--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

[book2thehead]

[It watches Kuni very carefully the whole time, and the growling does eventually get much, much softer. Goodness, those green eyes do look intelligent though, don't they?

In response to Kuni's demand, the creature just ducks its head slightly, sniffing almost suspiciously in Kuni's direction. Friend or foe??]

[threebetrayals]

[Awfully intelligent for a dog.

Anyway.

He steps a little closer.]

I won't hurt you. You're just getting blood all over Heizou's bed.

[book2thehead]

[It doesn't move. Just stares and stares.

...And then maybe lowers its head enough to lay that bloody muzzle right onto the blankets.]

[threebetrayals]

[Kuni swears and just makes his way over to the dog, slow and careful but determined.]

Really? Really. Damn dog...

[book2thehead]

[Watching... Watching...

And Kuni can probably see the way it keeps sniffing in his direction.]

[threebetrayals]

[He can, and he's taking that as a good thing for now. He kneels down in front of the dog, letting him get a good sniff.]

[book2thehead]

[Now that Kuni's much closer, it raises its head again to really start smelling at him in earnest. Just shoving his snout right up against his hands and arms (probably spreading more blood around).

And finally, the growling stops completely.]

[threebetrayals]

[Kuni lets this happen. At least the blood isn't too fresh?

But once the dog stops growling, Kuni takes his chance to start cleaning the dog's muzzle.]

What the hell did you get into?

[book2thehead]

[It's not... too fresh. A few hours, maybe.

The creature allows the cleaning, whining just a little bit when Kuni swipes over a tender spot. There are no cuts on its snout, so all the blood is... something else's.]

[threebetrayals]

If I wake up tomorrow to news of murdered cats, I'm blaming you.

[Why is he talking to this dog like it can understand him? It's a dog.

Kuni finishes washing the blood off and heads back into the kitchen to dump the water and rinse out the rag. Maybe the dog will have moved by the time he gets back.]

[book2thehead]

[Does it understand him? Those eyes are intelligent, but it's hard to say what's going on in its mind.

When Kuni moves away it does not leave the bed. In fact it's gotten up and starts moving around on the bed, occasionally stopping to dig at random spots on the mattress in search of a comfier spot. Though really it's kind of just... making the bed look like a mess.]

[threebetrayals]

[Kuni just watches this with a bored expression.]

I'm taking the sofa.

[book2thehead]

[There's a little more digging before the creature finally just. Flops down on its side with a huff, looking over at Kuni with a set of puppy eyes. There's still room on the bed! It's just messy. Because it's some kind of nest now.]

[threebetrayals]

[Kuni just stares at the dog, once again cursing his stepmother. Damn her and having all the goddamn kitsune at their house. He knows how to understand that look.]

You just made a mess of the bed. No.

[book2thehead]

[Another huff, confused and mildly irritated. And then it rolls onto its back and whines loudly, stretching out all of its legs in front of it in some kind of protest. Which will probably help Kuni see some of the old scars around its legs, just over its paws. Made from having been chained up for long periods of time.]

[threebetrayals]

[...interesting. Hm.

Kuni rolls his eyes and makes for the bed.]

You'll be a noisy asshole if I don't sleep here, won't you?

[book2thehead]

[As Kuni approaches it flips back over onto its front, leaning forward a little to sniff at him even more insistently. Making pleased little noises and shoving its way more into Kuni's space.]

[threebetrayals]

Yep.

[He sighs and climbs into bed with the dog.]

If Heizou shows up tomorrow, I swear...

[book2thehead]

[As soon as Kuni is laying down... The beast just flops on top of him, looking quite pleased with itself indeed. And then it lets out an almost relieved sort of breath, finally relaxing now that Kuni is sufficiently protected.]

[threebetrayals]

Tch. Weird-ass dog.

[But Kuni falls asleep pretty quickly once the dog settles. He's exhausted.]

[book2thehead]

[Kuni will wake up to find that the dog has disappeared. But in its place is a very disheveled, very asleep, very naked Heizou, still sort of half-flopped on top of Kuni in the same way the creature was.

There are still some traces of blood on his face, neck, and hands. There are some new, scabbed over scratches along his sides and back, but not the usual cuts on his wrists and neck.]

[threebetrayals]

[Kuni wakes up, stretching.

He looks around for the dog.

He sees Heizou, does some quick math only possible because of his stepmother, and then promptly whacks Heizou awake with a pillow.]

What the hell!?

[book2thehead]

[That pillow hits its mark and Heizou immediately wakes up with a start, looking around with big eyes and a startled, wild look in his eyes. He's home? Why is he home???]

Wha-- What?? Why-- What??

[And then his gaze settles on Kuni, and his cheeks immediately burn. Oh no.]

K-Kuni?!

[threebetrayals]

You're a shapeshifter?! What the hell?!

[He is still whacking him with the pillow.]

[book2thehead]

[There's another one of those dog-like yelps as Kuni keeps smacking him, raising his arms to cover his head.]

Wha-- No! That's not it!