Chapter 7

"You delivery?"

"Yeah, a present. You?"

"Sushi delivery! Back alley shorter way, save time make happy customer!"

"Cool, see you around."

"Boy."

"Yeah?" 'Just keep walking away! Hey, don't come closer!'

"Fighting no good. Fighting bad." Simon loomed over him with a smile for a moment after the words before turning around and waving with another smile wishing him a good day.

"Ok." 'What the fuck was that about!? Maybe the scarf, everyone here probably knows about color gangs. Oh well, at least he's leaving.' Masaomi continued on his way turning the corner and indeed the Red Hound came into sight already turning away to leave after finishing a phone call wearing red bandana around his head. There was no way for Kida to just set it down, turn away and be seen by the guy. The scarf hid half his face but his eyes and wisps of hair poked out under the hoodie and it wouldn't take much imagining to recognize him in another set of clothing with a hood down. Masaomi took a quiet breath, eyes taking on a glow with the foggy mist breathing out around him as a whistle slipped from his lips gaining the Red Hounds attention, the green scarf obscuring half the blonde's face. A quiver of excitement ran down his spine at the risk taken refusing to lie but kept hidden from view as the guy's eyes met with his and the 'present' sat in front of the teen's feet. His eyes narrowed as the other gang members lips pulled a little into a smirk under a frown.

The phone buzzed, no finger moved to pick it up in the dark as the lips pulled into a smirk with the low chuckle. "Knew you'd come Venom. Let the bullets fly, my friends."

Kida's eyes widened, body twisting to barely avoid the bullet grazing the clothing and a handgun slipped out of the members' pocket, trigger sending the bullet after a hightailing Masaomi. Kida rounded the corner quickly, another shot heard but no bullet felt in his flesh. "What the hell happened Venom!?"

"Dragon saw it coming; he guessed I'd take a stab at him. Run; don't bother hiding in a crowd they'll get you there too. We'll get you."

"Run where!?" Masaomi snarled as no response came, catching three Red Hounds closing in on him darting out of an alleyway. The blonde kept his face down to avoid anyone getting a glimpse at his eyes. If he had to mention the most noted trait of him from everyone he'd met in his life, it would be his amber yellow eyes. His pursuers followed out of the alley into an empty narrow street and before the blonde could dart into a travelled road, a car cut him off almost hitting the teen whipping around with his face to the ground and lips in a snarl as a gun clicked behind him from the car. The finger pulled the trigger as the boy jerked to the side, grazed again and eyes widened in surprise. Another gunshot howled up but did this time not from the car where curses rumbled as Yuki, having decorated the box, shouted from a roof.

"I got the car; beat the shit out of them!" Shouts and swears erupted from the car as Kida turned hiding his face and leapt over the pipe rushing at his gut and delivered a kick knocking the Red Hound out as their head hit the pavement. His hand closed around the pipe rolling out of the way of a shot and his arm pulled back before launching the pipe forward spinning into the shooters head. The third growled clutching a knife in their hand and Masaomi rose to his feet, lifting his head up with glowing eyes. Before a word could come out of the gasping mouth, Kida's hand held his gun and pulled the trigger, bullet embedding in the others skull. Footsteps echoed as they came close and Masaomi ducked out of a stray bullet having noticed the shot from the car out of the corner of his eyes. A cheer from the Red Hounds alerted of Yuki hit, Masaomi taking off running as the glow left zigzagging here and there through the back streets breaking into the small park slowing down a little. A good bunch mingled about but he kept Venom's word in mind heading out of the park, already noticing Red Hounds trailing him half way. Sirens started howling around them out of sight bee lining for the gunshots and most civilians sought shelter to move out the way of the violence, a few owners with their monsters out being a bit more daring but staying away from the color gang members. For the fact that a fight broke out between two gangs, people in Ikebukuro stayed rather chill from being ever so used to it although Kida wasn't anywhere close to the gunshots right now. People suddenly scattered as a van came to a screeching halt with a swing the sliding door slammed open by Eiichiro just as a Red Hound pounced rammed by the vehicle. Kida jumped in and the door slammed shut again as the driver sped off and mutters spread with the following siren. Venom's eyes narrowed glancing into the rear outside mirror recognizing the pursuer as the notoriously known traffic cop.

"Slam him at the next chance, I'll shoot him." Venom casually commanded with his hood up, gun slipping into sight.

"Don't get up Yuki, we got this. Just rest." Eiichiro stammered as Yuki grunted to get up with multiple bullet wounds and the bleeding stopped for now.

"I hate this…" Yuki groaned weakly, one hand lying over a wound. The van swerved as more sirens howled up and another motorcycle dashed out of a street joining the traffic cop hot on their heel and coming closer readying to take over.

Venom's lips pulled into a grin, eyes a sinister shine to them. "Slam the brakes and back up." The driver smiled themselves obeying quickly and the motorcycles crashed into the back loudly thrown back and wrecked from the impact, one cop dead while the other one crawled away almost hit by a motorcycle piece as the van sped away only to be intercepted a few minutes afterwards by a cop car ramming them in the side shooting out of an intersection. Yuki snarled under her breath, the van swerving as the driver quickly regained control racing forward and the cop car swung their back around coming after them. "Eiichiro, tap into their com system." As the younger boy set to work using a laptop with a smirk, Venom's fingers closed around a grenade, Kida silently watching as the older teen slipped into the back to another door on the back side. His finger slipped to the pin removing it and the leader shortly opened the door dropping the grenade which continued to roll over the pavement underneath the cop car and the gang driver pushed down harder accelerating as fast as they possible could. Gasps and screams echoed from people around huddled by the sidewalks as the grenade exploded in a second smack under the cop car tearing it to pieces along with the officers inside. Smoke billowed up from the explosion with flames and parts flying in every direction, the door quickly shut again as a piece of metal bumped against the back of the van.

"Wow, a piece of the cop car slammed into some five year-olds face!" The driver remarked, glancing into the outside mirror catching a glimpse of the poor child collapsing with their face ruined for life if they even survived.

"Sucks to be them." Venom shrugged with a smile climbing back into the passenger seat. "Everyone get back to the primary base, shake off anyone on your backs."

"Two officers down, I repeat car and officers down! Explosives, blades and guns confirmed!"

"Van in sight, I'm taking up pursuit."

"Every available unit, go after the van!"

"Damn it, we can't tell who is a gang member unless they are fighting!" A bang followed after the message while another deformed into incoherent gurgles as blood filled a mouth from being gutted. The driver chuckled while his three smiling friends with the cops slaughtered by both fleeing color gang factions.

"We have a green color gang member cornered, about to make an arrest." Kida's eyes glanced at the members not the least bit worried, their heads turning a little with knowing smiles to the conversation.

"Finally, we'll get some answers."

"Bye everyone, I had a good time." A voice unfamiliar to Kida echoed through everyone's earpiece quietly.

"You did awesome man, you won't be forgotten." The driver smiled with a sad sigh.

"Stop him, he's pulling something out!" A shot followed before the voice flared up again. "Dang it, suspect injected a substance! Suspect is in critical condition, we need an ambulance!"

"Keep them breathing, check that syringe!"

"Suicide…" Masaomi muttered under his breath, the gang remaining calm and continuing to listen.

"Suspect is dead. I repeat the suspect is dead."

"Got another cop car on our ass." The driver growled.

"Make that two." Venom added.

"Make it four!" Eiichiro shouted as two more tried to block them in the front with screeching tires and four motorcycles coming on the scene with their sirens howling. The standoff didn't last long longer than seconds as the van swerved to mow over a motorcycle and shove past the cars as smoke swallowed the whole area with citizens having fled at the sight of the van chased by authorities.

"I can't see shit!"

"The cops can't either." Eiichiro pointed out, all eyes on Venom for answers as the cops were thrown in a frenzy themselves with every officer around them telling each other of the zero invisibility.

"Dragon's move, drive!" Before Venom had even finished the sentence, the bullets echoed loudly, volley upon volley flying into the smoked area with the smoke even going over the rooftops. The radio buzzed with officer down after another and glass shattered around them, the driver speeding forward blindly while the bullets dented and bounced off the frame of the vehicle. A crunch from a downed officer crushed got drowned from the volley of bullets attacking relentlessly and one of the windows shattered as a bullet slammed into Venom's shoulder, the glass flying all over the place as everyone shielded their face. The van slammed into a snout of a cop car, barely pushing through at the angle. The smoke started to clear hardly in time allowing the driver to swerve to avoid kissing a wall with the wheels having already been on the sidewalk.

"Not a single arrest of any gang member has been made yet as the scene leaves only bodies with the vast majority being police and barely any criminals. The smoke having cleared leaves only gunned down officers and their vehicles damaged. Civilians have been wounded in the ongoing tragedy with a five year old child having just passed away during surgery, the family in unspeakable pain."

"Red and Green are seriously blowing those fights out of proportion." Kyohei growled as the van gang's eyes rested on the radio.

"And they have the police running in circles too, sometimes they can't tell what gang is involved." Saburo added.

"Izumii sounds lately like he wants to compete with those guys. On the other hand, he sometimes boasts about his hunter job sounding like he doesn't care about being the leader again at all." Walker sighed.

"Blue Squares played dirty to begin with but I think he's become even more underhanded with his tactics." Erika joined.

"Guys there is something you might have to decide soon. Listen, I never liked Izumii's leadership and I'm about to be fed up with his bullshit. I can't figure out why he took leadership position again after prison either but I'm pretty much fed up with the whole gang. If they take it too far, I'm out."

"Wherever you go, we go." Walker replied for everyone giving Kadota reassuring nods and smiles.

"So, any other gang in mind if we quit?" Erika inquired.

"I've been thinking about the Dollars lately."

"Green Poison made themselves scarce but at least three of those suckers are dead and a bunch wounded. Deaths and wounded on our side too. No one got a look except me on the guy's face that dropped off the box; he constantly kept his face down."

Fingers thumped against the rest, lips in a frown as the brown eyes stared at the fleshy chunks inside the box with the severed head placed on top staring back in horror. The last three gang members slipped in with one limping joining the large crowd around their leader and the 'present' with a personal note from Venom to Dragon.

"You'd recognize the new guy?" The brown eyes shifted to the Red Hound member.

"Oh yeah, I'll put a bullet in his skull too."

His eyes shifted back to the box again into the dead horrified eyes of the comrade before to lifting to the sea of Red Hounds with a deadly, angry smirk embodying everyone's mood. "War started early."

"Feeling better?" Shinju Kuzuhara turned to her uncle while ambulances and cop cars filled the scenes with some curious and shocked citizens while other hauled the bodies away.

"I'm fine; I just got thrown off my motorcycle unlike these guys. But I might've gotten rusty back there considering how easily they stopped me there." Kinnosuke sighed with a frown, calmly boiling on the inside. To see the gangs run rampant was more frustrating than his superiors complaining about collateral damage in a chase. He had been brought in to arrest the toughest cases but the Red Hounds and Green Poison made the entire force including him look like a joke since they changed. Even before those two were notoriously hard to even make a single arrest only adding to the vibrant underground. On breaks, it had become a common topic between the officers of the possibility of the gangs and yakuza wiping each other out besides the usual talks like the newest gadgets and techniques against monsters.

"Are things gonna change now?" Eiichiro asked turning to Venom leaning back on a couch with his shoulder bandaged and the bloody bullet on the table. A few members worked on the van, two other vehicles from different members near it.

"Change in what way?"

"Well… before the Red Hounds and we ignored each other mostly in favor of destroying the yakuza here first, we…"

"Maybe." Venom smirked. Eiichiro glanced away playing with his thumbs a little, Yuki on another couch covered in bandages with her eyes closed listening in on the conversation. Venom sighed, leaning forward a little and glanced to the younger member. "It'll be just like before. Look, the yakuza out for revenge won't make a difference. We'll just trash them both and besides, a hacker ace doesn't sit in front row in a fight."

"I know." Eiichiro, smiled, his lips pulling into a little smirk afterwards. "But you know sometimes just hacking gets boring. It's too easy."

"I doubt that Dragon would go for a full three way right now, we'll both just be crushing the yakuza even faster. We'll probably have a couple more brawls thrown in here and there."

"Hey Venom, it's getting late so I'm leaving."

"Not so fast Masaomi."

"Come on, again?"

"As long as I want it to, newbie." Venom chuckled, familiar cloth being readied and the smell lingering as the bottle opened. "You can choose another way though if you want."

"How generous, I'll take the cloth." Kida replied, not wanting to get stabbed with a needle or whacked over the head fighting to not punch the approaching members in the face.

"I'll drop you off, any special wishes?" An adult member asked tossing their keys into the air and catching them.

Mikado sighed, cheek falling into the palm of his hand hearing his parents in another room discuss the idea of moving out of Ikebukuro. He couldn't blame them wanting to keep each other and their boy safe as the danger and violence escalated but he was deadly in love with the dangerous surrounding excitement. They'd probably send him if he decided to stay so unlike other he didn't have to worry about anything financially with supporting parents and they'd, even though not liking it, respect his decision. His whole life he wanted excitement, to see new things, go through new experiences and Ikebukuro beckoned like a roller coaster with a rumor of accidents. His heart fluttered at the idea of rallying the Dollars to help put the unfolding chaos to rest but the teen knew that getting involved was dangerous game, so dangerous that even he shivered here and there.

-Taro Tanaka logged on-

Setton: Oh hey there Taro, I was just about to go since no one was on. How are you today?

Taro Tanaka: I'm okay. His fingers paused for a moment before continuing. Sadly for quite a few people today that isn't the case. How are you doing?

Setton: I'm fine

-Kanra logged on-

Kanra: Hellooooo!~ Sorry for my prolonged absence!

Taro Tanaka: It's been barely more than a day…

Kanra: So, I guess all of you heard about today hm? It's been wild, even grenades went off!

Setton: Yeah I did. It's horrible, it even killed a child this time:(

Taro Tanaka: Me too. Lots of police officer got wounded and killed too.

Kanra: At this rate I wonder if they will bring the military in… Have you heard anything about Bakyura? Omg what if he was involved!?

Setton: Why would he/she be involved?

Kanra: Setton, it's like already canon that Bakyura is a he. What if… he got hurt? Or died and no one noticed!?

Taro Tanaka: I haven't heard anything about him.

-Bakyura logged on-

Bakyura: I'm not dead.

Kanra: Yay he lives!~v~

Setton: How has your day been? 'Hey, were you really involved? Um, I just realized phones can be…'

'Relax Celty, I got safeguards.' Bakyura: Nothing exciting but the news are depressing.

Masaomi's thoughts and fingers hesitated to answer honestly, Trixie and Max tilting their heads to him snuggled against him on the bed with the apartment already prepared for the shift about to come. The teen had them filled in after coming rather late having legged it and thrown himself on the bed with a groan. 'Yeah, keep it to yourself.' His teeth moved to his lips as he heard himself sounding harsh out of habit even though he trusted his gut that Celty wouldn't rat him out to anyone.

Kanra: Really? Come on, there has to be something!~

Setton: You know Kanra, you ask him a lot.

Kanra: I can't help it, I'm curious!~ Wait, you never answered if you got hurt!

Bakyura: I'm not hurt either.

Kanra: So, anyone know juicy details?~

Setton: Kanra, people got hurt and killed!

Kanra: Oh come on, Setton! Taro back me up here, it's normal to be curious anyway isn't it?

Taro Tanaka: Well yeah, it's just… I think what Setton is getting at is you sound so cheerful…

Kanra: I'm limited to a keyboard here, I could be crying about that poor little girl right now;_;

-Bakyura logged off-

Kanra: Aw so rude! He barely ever says goodbye you know, just logs off like that!-_-

Taro Tanaka: Maybe he had to hurry for something. Are you still disappointed about not having seen him?

Kanra: It's really not fair, I practically came up with half the plan!~ By the way, you totally missed out Setton.

Setton: I'm certain, I didn't and you're being overdramatic. (Private chat) Hey this might sound weird but Taro, you met Bakyura in the park right?

Taro Tanaka: (Private chat) Yes I did, are you Celty?

Setton: (Private chat) Yep. I had a hunch on who you are for a long time Mikado but you know I have to be careful. We've been friends for a while now and never talked this way here, crazy huh?

Taro Tanaka: (Private chat) Yeah, I had my suspicions too but now that's out of the way. I think Kanra is getting lonely in the chat…

Kanra: Hellloooo! I'm being left out;_;

Taro Tanaka: How was your day Kanra?

Kanra: Ah a little boring, I haven't done much today. I was hoping you guys would have something exciting to tell.~

Setton: sorry not much to tell here. Anyway, I'm going to go now. Good night!

Kanra: bye!

Taro Tanaka: Good night.

-Setton logged off-

Taro Tanaka: Well, I have to get up early tomorrow. Bye Kanra!

Kanra: Bye!

-Taro Tanaka logged off-

Kanra: And I'm by myself yet again…

-Bakyura logged on-

Kanra: Back again so soon? Did you just wait for them to leave?~

Bakyura: Enjoying soup days?

Kanra: I don't have an option after your visit but I manage. Aside with the banter, we both know you came back for a reason not to know about my well- being or to mock me with soup days. So, how is the job going?

Bakyura: Actually, I did come back to rub it in. Fine, stay out of it.

Kanra: And here I thought you are a minimalist in talking. Didn't think you had such a side to you, that's just too cute. Well, anytime you could use information you know what to do.

Bakyura: Watch your tongue. I work alone.

Bakyura: Burn on the soup.

-Bakyura logged off-

-Kanra logged off-

He couldn't help but smile anyway even though he knew very well not to cross the teen which his wounded body reminded him again and again. Or at least, as Izaya liked to think, be very cautious about it. For starters though, he had to heal and survive the soup diet. The man played with his life by nearing Kida and the young boy knew exactly how to play his cards in his field. The man had to wonder if he could even decipher him, find anything as a start to build on; find any emotion, word or movement he could be sure wasn't feigned…

"I know it's late, I'm sorry… I had to come see you…"

Izaya's head turned to the girl poking her head in, a sleepy Shinra walking away watching a movie with Celty they just started before heading off to bed.

"It's alright, come sit." The girl with dyed brown hair, skirt, cardigan, fair skin, and grey eyes nodded with a soft smile sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Who did this to you?" Her eyes almost shed tears at the beaten state Izaya was currently in.

"Now, now, no tears. I'm okay. I have no broken bones; I'll be back up on my feet in no time. Someone from work, don't worry about it. How was your day?"

"Alright but the gangs clashed. From what I heard green and red but I didn't see anything directly."

"Saki, I need to ask something of you which will be very dangerous. Our connection must stay secret until I decide otherwise."

"Anything for you."

Kei's eyes shifted back to the gear and door lying on the bed and back to Kaito asleep in another bed. Their day had gone over okay with them mostly hiding out and after a few tries he couldn't bring himself to ditch his only friend. In a tragic way, the bustle of Ikebukuro did help cover them as the incident had been immediately connected to gang/yakuza conflicts and with this much flare in the city it glossed over Kei's bounty pretty well although it was noted in the news that such an extreme public display wasn't even common day practice in Ikebukuro. They didn't plan to stay anyway moving to a village however Ikebukuro in just over a day proved to have alluring aspect. Lying in the dark, his thoughts didn't release him as they reeled back again to the strange short feeling he had as the blonde guy had passed their door when they arrived. What was that? Did he feel that too? His eyes shifted again but this time to the wall as he thought he could hear the tiniest, faintest whine like whisper in the night unsure if it was just his imagination.

To the keen eye having spent years in Ikebukuro, the faint lingering uneasiness from yesterday trailed through the city like a hiding shadow. In another day or two, it'd vanish until the next thing happened with few remaining on edge. Anri smiled at Mikado a she joined him walking to school both a little silent before bringing up yesterday at the same time only to fall silent again.

"You'd think people would be running as far away as possible after yesterday, huh?" Anri quietly started.

"Yeah but they stay anyway." Mikado replied glancing around mostly at the many monster related things as Ikebukuro besides shops spanned a wide array of venues being entertainment as foregrounds. Even though smoke had filled yesterday's sky, the sun bathed the city in warmth today with many owners out with their monsters shackled in captivity. In school there was a whole subject on it, Mikado only able to imagine what it was like when monsters beat humans roaming free not the other way around. "Um… I… please don't… I heard in school the other day… but maybe-"

"It's true." Anri stopped, eyes glued to the pavement.

"Is that… why you have been sad lately? I-I noticed you spacing out more than usual…"

"Yes, I'm sorry."

"No, don't apologize!" Mikado blushed as Anri turned to him, quickly glancing and lowering his voice again. "Um, I mean you have nothing to apologize for…"

"But I'm-"

"No, you're my friend. I'm glad the sword is separate so you didn't… so… I didn't lose you."

"I-I'm glad too… I'll try to smile more."

"I-I will help you."

Anri turned forward again, her voice almost a whisper next as they continued forward. "Thank you. For staying my friend. But be careful, your kindness… please don't get hurt."

"I'll be careful."

His hand extended to hers while he asked himself why he did it again while the girl looked up with teary, weary eyes filled with gratitude as her shaking fingers reached out for the offered help.

Look away, he told himself again.

The fist struck out again. The girl too weak to fight back even though she was stronger than the cruel owner.

He almost turned away. Her whimper swayed him. The tiniest moment of eyes meeting, pleading for help. Anger, frustration, leaking; overtaking the fear of losing his own hide. His legs moved swiftly, fist balling in the pockets before striking out. Precisely. Too fast for the target to turn around in time and see.

He'd done it again. And he couldn't go back after his hand closed around hers, shaky, tired body falling against him catching her in the alleyway.

"T-thank you."

"Don't mention it, let's get out of here. Take the jacket, hide your face as much as you can and keep your head down. If anybody asks, gang members jumped you." Kida pass her his black leather jacket, revealing more of the dark red shirt underneath slightly passing over the black pants adorned by a silver chain. Kida walked as fast as the girl could keep up, their hands linked together as she huddled close to him and Masaomi focused on taking the fastest and most out of sight route back to the temporary apartment while adjusting his plan for the day. Glances shifted toward them again and again although one particular one stuck longer than the others and a large figure in their path smiling down caused them to stop. Masaomi's eyes met with none other than Simon out on a quick delivery before going back to the nearby restaurant. The girl kept her head down carefully glancing to Shizuo staring at them from across the street while Tom talked to someone.

"We meet again! Sushi good yesterday?"

"Yeah" Masaomi didn't give Simon another chance to continue the conversation, going around him as the man turned to their backs, eyes having spotted the girl's blemished legs showing from under the skirt.

"Boy. Fighting no good."

"Yeah, you told me already." A slight growl accompanied the reply as the two kept walking without another word.

"Hey Celty, what was yesterday about?" Shinra quietly asked, his father in the shower and Izaya asleep while the duo made breakfast in the kitchen. "Is Logan upsetting you?"

"No, he's not. But your father is, as usual."

Shinra chuckled at her reply taking out some glasses and setting them on the table before glancing back to Celty busy at the counter, the PDA slipped back in her sleeve. "Celty… if he is… you can tell me, you know that right?"

Celty paused her task, turning around as with her PDA out again. "I know but he's not."

"What a wonderful morning!" Shingen exclaimed appearing before them clad in only a towel causing Celty to jump and furiously type for him to get dressed like a normal person before taking up a wooden spoon menacingly.

"Shinra, restrain your violent pet and help you father! Bad monster! Ow!" Shinra simply smiled as Shingen was chased back calling that he only wanted to ask for shampoo as it was empty and he had had already started without knowing. The man did receive a bottle however Celty, instead of handing it over nicely, threw it into the bathroom after the man instead. The dullahan returned glancing to Izaya not having even twitched from the short but loud commotion.

"He just wouldn't like all the attention he's receiving being in the underground and I'm trying to help."

Their conversation got interrupted by the doorbell, Shinra answering it and coming back with Shiki in tow with four bodyguards. "What brings you here?"

"My apologies, I seem to be interrupting here."

"No, it's fine. Can I get you anything to drink?"

"No thank you, I won't stay for long. Just wanted to stop by since I was passing by here anyway and say hello. Is Izaya awake?"

"Not right now, I'll wake him." Shiki followed Shinra while the bodyguards stayed back. "Hey Izaya, wake up."

Izaya blinked, rubbing his eyes a little which met Shinra pulling his hand back and leaving to give Shiki and Izaya privacy. "You've looked better."

"Could be worse, Shinra was amazed that no bones are broken. I'm afraid I can't offer anything on the Red Hounds or Green Poison."

"Kida shows no interest in information?"

"None, he might as well be personification of isolation."

"You really don't know who jumped you?"

"Afraid so but maybe I'll remember something. I'm curious; does he let any of you know what's going on?"

"Not really, he ignored Akabayashi and Aozaki inquiry about yesterday when they tried to get into touch with him and since this morning. He only answered to me once, kept it short and said not to bother him again saying he'll find us later."

"So, what's your name?" Ruri slowly lifted her head having shyly sat down on the edge of the bed with Trixie and Max eying her curiously while Kida flopped on his back beside her with one hand over his eyes and forehead.

"Oh, you really…"

"You have to lay low, might as well know your name."

"Ruri… Ruri Hijibre. W-What is yours?"

"Masaomi."

"Um… thank you again… for saving me… but what are you going to do? I'll be searched for and if they find you with me…"

"I'll figure something out, don't worry. I'll get more food and I'll get you some clothing. What are you?"

"Damphyr. For a while I managed to blend in, I made myself a life but I fell and everyone knows once you fall it's over." Her small smile that had come dropped again towards the end.

"That makes you one lucky snowflake, huh?"

Ruri blinked at the boy, tilting her head a little as the teen continued propping himself up a little on his elbows.

"You get another chance, it's better than nothing. Guess being just a quarter vampire will come in handy."

"Yeah" Ruri smiled again, the blemishes healing over her body. "How did you manage to stay free for so long? You feel… very powerful." Masaomi tilted his head away a little without an answer. "I understand."

"I hate my life."

"Eh?"

"I hate my life. That's how I'm still free. I don't allow myself to have friends. I don't ever stay anywhere and I do things. I'm a killer for hire."

"It might sound cruel but if it could give me the freedom I want I'd do it."

"Hey I got a couple of things to do, stay here. There's food around here, Max and Trixie can help you. Just ask the cat and dog and they will show you."

"You have cute pets there."

"They're not… I'm going to put my number in the phone, if you need anything give me a call or text but don't say anything. Send a random word or hang up after saying hi."

"How-"

"You know what telepathy is?"

"Yeah"

"I can do it, I just need to know when you want to talk. Just think of whatever you want to say, I'll hear you. That's how we're going to talk. I'm busy with a job right now so
I have to expect that they'll try to listen in on me. If anyone except me comes in, hide and call for me immediately. No one should be coming though. Here you go."

Ruri took the phone and Masaomi got up, tossing her pants and shirt out of drawer.

"Should fit, I'll buy clothes for you. Hey, is there anything you can't eat?"

"No, whatever you get will be fine. Thank you."

"Don't mention it. See you later." The teen left, closing the door behind him with backpack slung over his shoulder.

"We're back, I got us take-out." Chikage pushed open the door receiving no answers only for his smile to drop at a familiar sight. It was amazing how much of an impact a kid having been with them could have less than a year even though plenty of secrets were kept. Especially profound and deep was the impact of said kid leaving on Non, one of Chikage's girlfriends. None of them had guessed they'd ever care so much nor that he'd be like family and none of the young back then 18 and older girls thought they could feel like a mother towards a twelve year old stray child and miss him so badly. So badly that Non sobbed again holding the picture of them with Kida throwing his arms up in the air with a big happy smile, quietly with the others around her while Sienna had been out with Chikage. The man himself never imagined to grow protective of the boy, let alone care about him ever in a big brother or fatherly fashion but he wouldn't spare Kida from the ass kicking he vowed to gave for making the girls cry. Chikage and Sienna joined the girls on the couch, Non cuddling her face against her boyfriend, the food silently sat on the table while Rocchi stared ahead solemnly lost in his own thought. Especially the very thought that kept coming back again and again, the underground legend. No one ever found Kida, Kida only showed themselves to chosen ones. The idea to try was like chasing a ghost.

His eyes gazed out to the sun just over the horizon bathing it in a warm orange glow, crudely strung together fur over the skin. "We're going for a hunt, sweetie. Do you want to come along?"

"Of course he does, he needs to learn to feed himself."

"Yeah, I'll come. Besides, I need to prove to this old fart that I'm absolutely badass." The boy smirked at the black large wolf.

"You'll take that back!"

"Bite me."

"Not now you two, the pack is waiting." Azury smiled, the trio heading to the rest of the pack before the small group headed off tracking down a herd of Sika deer. With a deer picked, the pack slowly closed in.

Hello, sorry for the long wait. I usually try to upload at least a chapter a month as I know from experience how waiting sucks when you did find something you like. It's been a little busy lately and in between I was emotionally up and down losing pets and my uncle and dad in accidents. Anyway, thanks for favs, follows and the review I'm glad to know people are enjoying the story:). See ya next chapter!