Author's note: I have to be honest here and admit that I hadn't expected so many reactions at all for the first chapter of the story. Thank you all very much. Thanks for reviewing, favouriting and/or following the story. I feel kinda scared now to continue onward, fearing I will only come to disappoint you all … Really, I am overwhelmed by all the attention this story has gotten so far. I guess you all are missing Uragiri just as much as I am. May our beloved sensei have her health back soon and treat us anew to wonderful and exciting chapters. In the meantime, I guess we will have to make due with fan fiction …

Review thanks: Some of you already got a message from me to thank you for the support you showed to this story, but for those who have no account on ffn or weren't logged in on their account at the time of leaving their review:

* mlt, Guest, rafa: thank you for the review and as you can see, I am doing my best to continue the story. Hopefully you'll continue to like the story. And rafa, please don't curse me … Thank you.

* SaphSoul: You have caught on to something already that will come into play much later too in the fic, namely Shusei's affection for Hotsuma and his degree of showing this to the blond Zweilt. As for where to let Shusei sleep … Since Shusei's bed is taken, Hotsuma has no other option but to share his bed with Shusei. About time after all the space hogging Hotsuma has done in Shusei's bed.

Warnings (they still apply!): hints towards yaoi! If you don't like yaoi or have a problem with boy X boy relationships, please read some other story than this one.

Also hinting at events that took place in the manga and anime.

Disclaimer: I don't own Uragiri or its characters. They are and remain property of Odagiri Hotaru.

A Zweilt's best friend

Chapter 2:

Shusei cracked one eye open and stared at Hotsuma. God's Eyes had long ago foregone his earlier position. Instead of still sitting beside Hotsuma, he was now laying full out on the ground with his head on his front paws. His brown eyes were closed but he wasn't sleeping. He was only resting and over thinking things whilst staying by Hotsuma's side. Only now and then did he surface from his inner musings to take a quick glance at his partner but nothing significant had changed since a few hours ago when Hotsuma had been made aware off Shusei's current predicament. The blond boy was still sitting beside the bed Shusei's abandoned body occupied.

Shusei's interest got peeked as once again Hotsuma unfolded his legs from underneath his body. The brunet's head lifted itself up from his paws and his ears came to stand upright and positioned forward in Hotsuma's direction. Shusei hoped against hope that this time around his partner would indeed get up and throw off the depressing state God's Voice had draped around him like some cloak. But just as before, Hotsuma only shifted his limbs to relieve them from the soreness that undoubtly had crept in them. Disappointed Shusei watched Hotsuma place himself in a new position to continue his uninterrupted vigilance.

Shusei sighed and rose in a fluent manner to his four paws. Hotsuma's little brooding episode had gone on for long enough. Shusei had enough of it. He sauntered over to the curled in on himself blond. The nails of his paws ticked on the wooden floor whilst he advanced on Hotsuma, the sound alone already enough of an alert to let Hotsuma know of his approach but the blond Zweilt remained unresponsive.

Shusei gave a new sigh. Even depressed, his partner was stubborn.

Shusei brought his front paws of the ground and let himself fall full weight on Hotsuma. His action didn't proof to be futile. Immediately a response shot forward out off the brooding teen underneath him.

"Fuck, Shusei!" Hotsuma objected. His right arm came upward to try and push Shusei's dog form off him, but Shusei wouldn't have it. Panting happily he remained on top of the blond boy, forcing like this back some life and fire into his quenched partner whilst trying to get his message across.

Hotsuma gave a few more struggles, before he stilled underneath Shusei. For a moment both Zweilt found themselves into a standstill where neither spoke nor moved until Hotsuma broke the silence. "Alright, alright," Hotsuma spoke. His left hand hit the floor boards, mimicking how wrestlers indicated in a match to their opponent that they admitted defeat and could be released safely. "You're right. Sitting here won't accomplish anything. I give. No more brooding."

As soon as the promise had left Hotsuma's mouth, Shusei complied and got off Hotsuma. The blond looked sideways at Shusei in his dog form. He regarded the large brown dog for a few moments before a sparkle of amusement came to flicker lightly in his golden eyes. It was small and faint, but Shusei felt relieved cause at least it was there unlike before when Hotsuma's eyes had looked dull and there had hung a shadow over Hotsuma.

Hotsuma chuckled. "No offence, Shusei, but you're heavy and you smell." To emphasize his point, Hotsuma waved his right hand in front of him as if to get rid of a stench in the air in front of him.

Shusei barked a single time to convey his disagreement with Hotsuma.

His partner's disgruntled response made Hotsuma laugh. "Hey," he continued, bringing his hands up in front of him as a gesture of innocence on his part, "I can't help you chose a homeless dog to inhabit instead of some spoiled little brat of a poodle or so who goes to the beauty salon every week."

Shusei gave a row of protesting barks. The light of the bedroom lights glistened off his long canine teeth, but instead of reacting scared or feeling threatened, the sight only made Hotsuma lean in closer. "And we really have to do something about those teeth too," Hotsuma mused, staring at Shusei's muzzle. "You're looking like one of those dogs out of a fighting ring after a good round." His hand reached out and touched lightly some of the fur right beside Shusei's jaw. Blood was still caked in there from the earlier fight when Shusei had bitten the knife wielder to make the thug release his hold on his weapon.

Shusei stilled during Hotsuma's examination. He didn't want to knick the blond Zweilt by accident. Hotsuma noticed Shusei's compliance and a mischievous glint appeared in God's Voice's golden eyes. He brought his hand to Shusei's head and patted him a few times in a rewarding way between the ears. "Good boy, Shusei. If only you were this docile all the time …"

His words weren't yet cold or Shusei jumped away from him and started to bark loudly in protest at him.

Hotsuma laughed, bringing his hands up in a surrendering gesture. "Okay, okay. I see you've completely migrated in there. I'll have to be careful with what I say. Wouldn't want to get on your doggie's bad side."

Shusei gave a final bark before he made a sound that sounded like a huff to Hotsuma.

Hotsuma grinned in response. Even as a dog, Shusei was still Shusei and he was still able to easily get under Shusei's skin and bring fourth his partner's rotten character. In a way this knowledge comforted Hotsuma cause it made him feel and realize all the more that Shusei was indeed still with him and that he hadn't lost the brunet. His partner had just changed into another brunet. A currently reeking brunet …

"No, but seriously, Shusei," Hotsuma started, jokes and goofing put aside, "you could do with a bath and teeth scrub."

Picking up on Hotsuma's serious tone of voice, Shusei turned his head as far as he could backwards and inspected his fur. He gave a few good sniffs at the fur and came to the conclusion that Hotsuma did have a point. It could have been worse cause his fur still wasn't looking grim or all tangled up, but an odor was indeed rising from his pelt. But how was he going to have to wash himself? Going by Hotsuma's tone of voice, Shusei doubted that the blond Zweilt had meant that Shusei should just groom himself and that that would be enough.

Seeming to notice what was running through Shusei's head, Hotsuma spoke up and made Shusei turn his attention onto the blond. "I'll wash you. I don't mind," Hotsuma spoke up cheerfully. "What good is having a partner otherwise?"

Hotsuma didn't wait for Shusei's response. The blond Zweilt rose to his full height and started to pat over towards the bedroom door. Shusei could hear Hotsuma mumble to himself a list of all he would need for Shusei's grooming session, the blond unaware that the brunet dog wasn't following him. Shusei merely regarded his partner. He had no idea where Hotsuma's enthusiasm to wash and brush him had come from suddenly but he didn't share Hotsuma's enthusiasm. However, Shusei also fully well realized that there would be no getting out of it. Knowing his partner's stubbornness, he would only be able to escape Hotsuma's care if he put up a fight and this was the last thing Shusei wanted to do. Finally Hotsuma had back a spark in him and did the blond resemble again a bit more the Hotsuma Shusei had come to known and love. Shusei didn't want to lose this made progress for a thing in the world which consequently meant that he had no chance off backing out of Hotsuma's new found resolve. Resigning himself to his fate, Shusei straightened up and started to trot after Hotsuma. At least in this body Hotsuma wouldn't get confronted with his burn scars.

Unaware of Shusei's less than thrilling reaction to his suggestion of a nice soak in a tub, Hotsuma was going over everything he knew about washing and trimming a dog … Which was in all fairness not all that much. But it couldn't be all that different from washing your own hair, the blond reasoned and so he led the way in high spirits towards the Zweilts' joined bathroom. Not only did washing the dog's fur give him something to do instead of just sitting around and mulling about Shusei's current state without him really being able to do something to help his partner get back into his body, but finally he would also be able to take care of his partner like Shusei had been doing unselfishly for him for years.

The two Zweilts weren't yet half way the hallway when a yell sounded. Both Hotsuma and Shusei paused in their track. A few feet away from them was Isuzu. The scientist was waving enthusiastically at them and calling both their names whilst he came running towards them in a manner that seemed to resemble an incoming stampede. Hotsuma's instant reaction was to run and hide, but Isuzu was already upon them before the blond could take a single step. The doctor's enthusiasm however wasn't for the blond Zweilt for once. Isuzu's eyes quickly slipped from Hotsuma to the large brown dog beside the blond Zweilt. A tense silence blew through the hallway, shattered a few moments later when Isuzu's glasses got a sinister glance and the man suddenly reacted as if Luka had volunteered to be his guinea pig.

"So it is true!" Isuzu squealed. He began to jump around Shusei immediately, examining the dog from top to bottom and from left to right. Before Hotsuma knew it, Isuzu was shoving Shusei forward with his hands against the dog's backside. "Just come to my private office, Shusei, and we'll have you sorted out in no time! A thorough examination will reveal the problem!"

Hotsuma immediately stepped in front of the advancing pair. He stared menacing down upon Isuzu, his knuckles crunching ominously. "Get your hands of my partner. Shusei ain't going anywhere with you."

Isuzu forewent his position at Shusei's side and slung instead an arm around Hotsuma. "Hotsu, Hotsu," Isuzu calmly said in a reprimanding manner, seemingly not at all shaken by Hotsuma's angry aura. "You need to learn to share, Hotsu," the good doctor continued. "After all, it is not every day I can examine a Zweilt in animal form in my office. Just imagine the possibilities. The knowledge this can provide us." Isuzu's eyes started to shine anew as if the doctor had just discovered a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Hotsuma however didn't share Isuzu's heartiness. An angry vein was pulsating on the blond's forehead. "He ain't in your office, nor will he step foot in it!" Hotsuma shook Isuzu's arm off his shoulder. "Shusei ain't some fucking lab rat to play around with!"

Isuzu clasped a hand over his heart and took a step away from the blond Zweilt. A wounded expression came to adorn the doctor's face. "I am hurt, Hotsu, that you would think so ill off me. Have I not always surrounded all of you with my utmost care?"

"You fucking use me as a guinea pig for your weird concoctions!" Hotsuma accused with a loud and raised voice.

"Of course I do," Isuzu replied back. "You wouldn't want me to try them out on beautiful Shusei or sweet innocent Yuki, now would you?" His tone of voice held a note that suggested that Hotsuma was an idiot for not knowing and having thought about this himself.

"Don't freaking test them out on anyone!" Hotsuma shouted back, all fired up.

"Aha, I see what the real problem is here." Isuzu pushed his pair of glasses back a bit higher upon his nose. "You are jealous cause I let Toma test out my God's Taste potion."

"What the fuck?!" Hotsuma shot back. The blond stared thunderstruck back at their resident doctor. Surely the man had to be joking? How could Isuzu have gone from him demanding to stop being used as a guinea pig, to him being mad that he had managed to at least escape one crazy experimental potion?

"Don't worry, Hotsu," Isuzu said, slinging his arm anew around the blond teen and smiling brightly at Hotsuma. "You are still my number one test subject."

"I don't wanna be your number one freaking lab rat! Get your hands off me!" Hotsuma slipped out from underneath Isuzu's arm and stepped away from the doctor. His right hand came up and he pointed an imprecating finger at Isuzu. "Do us all a favor and leave! We'll be much safer like that!"

"My, my, Hotsuma," Tachibana appeared around the corner, "that's no way to speak to Isuzu. The good doctor only has your best concern at heart." The resident steward slithered up to Hotsuma's side, put his hands on Hotsuma's shoulders and started to lead the blond Zweilt away from Shusei and Isuzu.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Hotsuma protested. The blond teen whirled out of Tachibana's grasp. His eyes narrowed as he regarded their mansion's steward. "You're being suspicious."

Tachibana started to laugh nervously whilst waving his hands in front of him. "Nothing's going on. I swear. I just thought it would be a nice moment for you and I to have some tea together," Tachibana voiced in a high-strung manner.

Hotsuma's facial expression darkened. "Are those freeloaders here again?" he asked, a dangerous edge to his words. "Tell them I have no interest in seeing them." At hearing Hotsuma refer to his parents, Shusei too looked more intensely at Tachibana, trying to figure out what was behind the man's words and behavior.

Tachibana sighed and his cheerful demeanor disappeared. "I just wanted to have a chat to you, Hotsuma, concerning the recent events. It is not like we have every day a Zweilt pair being split up due to a problematic turn of events."

Hotsuma's eyebrows furrowed. He had a feeling that Tachibana wasn't telling him everything and a quick glance at Shusei told him that his partner was thinking the same thing. "Whatever it is, it will have to wait," Hotsuma replied, starting to walk back over to Shusei. "I was just going to clean up Shusei. You'll have to wait till after." Hotsuma acted casual, but he felt every fiber in his being hum with nervous harbingers. If Tachibana wanted to talk to him alone without Shusei being present, then it couldn't be any good. And with how things currently stood, Hotsuma was willing to bet that whatever it was that Tachibana wanted to discuss, it had to do something with Shusei. Hotsuma didn't want to face this without his partner by his side. Besides, if it was about Shusei, didn't the brunet have a right to know then? "Shusei and I will come down after his bath."

Tachibana was at a loss off words. This outcome was not the one the steward had been going for, but then suddenly help came out of an unexpected corner.

"We can wash Shusei for you." Lia's cheerful voice floated over to where the three males and Shusei stood.

Tachibana immediately latched on to the proposal with both hands like a drowning man to a life buoy. He jumped towards Lia, grabbed her both hands and smiled so brightly at her that he could have put an entire pile of sparkling diamonds to shame. "Excellent idea, Lia. Toko." His attention turned slightly to Lia's right where Toko stood, including the other female Zweilt also in his gratitude.

Hotsuma looked past Tachibana at Lia. "When the hell did you come back?" he demanded in a gruff voice.

Lia's face immediately sobered up as she turned her attention on Hotsuma. "Not that it is any of your business, but Sairi and I just got back. Toko filled me in about Shusei."

"And what?" Hotsuma scowled. "You had to come and gape at him straight away as if he is some freakish attraction in a zoo?"

"Lia was concerned and wanted to see if she could be of any help," Toko calmly answered. "You could try to act a bit more civil, Hotsuma," Toko continued in a chastising tone of voice. Beside her Lia stuck her tongue out at Hotsuma.

"We don't need your freaking help," Hotsuma shot back. "I am perfectly capable of taking care of my own partner. You'll just have him smell all girly and with ridiculous big curlers in his fur!"

"Oh, what an excellent idea!" Lia cheered immediately. The girl clasped her hands together in an excited manner whilst her eyes sparkled. "We can give him a perm and do his nails! I've seen them already do this on the set of my photo shoots. It doesn't look so hard. I'm sure I can manage. We can even add a nice bow." Her eyes turned calculating onto Shusei. "Dark blue I think," she continued, considering in her head possible colors for the bow.

Hotsuma took a step to the right and placed himself more in front of Shusei. His right hand shot out and he held his arm defensively in front of Shusei. "He ain't some fucking chihuahua in a purse!"

Lia rolled her eyes. "Just because you're an idiot, doesn't mean we are too," she shot back. "Of course Shusei won't fit in a purse. We're not blind."

"Then keep your filthy stuff away from him," Hotsuma replied hotly.

"Filthy stuff?!" Lia repeated unbelieving. "I'll have you know that they charge large sums for grooming dogs. You should be grateful I am willing to do it for free." The girl planted both her hands in her side and glared at Hotsuma.

"Screw you! I didn't ask for anything!"

"You're so immature, you ingrate!" Lia spat back.

"Children, children," Tachibana stepped forward and placed himself between the two fuming teens. "There is no need to turn our lovely hallway into a battlefield. I am convinced that if we try, we can come to some sort of arrangement." Tachibana turned expecting eyes on Hotsuma. The blond Zweilt glared stubbornly back at him, Hotsuma's entire posture telling the steward that the blond Zweilt wasn't willing to budge a single inch. Tachibana started to feel deeply disheartened. He didn't get how Shusei managed to keep Hotsuma in line. The brunet always made it seem like there was nothing to it, but here he was, sweating like an otter and without getting anywhere with the stubborn blond. Only Shusei and Yuki seemed to be able to exercise some control over Hotsuma but sadly neither boys were currently an option. Yuki was in the residence of Kamakura and Shusei was currently a dog. Tachibana doubted Hotsuma would be able to understand dog talk even if Shusei did try to persuade Hotsuma to collaborate.

Tachibana sighed, ready to admit defeat when he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. Shusei seemed to have taken pity on him. The trapped in the dog Zweilt had gotten to his feet and trotted over to Lia and Toko where he went to sit down between the two girls.

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Hotsuma shouted at Shusei.

Shusei remained silent and only regarded Hotsuma expectantly.

"You're seriously going to trust them not to turn you into some competing winning poodle?" Hotsuma's tone of voice communicated his ongoing disbelief concerning Shusei's decision. Shusei got back to his four paws and barked a single time to convey his answer.

Hotsuma sighed. "Fine. It's your fur," he begrudgingly gave in. "But if you end up stinking like some flower shop, you can find some other place to sleep."

Shusei gave another bark in reply whilst Toko and Lia clasped their hands together above Shusei and jumped up and down in glee.


Hotsuma stepped into Takashiro's office. He didn't like that Tachibana had led him here for their talk instead of the living room where they usually got briefed by the residence's steward or Takashiro himself. His mood darkened even further when his eyes fell on the person standing by the window in the office.

"What the hell is he doing here?!" Hotsuma barked out aggressively at Tachibana after which he immediately voiced his next words directly at the other person present in Takashiro's office: "Don't you have some women to seduce you damn skirt-chaser?!"

Sairi turned away from the window. As usual, the older blond was looking like the poster boy for perfectness. Even though the wind made the curtain at the window bulge mildly, not a single hair on Sairi's head was out of place despite the blond having stood right beside the open window. His white dress shirt was speckles, not a single stain - no matter how small - or hair on the white fabric and the same could be said for the tight fitting black pants Sairi wore. His shoes shone as if they had just been polished or were just brand new and had just been released out of the confiscating space of the shoebox in which they had been cooped up.

"Always a pleasure to see you too, midget. I had been hoping to meet up with Yuki, but unfortunately, Tachibana carted me in here instead. Saying he needed me here. Who am I to deny such a desperate request?"

"Yuki's just fine, bastard. He doesn't need you. He has us. We can take perfectly care of him ourselves. Same for us. So just get on your broom and fly back to wherever you came from." Hotsuma had moved forward during his speech and was now standing straight in front of Sairi.

"If that's so," Sairi leant forward and took Hotsuma's chin between his fingers, "then why is your partner running around on four paws?" he asked in a patronizing tone of voice.

Hotsuma slapped Sairi's hand away. "Get your filthy germ infested hand of me! Who knows where those fingers have been!"

Sairi smirked. "At least I am getting around. What about you, fire-trigger idiot? Still a virgin?"

"We can't all be whoring around!" Hotsuma immediately shot back. "Perhaps that is your true Zweilt talent. Scratch that creepy eye of you. You're just …"

"Gentlemen, gentlemen," Tachibana popped up between the two arguing Zweilts, cutting Hotsuma's insult short. "Hotsu," he turned his attention on the shorter blond, "I asked Sairi to be present at this meeting because he and Lia were at our main residence in Kyoto."

Although the information peeked Hotsuma's interest, the blond had no idea why Tachibana was telling him this or what this had to do with Shusei's current situation. "So?" he barked out impolitely. His eyes still spat fire, the blond ready to resume his insulting match with Sairi at a drop notice.

Tachibana sighed. He walked to Takashiro's desk and went to sit on top of the wooden surface. Really, one day Hotsuma Renjou would be the death of him. "The residence in Kyoto where the Giou library of magic books is located," he clarified.

"And?" Hotsuma asked impatiently. He had never been particularly fond of books, not like Shusei. He didn't give a crap about the family library.

"When we learned of Shusei's condition, I put in a call to Kyoto," Tachibana explained. "I spoke to Rou, your master, and asked him if he knew anything about this particular talent of Shusei. Unfortunately he had never heard of a God's Eye being able to possess an animal. Neither has Shizuka. However, they promised to look into the matter. Sairi and Lia were with them at that moment and helped out going through the books at the library."

"And?" Hotsuma's eyes turned expectant and hopeful on Sairi, his earlier unhappiness about the other blond's presence forgotten.

Sairi's eyes turned sympathetic and he shook his head. "There was nothing in the books. Not even a hint towards it."

Hotsuma's eyebrows furrowed. "What does that mean? It's completely new? Undeveloped before?"

"It would appear to be so," Tachibana answered. "However, the only one who can truly affirm this, is Takashiro-sama. Unfortunately Takashiro isn't reachable at the moment."

Hotsuma whirled his attention anew upon Tachibana. "What's that supposed to mean?!"

"I am not entirely sure. When I spoke to Fuyutoki, I was informed that Takashiro would be out of touch for a few days which is strange cause no divine ritual has been scheduled as far as I know off."

Sairi took a step away from the window. "Do you think Takashiro-sama's absence is related to Shusei's newly developed talent?" he asked calmly.

"I don't know," Tachibana answered honestly. "But as it is, we are on our own for now and so we need to be on our guard. Takashiro hasn't spoken of any attack coming our way in the near future, but he neither warned about this newly developed talent of Shusei. As long as Shusei is stuck in that dog's body, you two," Tachibana's eyes came to rest on Hotsuma, "are vulnerable."

Hotsuma huffed. "I can take care of myself."

"I am sure you can," Tachibana started diplomatic, "however," his attention came to settle on Sairi. Graveness appeared in Tachibana's eyes, a feeling that filled the air in the office and came to prickle Hotsuma's senses whilst Tachibana and Sairi silently communicated. Finally Sairi broke the eye contact and turned his eyes on Hotsuma.

"There was a reason Lia and I were in Kyoto. We weren't just there to train at working as a team. Takashiro sent us cause the residence in Kyoto had been getting reports about unnatural phenomena taking place in the mountains there. Lia and I went to investigate the possible cause of these phenomena since the residence's habitants had been unable to discover the origin behind them."

"And what did you find?" Hotsuma demanded. He felt a certain dread running through his body. Even without having said anything yet concrete, Hotsuma had a feeling that whatever Sairi would tell him next, wouldn't be good.

"We didn't discover anything," Sairi replied. "Only found spots of highly concentrated demonic energy. A residue left behind by some powerful Opast. A few of them to be more precise. We found at least four different signatures."

"Then why aren't we sending people there?" Hotsuma asked confused. "Why did you even come back? Shouldn't we track them down and send them back?"

Sairi and Tachibana shared another uneasy look before Tachibana continued. "Since this morning these strange phenomena have started to move in a direct pathway to Tokyo. Whoever is behind them is coming here."

"A Zweilt alone will be no match against them," Sairi took over. "From what Lia and I managed to sense, we aren't even certain a Zweilt pair at its full potential will be able to take down just one of them."

Hotsuma's shocked eyes turned from Sairi to Tachibana where he found the same seriousness edged on the steward's face.

"Our enemy is making his move," Tachibana said, "and it is very likely we won't be able to fend them off."


TBC


Author's note: Well, what can I say? Uragiri, wouldn't be the same without some troubles coming their way, right? But don't worry, shit won't hit the fan right away. Hotsuma and Shusei need to have some cute moments together after all, don't they? And who knows? Perhaps what is coming their way won't even be Shusei and Hotsuma's biggest concern …