mask he had pulled on. Rage decorated his insides, yet he clamped his teeth shut and began to walk down the halls. Intent on finding his friends before he lost full control of what lay just beneath the surface.

[Cazuki]

Well, it had gone about as well as anyone could have expected. And by that, they meant it hadn't gone well at all.

"I don't believe we have anything to talk about." The ice in Raiza's voice forced a chill up Hotaru's spine and his fur ruffled slightly in response. This was the legendary 'mad dog' he'd heard about, the cold-blooded agent he'd heard about from the other members at the Academy. It was a sight to behold.

 

Hotaru watched as Raiza rose from his chair, his earlier injury and fatigue seemingly entirely forgotten as he bowed to the Director, spun on his heel and made for the exit.

"You may organize everything as you wish, Hotaru-san. Exchange ideas with Akihiko or the Director if you like, I care not....Once you're done, you may come to find me where I will be with my family. I will be eager to hear what you come up with in the end, Hotaru-san. Please, take your time."

Everyone, including Hotaru stood in silence as Raiza swished out of the room, the ice in his actions seeming to freeze everyone for a moment. However, as soon as the door closed, the Director leant back in his chair, taking in a deep sigh.

 

"Stubborn bastard..." Mizushima pulled himself back up straight, grabbing the barrel and brush still on the table and continuing to clean it. Hikaru coughed, drawing Hotaru's attention to him. He was met by a small, apologetic smile.

"I apologize Hotaru-san... after you so kindly decided to help him and all..." From the opposite side of the room, Ai also decided to speak, her blue eyes darkening with sadness.

"I can't imagine what Rai-san is feeling right now... if I l-lost Aki I'd have no idea what to do..." Ai started tearing up and Akihiko, obviously seeing this, stood up and drew her close to his side, petting her head lightly. It was only then that Hotaru noticed the golden wedding band on his hand.

"It's alright, Ai-darling, you ain't never gonna lose me... but," he turned to Hotaru "I know what she means. Look, I know you said Kinoue 'picked' you and all and you seem plenty determined, but do you really think this is gonna work out? Rai was stubborn, even with Kinoue around."

 

Hotaru looked down at the ground, a million plans coursing through his head. However, the reason he was so used to appealing to in situations like this seemed to fail him. He sighed deeply.

Well, it thinking won't get me anywhere, might as well go for it.

The thought brought a weight off his shoulders and he looked back up, grinning at everyone else. Then he laughed, long and hard.

"I have absolutely no idea, honestly. Director." He turned on his heel to Mizushima, who looked vaguely uncomfortable. "Could I request transport to my apartment?"

"...Sure?... um would ETA 40 minutes work?"

"Perfect, thank you Mizushima-sama." He bowed to the director and then ran for the door, tail swishing behind him at light-speed. Whatever happened next was going to be interesting he could tell. He opened the door and looked around, catching the faint scent of Raiz down the hallway, out of eyeline. He grinned, beginning to run down the hallway at full-pelt.

 

After leaving the room, the tension finally seemed to ebb away. The Director sighed again, this time looking at Hikaru.

"Hikky, why do I always employ the odd ones?"

"I have no idea, sir? Coffee."

"Please."

"Also, could you stop cleaning you gun on the desk?"

"Make me." Hikaru chuckled at that. From the other side of the room, Akihiko gasped in mock awe.

"Oooh, could it be the legendary laughing cat? Ai-chan," he turned to Ai, who was still in his arms, eyes dry and chuckling "we're truly blessed, aren't we?"

"Yes, I suppose we are Aki." She giggled, kissing Akihiko lightly on the cheek. "Care to start another wager with me?"

Hikaru sighed, resting his head in one hand. Those two really were an idiot couple.

 

Meanwhile, Hotaru continued to blaze down the hallway, narrowly avoiding several handlers and Inugami who crossed his path. As he kept running, he eventually caught sight of Raiza, who seemed to be looking around for someone. He shouted out to him.

"Hey Rai, wait up!"

So how's this gonna work? Hotaru looked around and he zeroed in on a trash-can at an intersection in the hallway close to the med-bay from before. That'll work. He continued running until he passed Raiza, sliding so he was now facing him. While he could have easily kept his balance, he instead decided to continue the slide, skidding past Raiza at high-speed and throwing himself into the trash-can, knocking it over and spilling the contents onto the floor. To complement the picture, a discarded box of take-away food flew up in the air from the impact, landing promptly on top of Hotaru's head.

Hotaru grinned up at Raiza, getting up and dusting himself down, seeming to forget the container on his head while knowing full-well it was there. "Where you going?" His tail was wagging sporadically.

[GodofMischief]

Having been wandering the halls for a few long moments, Raiza gazed around curiously trying to spot the raven furred head of his tallest family member. He knew Kotetsu would be out here somewhere, all he had to do was locate the man and then find a quiet spot to allow his body a moment to relax and let down the frigid guard that it had developed in the Director's office.

 

Ignoring a few stares he recieved from Inugami and their Handler's alike, clearly surprised to see the snow furred Inugami back on his feet after what had happened to his Handler, Raiza inhaled a deep whiff of air and frowned lightly. He could tell that Kotetsu was near by and he caught the scent of Inari as well as Kaname and Natsume with him....yet he couldn't quite land his eyes on them. Not only that, but a new scent had entered his senses as well and with a heavy sigh, Raiza prepared himself to face an always smiling Inugami.

 

Swerving his ears to face back when the familiar voice called out his name, Raiza took a moment to angle himself ever so slightly to be able to peer over his shoulder at the other Inugami that was charging in his direction. However, when he had thought Hotaru would slow down, the pale furred individual flew past him. True, Hotaru had turned his body to face him yet his momentum had done no wonders in his favor and sent the Inugami crashing into a trash can, making quick work of creating a mess in what had been a clean hallway.

 

Blinking at him a few times with comical wide eyes the moment Hotaru pulled himself out of the mess on the floor and had dusted himself off, Raiza raised a brow before his eyes lifted to stare at the box on the Inugami's head. Annoyance rattled inside him at the remaining piece of trash on the other Inugami and with a soft Tsk under his breath, Raiza stepped forward and raised a hand to gently pull the box off Hotaru, tossing it aside smoothly.

 

"I was going to find Tetsu and the others.....Is there a reason you seemed to have run after me like a bat out of hell?" Raiza asked, tone a bit softer and less cold than it had been. It couldn't be helped that even to the cold hearted agent, Hotaru had made quite an adorable picture surrounded by garbage yet with his tail wagging a mile a minute.

 

Not only that, but the tired weariness was coming back little by little and Raiza, despite himself, didn't have the strenght of mind to keep his cold guard up for much longer. "I'm sure you haven't finished organizing anything yet....So why are you here? It's not like I'll disappear is you can't keep your eyes on me" he murmured softly, carefully crossing his arms and resting his weight against one of the sides of the hallway.

[Cazuki]

All things considered, the plan was stupid, but it had worked. He felt the takeaway box be removed from his head, leaving some traces of red sauce on his ears. It was sticky and probably going to be a pain to get out, but it was worth it hear Raiza's tone soften, just a bit.

"I was going to find Tetsu and the others.....Is there a reason you seemed to have run after me like a bat out of hell?"

Hotaru chuckled, answering as he moved around, uprighting the trash can and throwing back in the garbage that had flown out. As he picked up a drinks can and threw it in he answered, keeping his eyes mostly on Raiza.

"Do I need a reason? I wanted to run after you, so I did."

"I'm sure you haven't finished organizing anything yet....So why are you here? It's not like I'll disappear is you can't keep your eyes on me."

"Well, it depends what you mean by 'organize'. Anyway, that's not really important." Having thrown most of the trash back in, Hotaru turned back to Raiza, who was leaning on a wall. "Hey Rai, we're both rational adults, right?" Hotaru hoped this worked, though it's not like it'd stop him if it didn't. "Let's be buddies." He held out his right hand to the other. "We both want the same thing and we can help each other. I can do the menial things like cooking and cleaning, you can get better and together we can find those bastards who killed Kinoue. And if you don't like it, I'm carrying you out of here, wounds be damned!"

 

He continued to hold out his hand, but flattened his ears, dialing down the intensity of his smile and letting his tail hang down between his legs. He tried to make himself look smaller, relaxing his shoulders and looking up at Raiza with begging eyes.

"Please~. I just want to help."

Doing this was humiliating in its own way and a small, buried part of Hotaru's psyche rebelled against the notion of showing submission to anyone, even fake submission. However, he crushed that part easily.

 

Further down the corridor, off to Hotaru's right, muffled voices could be heard, intially quiet, when one voice boomed over the rest. Hotaru flinched slightly. Great, him again.

"Hey punk! Where's Rai!?"

[GodofMischief]

Flickering an ear in mild nervousness when Hotaru's eyes seemed to remained glued on him even as he put everything he had knocked over back in place, Raiza found his gaze going up to the red stains on the other Inugami's ears. He didn't like it. He preferred to see the Inugami clean and untouched, than with messiness on him. Even if it had been self inflicted. Then again, the thought that it bothered him surprised him quite a bit. The snow furred Inugami wasn't used to caring about random people yet Hotaru reminded him greatly of Kinoue and he supposed that was why he couldn't help but wish to see the man without taint.

 

Flickering his eyes down at the hand Hotaru extended to him, Raiza's eyes narrowed a bit at the man's words before they slid closed completely. Almost like a dismissing gesture in and of itself. "How many times must I tell you....I don't need your help" he remarked softly, not bothering to raise his voice though there was a minor tingle of annoyance in it. "I am aware you were Kinoue's friend and had ties to him that I do not know of. However, I was his Inugami, I was his sword, his weapon, and his canine. My master is gone because of my inability to save him in time. In order to redeem myself and bring honor to Kinoue, I will hunt down and kill the ones responsible for his death.....without anyone's help" he finished, opening his eyes just a smidgen to lock gazes with Hotaru from under white lashes.

 

Left eyebrow twitching at the sight Hotaru made himself become, Raiza's lips tugged down into a small frown of discomfort. It seemed the other Inugami was willing to pull out all the stops just to get Raiza to come with him. And it couldn't be said that this newest trick wasn't working like a charm as Raiza's eyes began to soften and his reluctance slowly trickled away.

 

Thankfully for him and unfortunately for Hotaru, Kotetsu's voice was the saving grace the snow furred Inugami needed to snap out of it.

 

Gazing over Hotaru's shoulder, Raiza spotted his family heading towards them with Kotetsu in the lead. Once they were in better earshot, Raiza huffed softly saying "There is no need to make such a ruckus, Tetsu. I'm right here, as you can clearly see".

 

"Rai~chan....you look about ready to drop" Natsume commented with playfulness in his voice through his face showed signs of concern. Something his Inugami picked up on because he picked up his pace, brushing past Hotaru to reach Raiza and scoop him up as if the man weighed nothing more than a feather. It amplified Raiza's deep tiredness that the man didn't even protest or struggle, simple opting for tucking his nose gently against Kotetsu's throat and closing his eyes with a soft yawn.

 

"How did the meeting go?" Kaname asked gently, smiling friendly at Hotaru even as she walked past him to get to Kotetsu's side, hand raising and gently combing her fingers through the exhausted Inugami's hair.

 

"According to the Director, it is recommended that I allow Hotaru to keep an eye me while I heal. Thus, I suppose it would be more logical that I live with him for the time being" Raiza replied, voice coming out more like a mumble of words than anything truly precise and clear. Something that had Inari giggling quietly from where she stood beside Kaname, playing with the ends of the hair her Handler stroke.

 

"Over my dead and rotting corpse, that's gonna happen. Raiza's coming home with Natsume and me. And if you have a problem with that, kid, then it sucks to be you cause I ain't changing my mind" Kotetsu snarled fiercely at Hotaru.

[Cazuki]

"How many times must I tell you....I don't need your help. I am aware you were Kinoue's friend and had ties to him that I do not know of. However, I was his Inugami, I was his sword, his weapon, and his canine. My master is gone because of my inability to save him in time. In order to redeem myself and bring honor to Kinoue, I will hunt down and kill the ones responsible for his death.....without anyone's help."

 

Honestly, Raiza's words frustrated Hotaru. Less than sounding like a cool, dignified, logical agent, he sounded like a hurt child. To an extent, he was a hurt kid, but Hotaru felt slight anger at the thought Raiza seemed to have latched onto that he was the only one that hurt and he was the one that hurt most and that that hurt was enough to make him want to throw his life away on an endeavour he very clearly would not be able to accomplish himself. Hotaru felt a burning sensation in his body and decided then and there he was not going to give up until Raiza let go of the notion he had to work alone.

Hotaru had been happy when it looked like Raiza might give way just a little, which increased his frustration all the more when Kotetsu and the others coming on scene seemed to backtrack the situation.

 

When Kotetsu came over, picking up Raiza, who simply snuggled into his hold, Hotaru couldn't help but think Raiza look absolutely adorable. He shook his head, shaking out the thought as he stood back to full height, dropping his hand to glare fully at Kotetsu. Hotaru smiled back at Kaname as she walked by, but the smile dropped when he looked back at Kotetsu again. The image of Raiza leaning into Kotetsu annoyed him somehow.

"Over my dead and rotting corpse, that's gonna happen. Raiza's coming home with Natsume and me. And if you have a problem with that, kid, then it sucks to be you cause I ain't changing my mind."

Okay, now Hotaru was done.

 

He snarled back with just as much thought, his brown eyes lit with annoyance as his pelt raised almost on end. His voice had a sharper edge to it normally reserved for people he found especially annoying.

"First off, stop calling me 'kid'. I'm 27 years old, if you must know, so don't expect me just to be some straight-out-of-the-academy wet-behind-the-ears pup!" He looked at Raiza and then at Kotetsu again, the fierce eyes dropping in favour of a smile. "Secondly..." he should have done this from the start. He dashed forward, closing the gap between him and Kotetsu easily. He jumped just before they collided, holding out his arms to grab Raiza away from the taller Inugami. Having grabbed the Inugami, he kicked against Kotetsu's chest with both feet, strong enough to push him a good distance away in a short time, but not enough to cause physical injury to Kotetsu. He didn't waste time, turning on his heel and sprinting down the corridor, hugging Raiza close to him. He really was too light. Determination sped up his actions and he called behind him, a laugh in his voice. "You gotta catch me first, bozo!"

 

He continued to sprint towards the front entrance, taking side-paths to try and lose Kotetsu. He kept Raiza stable in his arms, tucking the other's head into the crook of his neck and holding him close to his body heat.

"Told ya I was gonna carry you like a princess, Rai. You forced my hand." He was ready for whatever wounds Raiza would inflict on his, bracing himself so that he would not drop the other should he start squirming. He started to close in on the front door, looking around desperately for the transport the Director was to arrange. Sadly, no sight of it.

Well, looks like I'm carrying you back then. Sorry, Rai. He ran out of the building, beginning to move to Sector C and his department.

[GodofMischief]

Eyes opening a bit when Hotaru finally revealed his actual age, Raiza couldn't help but look at the pale furred Inugami with a startled gleam in his eyes. He could have sworn the man had been younger than all of them. Heck, he certainly acted the part quite well and Raiza had thought nothing other than the man must have been a few years his junior. Not only that, but the man was a brand new recruit to the division, so that had amplified Raiza's thoughts of him to be younger. Apparently that had all been wrong and it wasn't only himself that had been surprised. By the comical wide eyed looks his friends were giving Hotaru, it was clear that they hadn't been expecting this news flash either. It would have made Raiza laugh if what happened next hadn't both shocked him and brought an indignant growl out of him.

 

One moment, he was safely tucked into the familiar arms of Kotetsu and the next he was being pulled away and carried off by a new set of arms as Kotetsu slid back a few feet. Disbelief clear in the raven furred Inugami's face from the glimpse Raiza managed to get of him beyond Hotaru's shoulder. However, that view was quickly taken away when the man tucked Raiza's head against the crock of his neck.

 

"GET BACK HERE, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!!" Kotetsu's roar of rage practically shook the halls which Raiza was been carried through. It took less than a second for the slamming of feet on the floor could be heard as Kotetsu tore off in their general direction, promises of a long painful death were more than likely filling his furious golden eyes. By the softer yet just as rapid sounds of other footsteps, Raiza knew his family group was running after the raven wrecking ball. However, if they were doing so in an attempt to calm him or help him find Raiza, the injured Inugami had no idea at the moment.

 

Squirming in Hotaru's arms, Raiza snarled in irritation, as his hands pushed against the chest he was held to. He hated to admit it but the heat coming of Hotaru was truly kind of comforting and with how tired he already was, it didn't help the matter. Nevertheless, he refused to ideally let this man do what he wanted. Especially when it came to carrying him around like a helpless individual.

 

Sharp claws cut into Hotaru's shirt, but they never truly made deep lacerations to his skin. A few scratches here and there but nothing of dire consequences, as could have been done if Raiza's heart and mind were really behind his squirming. Honestly, he truly didn't want to inflict serious damage on the man, he just wanted to be put down before anyone else saw him in this level of indignity....

 

"Put me down! I can bloody walk on my own, I'm not some kind of helpless female!" Raiza snapped. Taking a moment to stop his squirming and look around momentarily, angry yet tired ruby eyes shot a glare at Hotaru before demanding "Where are we going anyways?!"

[Cazuki]

The sharp claws, while not causing serious injury to Hotaru, certainly did not help the already tattered state of his shirt, already stained with blood from earlier in the med-bay.

I just payed for this shirt too... argh, today really isn't my day. However, he didn't fail to notice that the scratches were much lighter than he'd been expecting. He must be so exhausted.

 

Hotaru continued running even as Raiza squirmed in his arms, going a good block or two away. Luckily for Raiza's dignity, he decided to move mostly through side-streets and back alleys. Considering how fast Kotetsu was, Hotaru had decided it probably wasn't the best idea to go on main streets. Besides, he knew the alleys like the back of his hand and could easily navigate them, though it would ultimately take a little longer to reach their destination. Nor were the routes particularly pleasant, filled with garbage and stagnant pools of rainwater. Again, this was to avoid detection, as the menagerie of scents could throw off even the most trained of Inugami, as he'd learnt from past experience. Eventually, once they'd gotten into almost the innermost maze of criss-crossing streets. He finally stopped, taking deep breaths as he placed Raiza back on the ground. He hadn't run like that in a while and honestly, it had been exhilarating. He kept hold of the Inugami's hand, not roughly but enough to know if the other decided to run back.

 

"Where are we going anyways?!"

Hotaru took a few gulping breaths, then righted himself to smile at Raiza.

"My apartment in Sector C. I was hoping to get other transportation but... eh, needs must, I suppose." He continued to walk, lightly tugging on Raiza's hand in a bid to have the other follow. He flicked his ears down, turning apologetic eyes to Raiza. "Sorry about all of that but... I think a change of scene would do you some good right now... come with me to my place. I'll cook for you and you can rest and then, if you still hate me, you can go back, okay?" His voice was meshed with his earlier frustration. "Besides, it's not that much to ask, seeing as I'll probably be killed the next time I go there unless I look after you." He smiled. "You don't have to agree, but I could just carry you again, mi'lord."

[GodofMischief]

Being set back down on his feet after being carried a few blocks, was a bit disconcerting but with a firm shake of his head, Raiza did his best to clear the cobwebs and slight sense of dizziness that had come with them. His hand twitched a bit with the need to be yanked out of Hotaru's grip but for the most part, he remained standing still and looking around. A wary tension framing his thin frame and white ears swerving at any sudden noise around them, given plain view that the Inugami was as alert as could be, despite his exhaustion. Something years of training had helped provide.

 

Raiza knew that no matter how fast Kotetsu was and how good Inari could be in tracking down people, the chances of being found were rather low. That didn't sit very well with him but at the moment he honestly didn't have the strength to protest. He was tired and quite frankly, wanted to fricken sleep. So if it meant going with Hotaru wherever it was that the Inugami lived, then so be it. He'd snap at Hotaru when he was better rested, for now, he supposed he could play nice a bit.

 

Feeling his shoulders slump in defeat with both knowing that he couldn't keep fighting Hotaru at the moment and that Kotetsu was probably going to murder the man next time he saw him, Raiza followed Hotaru with just a tiny hint of hesitation as he released an exasperated sigh. "Next time you try anything like that, I'll make sure to claw stripes off you" he murmured and though there was the barest hints of temper in his voice, for the most part he sounded as if he had thrown in the towel for the time being. "Kotetsu will probably do his best to rip your head off your body next time he sees you....so I suggest you stay behind me and allow me to calm him down. The last thing we need is another death for ridiculous reason" he exhaled softly, ears flickering in disapproval of the mere thought.

 

Keeping his eyes watching everything that moved or seemed to move, Raiza frowned slightly when he recalled something from the conversation in the Director's office. "How is it that you seem so close to Kinoue....You never explained your relationship with him to me" he asked, red eyes momentarily resting on Hotaru before they shifted once more to look around.

[Cazuki]

"Next time you try anything like that, I'll make sure to claw stripes off you. Kotetsu will probably do his best to rip your head off your body next time he sees you....so I suggest you stay behind me and allow me to calm him down. The last thing we need is another death for ridiculous reasons."

"Duly noted and thank you." Hotaru knew he'd have to be careful when he met the black-furred Inugami again, and probably for a good while after, but honestly he was happy enough that Raiza finally seemed to settle down enough to not try and run away from him again. He kept his hand on Raiza's though mostly through ignorance than on purpose and led them through the back-alleys, making turns this way and that. It would take maybe ten more minutes to make their way to his apartment block if they kept a good speed, which Hotaru doubted Raiza could so more like fifteen minutes.

 

He noticed Raiza flicking his ears out of the corner of his eye and chuckled.

"How is it that you seem so close to Kinoue?...You never explained your relationship with him to me." The question caught Hotaru off-guard and he jerked, his pelt ruffling for a few moments, before he settled down. He took a long, deep breath and let his smile drop, leaving a more worn face with only the hints of an ironic smile.

"That's a big personal question, Rai. You shouldn't go delving into people's pasts like that. It's rude." He laughed, but then went back to his neutral expression. "Ah, but I guess you deserve to know, seeing as we're gonna be working together." Hotaru paused, closing his eyes for a moment as he let the memories wash over him, bringing with them a messy heap of old emotions and experiences he would rather not relive.

 

"I guess I'll answer directly. I really didn't like how how Kinoue would speak in riddles sometimes. To cut it short, he saved me. Like you, I used to live on the streets, but unlike you, I wasn't saved when I was young." He paused, casting his mind back to those early days. The most prevalent image was blood, red and sticky and matting his fur, turning it blood-red. "I was feral... naw, I was worse. Anyway," He shrugged. "Kinoue found me here, in the back-streets. He was an idiot and reached out to me, saying I could be saved. Took him a while, but eventually he dragged me out of here. We were drinking buddies after that and he told me all about you. How you were his closest family and how cute you were and how he'd love to have us meet someday..." His ears flicked down and his tail tucked between his legs. He gripped onto Raiza's hand slightly tighter, though again he didn't notice. "That was years ago, before Kinoue forced me to join the Academy. When I was about to graduate, he told me he felt terrible about never introducing you and I and he made me promise to help you if anything should ever happen to him. Heheh..."

His hand went limp, dropping Raiza's. "Didn't actually expect the guy to just up and die on me though... anyway, I can assure you he had good reason to not talk about me with you. You had your life and I had mine and if he was still around, you probably never would have met me."

 

He kept walking, continuing to turn corners. "Thems the basics." He turned to Raiza, smiling again, though this time it seemed less real, more set. "Anything else, mi'lord? We're not far now."

[GodofMischief]

Listening to Hotaru explain how he had met Kinoue and how Kinoue had saved him, Raiza winched a bit when the man's hand tightened around his. Half of him thought of pulling his hand away using any means possible, but a stronger part of him knew it probably wouldn't be any use. Besides, he didn't think the man would crush his hand and by the looks of it alone, Hotaru was lost in his memories, something Raiza didn't want to disturb him from.

 

Where Raiza's past had been quite a dark one, Hotaru's seemed to be even worse and Raiza pitied him a bit. He knew all to well how hard life on the streets were, how it tainted the mind and twisted the heart. But he was thankful to be rescued when he was still young, something Hotaru hadn't had the opportunity to have happen. Raiza couldn't even imagine what had occurred to make the man worse than feral during his time out here, but he knew well enough that he shouldn't ask. Not for a long time, at least.

 

Hearing about Kinoue, though, had his heart swell with love and grief once more. His Handler had been a remarkable human, willing to save even those that others would have seen as beyond help. Kinoue had never been one to give up and his words always had a way of bringing a positive effect on everyone around. To say Kinoue had had a heart of gold, would have been an understatment....and now he was gone because of Sakame and because Raiza had been unable to save him....Something Raiza could not forgive himself for.

 

Taking a deep breath, Raiza lifted his eyes to look at Hotaru even as he parted his lips to speak. "Hotaru....do not take this as me being childish or anything of the sort. I appreciate you being a friend to Kinoue, I appreciate you allowing him to save you, and I appreciate you dedicating some time to spend by his side....however, it is not your task to avenge him. I understand that his death pains you just as much as it pains those who were close to him. It is not my intention to be selfish or self centered" he said softly, feet coming to a halt as he kept his quiet, reserved stare on Hotaru.

 

"However, I was Kinoue's Inugami. I swore to keep him safe even at the cost of my own life, and I failed him", at this; self hatred briefly flickered into his eyes before it was gone again in the length of a moment. "You are not as well trained as I am. Nor do you have the experience I do....You would only hinder my goals to avenge my Handler. If Kinoue cared for you as you make me think he did, he would not have wanted you involved in this. Sakame is not an organization a simple recruit can take on without a second thought, every fact points that you will be another casualty at their hands and Kinoue would never forgive me if I allowed you to get hurt over my own selfish reasons" Raiza spoke calmly, tone monotonic yet with a small plea under it for Hotaru to understand what he was trying to say.

 

"This is not your fight. If you wish to help the division fight Sakame in their way, then so be it. But don't try and put yourself in my corner. You will get in the way, and I can't let that happen" he finished just as quietly as he had begun, not once taking his eyes off the Inugami. He didn't know if Hotaru would understand or even want to, but Raiza wasn't going to change his mind. Not in this.

[Cazuki]

They were close to the apartment block now. Hotaru could see it, just in the distance. Then Raiza spoke.

"Hotaru....do not take this as me being childish or anything of the sort." Nothing good ever started with those sort of words. Really, today was not Hotaru's day. "I appreciate you being a friend to Kinoue, I appreciate you allowing him to save you, and I appreciate you dedicating some time to spend by his side...." 'Friend', huh? Guess that was right, in the end. "however, it is not your task to avenge him." And here we go. One final push to push him away.

 

Hotaru remained silent throughout the rest of Raiza's speech. He stopped when Raiza did, ending up a little in front of him. He closely observed Raiza's reaction, brown eyes darkened, almost becoming black.

"It is not my intention to be selfish or self-centered." Hotaru didn't doubt that. Raiza cared about others, under that hard exterior of his, he cared. In fact, Hotaru could tell Raiza was being nice to him. He was giving him an out. Giving him a way to live a normal life, free from the almost certain doom that Raiza faced going against the Sakame organization. Hotaru gave a sad smile, though his fur almost imperceptibly prickled, belying his true emotions.

 

"However, I was Kinoue's Inugami. I swore to keep him safe even at the cost of my own life, and I failed him." Hotaru saw the self-hatred in Raiza's eyes and a part of him rang out in sympathy. However, he couldn't resist his thoughts.

Yeah, you did... and so did I.

"You are not as well trained as I am. Nor do you have the experience I do....You would only hinder my goals to avenge my Handler. If Kinoue cared for you as you make me think he did, he would not have wanted you involved in this. Sakame is not an organization a simple recruit can take on without a second thought, every fact points that you will be another casualty at their hands and Kinoue would never forgive me if I allowed you to get hurt over my own selfish reasons." The calm tone, logically, was meant to help. And it did, a bit. Hotaru bit back a snarl (was it a snarl?) and instead grinned. "You will get in the way."

 

Raiza finally stopped, looking at Hotaru with determined eyes.

You really are a brat... Hotaru took a breath, as if to speak. Then stopped. He did it again and stopped again. The third time, he took a deep breath. He turned on his heel and slowly walked away. His movements were slower but smoother, quieter. He barely made a sound.

"I hear you loud and clear, Rai." His voice was lower, more guttural, but still kept a hollow, happy tone. Kinoue'd had more of an impact on him than he thought, if his mannerisms could still be there when Hotaru was so deeply, incredibly enraged. "Next time though... Don't." Hotaru coughed, clearing his throat. He started again. "Don't underestimate others, 'kid'. Sure, I ain't got your fancy law-dog's 'experience' or 'rank', but don't think I'm a weak pup who should told to 'shoo and play with the other pups'. I know all these streets," He waved his left hand, swinging it around. "from every corner of the city all the way to the centre. I know every secret-passage, shortcut, entrance, exit. Everything. Stuff they don't teach law-dogs. That is something you're gonna need if you stand even a micron of a chance at succeeding. You want battle experience? I got that in spades and more. You get taught 'discipline' and control. I got taught to 'win'..."

They were closing in now, better wrap-up.

"Honestly, thanks for the kindness but... you're stuck with me... so suck it up like the man you supposedly are and let's get you some good food and sleep, eh?" He pushed open the door and was greeted by the landlady, who stared at him in abject horror at the blood and scratches on his shirt.

"H-hotaru-san... w-what happened to you-"

Hotaru smiled apologetically, tail flopping down and ears flicking back against his skull.

"Sorry, miss. Uhm, this isn't mine, just had to help someone... Uh... it's just really not my day." The explanation settled the lady somewhat, though she still looked anxious, especially as she could see Raiza through the glass door, who looked about as good as roadkill on legs.

"O-of course... Will you be alright?"

"Yeah, I think we'll be fine... um, do you have a first-aid kit by chance?"

Tha landlady seemed to relish the excuse to exit the awkward conversation, running back into her office and producing a small, green first-aid box. It was simple, but workable.

"Thanks, Miss."

 

Hotaru turned back to Raizu as he went to the elevator.

"Rai, you coming?" All signs of earlier emotion had disappeared, if Raiza had ever noticed them and were replaced with all the features Hotaru had before, down to his amiable smile and wagging tail.

[GodofMischief]

Narrowing his eyes when he was called "kid", Raiza listened to Hotaru's words with a an apprehensive little intake of air. He hadn't expected the other man to respond the way he had, but maybe he should have. He barely knew anything about Hotaru aside from what the man had told him so far. Those had just been small facts, nothing that would lead to a personal reveal of his time out here. Hotaru was right, perhaps he shouldn't have underestimated him....yet it couldn't be helped. "Law Dogs", as Hotaru had kindly put it, were trained to be the best at what they did. Yes, accidents sometimes happened...some even lead to tragedies, like what happened to Kinoue, but that didn't mean that their training had failed. It meant the circumstances had been impossible to win against. Something Raiza still refused to believe, no matter how many times the Director and Akihiko had tried to convince him of it since the accident.

 

Following after Hotaru, with more reluctance than before, Raiza's ear twisted a bit in unease. The man's change in nature had unnerved him a bit. For all intents and purposes, his tone had remained polite but the under note to it had been chilling. For the first time, Raiza wondered if he were truly safe with an Inugami that he only knew Kinoue had saved. Logic would say that going back to Kotetsu would be the best choice. He knew his old friend would refuse to allow Hotaru anywhere near him, even more so if Raiza showed genuine discomfort at the thought of going with the male. However, at this point in time, the Inugami didn't want a fight. He just wanted to rest....even if it meant being in Hotaru's presence and his place of living .

 

Stopping just before entering the building Hotaru had just walked into, Raiza watched the Inugami talk to the woman with a small frown. He had an itch to make a run for it. To turn heel and go, push his body even with the tired weariness creeping up in his mind. He wasn't comfortable....not anymore, not in this unfamiliar location with a Inugami he had only met today. Tail rising lightly to swish from one side to the other in a nervous little tick, Raiza's hands curled into fists as he took half a step back.

 

Glancing at Hotaru when he spoke, his tone different again...once again friendly, Raiza growled softly under his breath. His mind rebelled at going into a building that could have inhabitants he should probably watch his back around. His heart lunged in his chest, beating rapidly in unease and slight tendrils of fear....yet he knew he couldn't turn tail and run. His body was tense, fur rising slowly and ears flattening back against his head....but he knew he wouldn't dash off. His pride wouldn't allow him to. Not even for a moment.

 

Taking a moment to take a deep breath and gather himself, Raiza rolled his stiff shoulders slowly before walking towards Hotaru and the elevator. Not a word left his lips as he kept his eyes straight ahead, mouth fixed in a straight line. Long hammered in instincts, both developed in the streets and the Academy, screamed at him to keep his guard up and react to anything around him...and that was exactly what the man was going to do. Damaged body or not, he wouldn't be caught unaware by anything....even if there was nothing to worry about.

 

"Hurry up" he grunted in a clip, sharp way though he paid his tone no mind as he passed Hotaru by and reached the elevator. "I'm tired" he murmured, tone coming out just as clipped as before as he pushed his panic down the best he could.

[Cazuki]

Raiza's reactions didn't escape Hotaru's notice. The clipped tone, the tense body and the furtive nature all told Hotaru the other Inugami was on high alert.

Shit, was that too much earlier? He wasn't surprised if his thinly veiled anger earlier had scared Raiza, especially since they'd only just met today. Suddenly, all of the remaining anger Hotaru had been holding onto from Raiza's comments drained away, instead replaced by guilt and a need to apologize. He'd called Raiza a kid and a brat but he himself was no different. He'd snapped at Raiza's well-meaning provocation when really he should have calmly told him why his comments hurt him so much.

 

He followed Raiza to the elevator, pressing the call button. He stood awkwardly by Raiza's side, until the elevator dinged down at their floor. As the doors slid open, he walked calmly inside, hoping Raiza did the same. He pressed the button for his floor and as the doors slid shut he looked over to Raiza, an apology clear in his expression.

"I'm really, really sorry about that Raiza... That was childish of me. Um... sorry... I was just hurt by those comments you made and reacted like a petulant child. I can't tell you not to be on guard, 'cause you have a right to be scared of me and a new placed... but I promise," Hotaru turned to Raiza, placing his left hand over his heart "hand over heart, that I will never hurt you or anyone who is innocent. My mission is to avenge Kinoue, just like you and I will do everything in my power to make sure that happens. As far as I am concerned, we are already partners... but I also want to be your friend Raiza... 'cause after I lost Kinoue, I lost the only family I ever had." He stopped himself from saying any more, knowing if he did he'd start choking up. "So, please accept my apology... sorry."

 

As Hotaru finished, the elevator dinged again, reaching their floor. As the doors slid open, he stepped out and turned, holding out his hand for Raiza to grab if he wanted to grab it. He was smiling, but in a sad way. He decided he would be honest with Raiza from now on.

[GodofMischief]

Hearing and taking the time to listen to Hotaru's words the moment he had walked quietly into the elevator after the man, Raiza's eyes flickered over to him as the man spoke. How many times had he heard the words Hotaru had said. How many people that he had cared about, had told him that they'd never hurt him...yet they did in the end. How many times had he been left behind by those who had meant more than he could admit. His parents, a few Academy instructors of which he had bonded with while being under his care, and now Kinoue.....How was he supposed to believe in the words Hotaru was telling him when he had heard them before in different ways. It was nearly impossible.

 

.....However, Kinoue had trusted him. Kinoue had cared about Hotaru, even saved him from the dark taint of the streets. Kinoue had trusted him enough to tell him about Raiza. He had cared enough to wish the two to meet one day.....Though Kinoue might not have been around any longer, even though he too had ended up hurting Raiza far worse than anyone else could, Raiza still trusted the human....even in death. His love for Kinoue was too strong for him to turn his back on, even if it meant accepting someone Kinoue had cared about, as an ally.

 

Besides, he wasn't completely alone anyways. He still had what remained of the family he had created. Kotetsu, Inari, Kaname, and Natsume. They were all still with him. They had all survived years to keep their promise to him....So what was to say that Hotaru didn't have that potential too.

 

Observing Hotaru closely for several heartbeats, Raiza slowly lower his gaze to the hand the man held out to him before they once again glanced up to catch the sad smile on his face. With his ears lowered slowly to press tightly against his skull, the Inugami took a deep breath before once again trying to push himself to.....try to trust someone new.

 

Slowly, his hand rose from where it had been hanging ideally at his side. The movement was hesitant, unsure, cautious, and wary all combined into one....but it was also unfailing. Ruby eyes locked onto Hotaru's the moment Raiza put his slightly shaking hand in Hotaru's, mental will alone kept his tail from curling between his legs in a sign of his fear at this being the wrong decision to make.

 

"I won't say I trust you now simply because of your words, Hotaru....However, I accept your apology, and I offer my own apologies as well. Kinoue trusted and cared for you.....so I will try to do the same...at least for him. Nevertheless, I make no promises" he spoke quietly, uncertainty still clear in his blood colored eyes as he kept their intensity locked with Hotaru for a few moments more.

 

Slowly though, after a few heartbeats, Raiza looked away once more stating "I'm hungry....were you not mentioning something about food earlier today?". He knew he was changing the subject but at the moment, he really didn't care.

[Cazuki]

Hotaru hadn't been expecting anything when he'd put his hand out. In fact, he'd been expecting Raiza to sweep past him indifferently. However, instead, he was greeted by intense, searching eyes and a warm, nervous hand in his own.

"I won't say I trust you now simply because of your words, Hotaru....However, I accept your apology, and I offer my own apologies as well. Kinoue trusted and cared for you.....so I will try to do the same...at least for him. Nevertheless, I make no promises."

 

It was a serious apology, so Hotaru felt he should have taken it seriously. However, he couldn't stop himself beaming, his entire face brightening. He steadied Raiza's hand with his own, interlacing their fingers and giving a gentle squeeze. He couldn't stop himself speaking either.

"Thanks! You hand is so warm, Rai-chan!"

As soon as he noticed what he'd said, he blushed, mock coughing as he turned down the hallway, still holding Raiza's hand as he led the other Inugami down the corridor to his apartment.

 

"I'm hungry....were you not mentioning something about food earlier today?"

"Indeed I was!" Hotaru exclaimed as he reached the door. He drew his key out with one hand and pushed open the door, revealing his apartment's living-room. His apartment consisted of three rooms. The living room, which was a cross between a living room and a kitchen, a kitchenette in the corner along with a small table and a couch with a flat-screen TV. Then there was the bedroom and a small bathroom with bath/shower and a few other amenities. He gently pulled Raiza inside and then dropped his hand, closing the door behind them. He walked past Raiza into the bedroom, speaking as he walked. "But first, you need to rest. The prep and cooking time will be a while anyway, so you can nap and I'll wake you with food, alright? I was thinking soup, but how about a treat and I do stew instead?" He walked over to a cupboard built into the wall of the bedroom, taking out some new sheets and pillows. He moved over to his bed, throwing down the dirty sheets onto the floor and redressing the bed with clean ones. It was a western-style bed with a metal frame, but it was comfortable enough and Hotaru liked to buy fluffy sheets anyway. Once he was done, he smiled, patting the bed with one hand as he walked back out of the bedroom with the dirty sheets. "There, go on and take it. I'll be back soon. Oh, and let me help you with that neck injury when you wake up, if you can."

 

He took out a small bag from a nearby grocery store and piled the sheets inside, deciding he'd take them down to be washed later, when Raiza was feeling more comfortable with the place. He started then to focus on the food, taking out ingredients from a small mini-fridge in the kitchenette, humming to himself as he turned on a radio on the kitchenette counter, which started playing

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[GodofMischief]

At Hotaru's comment, Raiza's eyes widen in slight surprise and disbelief before his cheeks colored a bit themselves to match the color on Hotaru's face. It wasn't the first time he had been delivered comments like these at random intervals of time. Kinoue had done it quite often, his family too had made it a habit of catching Raiza off guard with their comments. However, it coming out of Hotaru had been quite unexpected and Raiza couldn't decide whether to be annoyed by it or find it somewhat endearing in a distantly amusing way.

 

He made a note, though, to remind himself of the embarrassment he saw on Hotaru's face. It was quite adorable in the Inugami's own right and it worked to soften the coldness that had settled over Raiza's heart after his Handler had been taken from him. Nevertheless, for all intents and purposes, Raiza scoffed out a display of irritability and rolled his eyes without missing a beat.

 

Feeling his cheeks grow a bit darker when Hotaru intertwined their fingers and pulled Raiza after him down the hall, the younger of the pair made it a focus to keep his eyes darting all around his surroundings. Memorizing and taking everything in even as the constant pressure in his hand helped him relax a little more than he cared to truly admit.

 

Walking into Hotaru's room with only the slightest note of hesitation once the door had been unlocked and opened, Raiza's hand twitched when Hotaru let go of him. A small, childish part of him longed to reach out and grab the other man's hand again, but his pride instantly shot that temptation down in favor of gazing with mild curiosity around the apartment. Ears twitching ever so slightly at any noise and eyes never quite landing on a single object for too long.

 

"You may do as you please. This is your house after all, I will eat whatever you feed me" Raiza remarked as he followed Hotaru towards the bedroom and watched him dress the bed. His mind already longing for him to walk over to the piece of furniture and lay down. Almost instantly when the wound on his neck was mentioned, Raiza tensed and glared at the retreating back of the older Inugami. "I can tend to my neck on my own. Your assistance isn't required" he growled softly, before once again his ruby eyes landed on the bed.

 

Truly, he felt a hint guilty for even thinking of laying down on the clean bed after how dirty he must be. However, he didn't have the energy at the moment to will himself to ask for a shower. He just wanted a brief time to rest, and it was something he couldn't keep denying his exhausted body. Hearing Hotaru moving about outside the bedroom, Raiza's ears gave a subtle flicker in the direction of quiet humming and music before he released a heavy sigh.

 

Allowing his posture to slouch a bit to show how bone weary he was truly feeling, Raiza made quick work of approaching the bed and without a second thought, he sank gratefully into its comforting softness. It wasn't like the bed he had previously owned when he lived with Kinoue, but he supposed it was better than the floor. Pulling a blanket over his battered, thin shape, the snow furred Inugami exhaled a long breath and in a matter of moments, sleep had pulled him under its alluring and welcoming grasp. A sense of safety tickling the back of his mind.

[Cazuki]

Raiza's comments made Hotaru smile. Honestly, he'd expected nothing else from the stubborn Inugami. He didn't respond, instead deciding internally to give Raiza the first-aid kit when he woke him up and let him get to it himself. He continued to hum to the tune of the song as he started preparing the ingredients. His ears twitched slightly, listening out for signs of Raiza still moving around the apartment. Instead, he was greeted by silence except the sound of the quiet radio and smiled. If Raiza felt safe enough to sleep in Hotaru's apartment, even if it was due to the sheer amount of exhaustion the younger Inugami was feeling, there was hope that they could get closer. As Hotaru was quickly realizing, it would just need lots of time and effort from Hotaru's part.

 

3 Hours Later...

After preparing, Hotaru had began to cook all the ingredients and mesh them all into a stew. It wasn't anything really complex. In fact, it was the first recipe he'd learnt to cook after he was picked up from the streets. As the stew boiled, almost ready, Hotaru cast his mind back to those early days, when he had been much the same as Raiza was being with him now. Mistrustful, stubborn and looking for every chance to flee.

 

Currently, Hotaru was sat on the couch, idly watching the TV which was on some random evening variety show. He wasn't really paying attention to the show as much as he was to what he would have to do over the next few hours and weeks. He'd already used the micro-transceiver to talk to Akihiko and inform him where he and Raiza had gone. Far from being mad, like Hotaru had expected, the man had simply burst out laughing.

"Bwahahahah! That's totally fine, Hotaru-san. You just won me a second bet!"

"A second bet?"

"Yes." Hotaru could almost see the man nodding on the other end. "Me and the missus made a little wager about whether you'd actually wait until the transport took you away." Akihiko chuckled. "I won."

 

After all of that, Hotaru was left with the job of reporting for duty the next day. He could bring Raiza with him or even come in a bit late, as they had a physical recuperation room on site. Apart from that, Hotaru had to make sure Raiza tended to his neck wound, washed and actually slept through the night. On that point, Hotaru looked at the digital clock on the TV. 6:37 PM.

Time to wake him up I guess...

Hotaru grunted as he got up, stretching before he walked into his bedroom. His eyes instantly focused on the figure in his bed, breathing evenly. He smiled at how peaceful Raiza looked, deciding he wanted him to look like that more. However, his smile faded when he was stuck by just how beaten the Inugami looked. He looked more like a teenager than an adult, with him thin frame and the bags under his eyes were more clearly visible now that he wasn't awake to try and hide them. He was, again, filled with a sort of determination protect Raiza, just like Kinoue would have.

 

He advanced casually, but quietly. He slowly leant down.

"Rai... time to wake up, food is ready." He'd intended his hand to go and shake his shoulder, but found that instead it moved to his hair and ears. He didn't stop his hand though, instead placing his hand softly on Raiza's hair and softly stroking it.

He's gonna kill me.

However, surprisingly, he didn't seem to mind, letting the soft, if matted hair, sooth him.

[GodofMischief]

Hearing a voice in the distance call out to him, Raiza's ears performed a little twitch at the sound as his brow creased a bit while the man struggled to pull himself from the comfort of sleep. It had been a long while since he could close his eyes like this and forget the world mattered. Back in the kennel, he had constantly been plagued with nightmares of the night Kinoue died. He had been forced to relive time and time again his Handler's horrified scream when he had seen Raiza go down with teeth tightly clamped against the side of his neck. He had been forced to watch himself struggle to rip himself out of that sharp grip when his mind registered Kinoue being surrounded by Sakame individuals. He had to observe as he had been just a heartbeat too late to tear Kinoue out of harms way, instead he had to watch his precious Handler's blood blossom out of his chest as the human collapsed with a look of surprise and pain, then hopelessness when Kinoue looked at him with apologetic eyes as Raiza screamed his denial and rushed forward to gather Kinoue in his arms and futilely plead for the man to be alright.

 

Nights in the kennel had been brutal, too quiet and unmoving. They had brought forth plaguing thoughts of what if's. What if he hadn't let his guard down to make sure Kinoue was alright a few meters from him. What if his body would have moved faster and he had managed to save Kinoue at the last moment. What if he had convinced Kinoue that they should stay overnight in the agency instead of agreeing to take over a shift for another pair.

 

There were so many questions he couldn't answer and would never be able to answer. What was done was done and there was no going back.

 

Yet for some reason, while he laid on Hotaru's bed and allowed sleep to claim him, the nightmares that had constantly haunted him seemed to be absent. He didn't know why, but his sleep was a blank one. With no dreams, thoughts, regrets, or anything of the sort. Perhaps, he thought in the back of his mind, his body was just too exhausted for even that at this point.

 

Feeling a hand on his hair and ears, Raiza's ears twitched a bit more fiercely and for a moment a foolish hope filled his barren heart. Yet even as the word left his mouth, he knew by scent alone that the hope was fruitless and stupid in nature. "Kinoue...?" he murmured softly, just between the state of awakening and sleep. The feeling of the hand reminded him so much on how Kinoue had always used to wake him when Raiza slept either before him or slept in after Kinoue had woken up.

 

The scent was all wrong though, it was something he instantly took in as he inhaled deeply. The other person smelled nothing like his Handler and it took less than a moment for his instincts to react. Eyes snapping open, pupils dilating into slits at the state of his unconscious unease, fear and instinctual anger....Raiza's body stiffened in the stance of a breath before it was on the move. Years of lessons had him springing into movement, land lifting quickly to swipe sharp claws in the direction of the appendage touching him while his body jerked out of reach, backing up off the bed and positioning himself with one of the walls of the room against his back.

 

For a moment, Raiza crouched there, ears pinned back against his head, claws digging into the floor below him, crimson eyes seeming to glow with an internal light of their own, fur standing on edge and bristling and lips peeled back to reveal sharp canines as a guttural growl loudly swelled out of him. After a few seconds though, his mind seemed to catch up with his surroundings and with a few rapid blinks, his pupils soon dilated back to their normal appearance.

 

As the growling came to an end, hesitant snow white ears slowly lifted once more as Raiza gazed around the room a bit nervously before his gaze finally landed on Hotaru. He didn't know if he had managed to land a hit on the other Inugami when his instincts had caused him to lash out, but he felt a bit bad about it anyways.

 

"Don't do that" the younger man snapped, trying to will his heart to calm down from it's frantic beating against his chest. "God damn it......I could have hurt you" Raiza mumbled under his breath, taking a deep inhale in as he combing a slightly shaky hand through his matted hair while he struggled to gain his composure again. He might have acted like he didn't give a damn about anything, nevertheless, Raiza hated inflicting pain on those who didn't deserve it. Especially when his body was running on instincts alone and nothing else. He might not truly like Hotaru, but he didn't want to honestly hurt him either.

[Cazuki]

"Kinoue...?"

The half-awake murmur made Hotaru smile sadly, less because he'd been mistooken as Kinoue (in fact in some ways that was a compliment) but because of how the murmur betrayed how Raiza was truly feeling.

He really loved you a lot Kinoue...

When Raiza's eyes snapped open, Hotaru had been vaguely hoping for a blushing Inugami who would stutter out a cute apology for calling him by his old handler's name. Sadly, life wasn't a drama and the much more realistic situation occurred. As soon as Hotaru saw the slitted pupils, he knew something was wrong. Even more so when a clawed hand swiped at him. His old instincts acted quickly as he veered out of the way. He avoided most of the strike, but grunted slightly as he noticed the tip of his hand's middle finger had been split open.

 

For a moment Hotaru glared at the bleeding appendage. Was he really that slow now? He cast the thought from his mind as he saw Raiza shuffle to the head of the bed, pressing himself against the wall and growling at him. The growl caused Hotaru's pelt to instinctively ruffle, getting ready for a fight. However, his mind shut down his reflexes, containing the growl that threatened to pass his lips. In the time it took to unruffle his own fur, Raiza seemed to have come to his senses.

 

"Don't do that!" He snapped. The signs were slight, but Hotaru noticed the shaking hands and mumbled sort-of apology. It didn't take much for Hotaru to conclude that Raiza had been sufficiently shocked that his instincts had taken over and he'd lashed out. It spoke for how high-strung he must have been. Hotaru moved his injured hand behind his back, hoping Raiza hadn't seen the blood. He smiled, chuckling slightly.

"You're gonna have to do better than that Rai! I'm not so easily caught."

Liar.

"Anyway, come on, I'll show you the bathroom." He got up quickly, feeling blood leak down his hand. He turned, moving his hands at the same time so that now his injured hand was pressed to his front, leaking down his already blood-stained shirt. He tried to stem the flow with the jacket material subtly. The last thing he wanted to do right now was disconcert Raiza by having him think he was dangerous. He continued, walking out the door, just as he turned the corner though, he peeked his head back in, smiling devilishly. "'cause you stink, buddy boy." He laughed as he dashed away, stopping a few metres away to wait for Raiza by the bathroom door. He continued to try and stem the blood flow, deciding he'd put a plaster on when Raiza was in the bathroom and blame it on the cooking or something. It was subtle, but if Raiza happened to stare at it, he may have been able to see the blood-stains on Hotaru's shirt getting very slightly bigger and fresher, if not the scent of blood itself.

[GodofMischief]

Taking a deep inhale of breath after his instinctual lash out, Raiza frowned slightly at the subtle motion of Hotaru hiding his hand from view. A less trained individual might not have seen it, however, Raiza wasn't that stupid. Weary, still tired and in pain, yes, but stupid he was not. He wouldn't have been so proficient in his field of profession if he was stupid.

 

Looking down at his claws for a moment, Raiza frowned deeply as a moment of guilt hit him. There was a thin line of blood trailing down one claw and it took less than a moment to put two and two together. He had hurt someone.....someone who didn't deserve it. Even if his attack had had nothing to do with him and everything to do with primal instincts, he couldn't help but still feel bad about it. Raiza wouldn't say it out loud, but Hotaru had done alot for him already and Raiza was only making more and more problems for the man. Something that was beginning to weigh on him.

 

Blushing at Hotaru's comment about his smell, Raiza's gaze snapped up at the head that peeked back into the room for that moment. "Shut up, flea bag! It's not like I was intending to appear presentable for any reason before you" Raiza snapped, feeling rather embarrassed. He knew he probably didn't smell all that pleasant. Hell he has been in a kennel for weeks now, he had had no intentions of smelling pleasant again. However, things were different now that his mindset had changed.

 

Getting to his feet, the Inugami followed Hotaru's scent out the room with a slight limp to his step. It didn't take him long to track the other man down, but he didn't walk into the bathroom as he assumed the Inugami thought he would. Instead, Raiza paused a few feet from the bathroom door to stare pointedly down at hand that Hotaru was trying to conceal and stop the blood flow from. The scent of the thick liquid was heavy in the air at this point for the younger canine.

 

"I'm not going in there until you allow me to tend to your hand and the scratches I gave you prior to arriving here. I am responsible for them and I would prefer to have them looked after and treated as soon as possible" Raiza said after a moment of silence, raising his ruby eyes from the man's hand to stare defiantly into Hotaru's own eyes.

[Cazuki]

By the time Raiza had tried to bite Hotaru's head off for the 'stink' comment, Hotaru was already by the bathroom door, snickering. He rubbed with his uninjured hand and it came back with sticky red fluid on it. For a moment, he thought maybe he'd hit his head until he remembered the trash debacle from earlier and remembered he still had red sauce on his ears. Great, this is why he hated having white fur and having to wear white clothes. Colours like that just begged to be corrupted.

 

Hotaru watched as Raiza walked out of his bedroom. He took careful notice of the limp, even though it was slight, and decided to keep an eye on it for now. He opened the bathroom door to Raiza, bowing as a doorman would outside a fancy hotel. He put on a stereotypical posh accent, drawing out his vowels to a ridiculous extent.

"After you, Sir."

He'd expected Raiza to sweep past him, possibly with an irritated growl, but instead, when he raised his head, he saw Raiza was standing in front of him. Hotaru tilted his head in confusion.

"I'm not going in there until you allow me to tend to your hand and the scratches I gave you prior to arriving here. I am responsible for them and I would prefer to have them looked after and treated as soon as possible."

 

In confusion, Hotaru dre himself up to his full height again, dumbly saying "Huh?" before he cottoned onto what Raiza was suggesting. Then he smiled and chuckled, drawing his injured hand away from his shirt. "Hehe. Nothing gets past you, does it Rai? Okay you got me." He presented the cut finger, which had mostly stopped bleeding now. He was a bit surprised Raiza cared enough to want to patch his cuts, even though they were only minor, but he rolled with it, moving past Raiza to the kitchenette counter where the first aid box still stood. He clicked open the dual-locks, revealing the basic materials inside. "Let's you and me strike a deal? You help me cover my cut and I help you with that neck wounds and redressing your wounds once you get out of the shower. Nothing worse than wet bandages... And if that isn't agreeable, at least let me hold the box while you do it. I hate owing people favours."

He took out a disinfectant and a couple of other items. Luckily, the box was fairly well-equipped for a civilian case and had a couple of rolls of gauze for bandaging. Hotaru wasn't worried about letting Raiza take a shower alone, seeing as he wounds were mostly closed up and he wouldn't be at any risk of significant blood-loss due to water unless he somehow cut a vein while in a perfectly ordinary and safe shower room.

 

He didn't wait for Raiza's response, deciding no matter which option Raiza chose, he needed to patch the cuts on his chest anyway.

"Tell me now if you're squeamish." He said only half-jokingly over his shoulder, shedding his jacket and then the ruined shirt. His body wasn't overly muscular, but he was nowhere near as scrawny as Raiza and was instead decently built, lean and built for both high speed and combat. However, that probably wouldn't have been as attention-grabbing as the vast amount of scars covering his whole torso. Hotaru's back was almost entirely covered by scars, both of different types, sizes and shapes. Some were only small holes, but they were deep, indicating previous bullet wounds. Others were wider and thinner, indicating use of bladed weapons of various different sizes from pocket knifes to machetes. This criss-crossed all over the place, creating odd patterns. Most of the scars were old, ranging from only a shade darker in skin tone to Hotaru's own skin to a reddish-brown. As Hotaru turned, the front wasn't much better. Scars also criss-crossed and painted his torso and chest. However, this side how 2 additional details. The first detail was the marks caused by Raiza's claws from before. They were relatively small to the larger scars and were only identifiable by the dried blood around them and their angry redness. The second was an old scar, but this one was by far the biggest. The scar stretched down all the way from the top of Hotaru's right pectoral muscle down between his pectoral muscles and ended just before the rim of his trousers. The mark was brownish-red, speaking for it's age and was obviously caused by a bladed weapon.

 

Despite the scale of his wounds, the amount of which could easily be comparable to a war veteran is not quite a few more, Hotaru simply smiled at Raiza, taking a seat on a high chair drawn up to the kitchenette counter, with another chair drawn up in front of it. He didn't speak, instead looking expectantly at Raiza.