--Lone Wolf and Cub--

[threebetrayals]

[Maybe it was stupid to go "fuck it" and run away from his mother's house last month, but frankly Kunikaki cannot be bothered to think it was stupid. He is seventeen and absolutely fucking tired of his mother's bullshit and his sister's somehow worse bullshit. (He gets it, he understands that his mother never recovered from her sister's death, but he doesn't have to deal with it anymore.) So yeah, he ran away.

And now he's pretty sure some freak is following him as he winds his way through the city, trying to escape the fucker, but whatever. He'll make do.]

Comments

[threebetrayals]

Figure it out.

[Back to cooking! It's kebabs. They're easy.]

How did you guess the rest?

[book2thehead]

[Mmm, kebabs.]

Your attitude. Mannerisms. Clothes. You're too intelligent to have grown up on the streets, yet you don't move around them with strong purpose.

[threebetrayals]

What do you mean, "strong purpose"? The fuck does that mean?

[book2thehead]

You're not looking for anything specific, nothing that indicates a plan. You're just looking for your next move.

[threebetrayals]

...tch. How are you so smart but stupid enough to let that happen to you?

[He gestures to Heizou's body to indicate the injuries as he brings the kebabs over.]

[book2thehead]

[He chuckles, straightening as the food is brought over.]

Just talent, I guess~ This looks delicious!

[threebetrayals]

Talent for being a dumbass, maybe.

[He shrugs, sitting down.]

So will you need this again next month?

[book2thehead]

[Heizou just looks amused as he starts to dig in.]

Why? Are you volunteering yourself as a sacrifice?

[threebetrayals]

It's a place to stay with hot water, laundry, and food for a few days a month. I'm not stupid.

[book2thehead]

[He supposes it must help that Heizou himself won't be around, either.]

Well, if you haven't moved along to a new place in a month then you'll know where to find me.

[threebetrayals]

[Over the next few months, Kunikaki ends up being the go-to for Heizou once a month when he needs a houseminder. It's a weird set up, but it gets Kuni a safe place to sleep for a few days out of the month and a place to do laundry.

One month, though, about five months after the start of this set up, Kuni stumbles through the city. His back is torn to shreds after an attack from some sort of freakish dog, he is in pain, and he's probably bleeding.

So he goes to Heizou's place. It's the only option he can think of in this state.]

[book2thehead]

[Despite everything, they really only see each other briefly at the beginning and end of Wanderer's stays. Still, the regularity of it is comforting to Heizou. It gets him accustomed to having Wanderer's scent in his space, and it really is nice to have company for a little bit every month. It's not what someone might call a friendship, but it's... something.

It's enough to make Heizou's head snap upward when he smells him, and the scent of blood and someone else has him running for the door. He's opening before Wanderer even knocks, his eyes wide.]

Wanderer? What happened?!

[threebetrayals]

[If he were in a better state, he'd think it weird that Heizou knew he was here before he could try and knock. As it stands, he just sways and falls onto Heizou.]

Dog. Attack.

[book2thehead]

[Heizou catches him immediately, holding him steady as he all but hauls him inside.]

A dog...? Did it look rabid? Do you feel sick at all?

[threebetrayals]

Dunno. Woozy.

[But that might be from the blood loss. There's no bite wounds, at least.]

[book2thehead]

[Heizou brings him over to the bathroom, carefully settling him upright on the toilet.]

How long ago did this happen? Do you remember?

[threebetrayals]

Dunno.

[He's too out of it to remember that right now.]

Park.

[He was at the park, which is at least fifteen minutes away. He was going pretty slowly, though, so.]

[book2thehead]

[Heizou swears under his breath, already helping Wanderer to shift just enough for Heizou to peel his top off.]

You came all the way here from the park?! What were you thinking?!

[threebetrayals]

Can't go to ER. They'll call my mothers.

[His back looks like it was attacked with a cheese grater. No bites, at least, but it is clearly a werewolf attack.]

[book2thehead]

[Heizou frowns as he inspects every cut, though once he confirms there are no bites he at least feels a little better. And that's when he sets about getting the first aid kit so he can treat everything.]

And the first place you thought of was here? I don't know if I should be flattered or concerned.

[threebetrayals]

Nowhere else to go.

[So.]

[book2thehead]

Man alive.

[He shakes his head, tutting softly as he starts to carefully and quietly clean all the cuts on Wanderer's back. He can't help but feel guilty; this attack definitely happened because Wanderer has picked up traces of his own scent.]

[threebetrayals]

...no? Not man. Dog.

[He is so out of it.]

[book2thehead]

[...Okay, that does get him to chuckle a little.]

I'll get you some water and painkillers when we're done here, okay?

[threebetrayals]

Juice. Blood loss.

[Like when you give blood, they give you juice.]