HOMRA's Black Cat
Multiroute Fanfiction
Choice EB Part 5- Flee
Love and Family Route
"Nia? You mean the Nia that you said disappeared?" Yata asked, just as the young girl tackled the strain into a hug and Nekota almost lost his balance.
His arms moving to tightly wrap around her, and pull her as close to him as possible, while her fingers dug into his shirt and sobs reached his ears. Her entire figure shaking against his, while he buried his face into her hair and Akagi softly smiled at them, while Yata glanced elsewhere and Mikoto quietly watched them.
"N-Nekota-nii." Nia sobbed, finger tightening even further into his shirt, while he tried to hold back his own sobs.
"Nia…Nia…" He quietly spoke, feeling the heavy weight in his chest suddenly swell and dissipate as if it was a cloud of dust. "I…I thought you were…thank god you're safe."
A small nod left her, while she buried her face into his chest, and curled up against him.
"I-I'm so glad N-Nekota-nii is alright, too. I couldn't find either of you, I thought you guys were…"
"I'm ok." In response she just tightened her grip on him, while Yata glanced at them and looked elsewhere as he blushed.
"R-Right, so it's awesome you guys found each other, but maybe we should move." He suggested, while Akagi nodded and Nia seemed to reluctantly separate from him when she realized where they were. His little sister wiping at her eyes with a small smile.
"You guys can talk at the bar." Akagi suggested, his always present smile on, while Yata frowned at him.
"No way in hell! Chitose will be all over her and she deserves to be able to talk to Nekota without interruptions."
"But her clothes are ruined, Yata-san. We can't let her stay like that."
"They're just clothes, idiot-"
"Both of you be quiet." Mikoto interrupted, a heavy sigh leaving him when they fell silent. "We'll go back to the bar."
"Bar?" Nia spoke in confusion, while Nekota wiped at his eyes and gave a small mile to his sister.
"It's a safe place." He spoke up, as blue eyes turned toward him and she smiled with a nod.
"Alright. If Nekota-nii says it's safe."
It was then that the red king headed toward the exit of the alleyway, and the older strain gestured the younger beside him to follow. Nia instantly wrapping her arms around one of his own, and staying close to him, while Yata let his bat disappear and scooped up his skateboard. The two clansmen taking up the rear, till Shouhei stepped forward to keep their pace and looked between the two of them.
"So you're Nekota-san's sister?" He asked, before Yata smacked him on the head, the vanguard's face red. "Ouch, Yata-san!"
"Leave her alone, idiot!"
"I'm just trying to be friendly."
"She doesn't need you bothering her!"
"Both of you quit it." Mikoto ordered, before Nia softly smiled beside him and waved a hand.
"Oh, no, it's ok. Shouhei right?" A nod left the upbeat man, and displeased grumble left the skateboarder behind them. "Yes, I'm Nekota-nii's sister."
"You guys look a lot alike." Came the brunette's reply, and his sister looked up at him in slight confusion. "You got the same color eyes and some of your facial features look the same."
"You're making Nekota sound like a girl, idiot." Yata muttered, making Nia giggle.
"Nekota-nii does kind of look like a girl. Might be because your hair is so long." She spoke, making the older strain flush slightly when she played with the long strands. "Your hair is even longer than mine."
"I didn't see a reason to cut it." Nekota quietly replied, getting a bigger smile from the girl.
"Well it looks nice." She replied, threading her fingers through it. "I'll have to braid it when I get the chance. It has to get in the way."
"Not really."
The smile that continued to adore his sister's face was something he thought he'd never see in his entire lifetime. The arm wrapped around his, and the small fingers in his hair almost unreal in a sense, as he fought back the urge to grab her hand in his and instead continued to look her over. Her hair, her eyes, each distinct feature on her face…it was almost a dream she was alive when just this morning he dreamt of her being taken away by those humans. Of her screams and cries for them to run, and yet here she was, holding tight to his arm while she played with his hair. The last time he had seen her she had been so small, a little kitten, no older than four years old in their lifespan, and a cute little bundle of white and black fur. She had seemed so helpless, and now she had a human form just like his own, and she was just a bit taller than him. She had grown up without him.
"We're here." Mikoto spoke, as Nekota snapped out of his thoughts and the man pulled the door open for him.
Nia suddenly letting go of his hair and holding onto his arm tightly, while he gave the king a nod and led her inside with the others right behind them. Almost everyone's eyes looking toward them as they walked inside, and Anna looking at them in happiness, while the others stared at him and his sister in complete surprise. Chitose the first one to get up, from the card game with Anna, as he smirked.
"Damn, Nekota, you move fast." He chuckled, before Yata moved past him to grab the brunette by the back of the collar and force him to sit down. "Oi! Yata!"
"Don't try it, slut. She's Nekota's sister." The vanguard practically growled, just as a moment of silence filled the bar and everyone, besides Anna, stared at them in shock.
"S-Sister?" The brunette repeated, while Akagi nodded.
"We found her being hassled by some gang and saved her." He beamed, while Kusanagi crossed his arms over his chest.
"You mean you bothered her and accidentally got her into trouble." The blonde corrected, making the upbeat man wince.
"We didn't mean to. She looked a lot like Nekota-san, so we thought Nekota-san was using his powers."
"Idiots." Eric grumbled, turning his attention back to his phone, while the red king moved to stop just beside the older strain.
"Either way, I want you guys to leave them alone for now." He ordered, getting nods from all the men in the room. "Let them catch up."
"Of course, King." Came the agreed response, before Totsuka smiled.
"Would Nekota-chan's sister like some clothes to change into?" The hobbyist asked, snapping his sister from her surprised trance as she looked down at her ruined clothes and blushed.
"Yes please."
"Alright, this way."
A small nod left the girl, as she moved to follow the hobbyist and stopped when she realized the older strain wasn't going to follow her. Blue eyes looking up at him in confusion, before she took his hand and gently tugged on it till he followed her.
"Nia-"
"I don't want to go by myself." She quietly spoke, getting a nod from him, while they followed the brunette till he came to a spare room and started digging through the drawers.
"Everything will probably be a bit big on you, just like they were on Nekota-chan, but they're all clean and the others don't use them unless they stay over." Totsuka smiled, pulling out articles of clothing that looked like something Yata would've worn in his earlier teenage years and set them on the bed. "Let me know if they're too big."
"I will, thank you." Nia replied, before the hobbyist nodded and disappeared back into the hall, closing the door behind him. "I'm so glad Nekota-nii is alive."
The silence that fell over them was practically agonizing, as he tightened his grip on her hand and she turned to smile at him. Tears back in her eyes, that he reached up to wipe away, till she stepped closer to him to lay her head on his chest and he wrapped his free arm around her.
"Me too. I'm glad you're alive, Nia." He quietly responded, before she suddenly separated them and smiled as she wiped at her eyes.
"Right, I need to get changed." She softly laughed, before she moved to the bed to look at the clothes Totsuka had pulled out for her and she sifted through them. "Wow, it's been forever since I wore shorts!"
"How long have you had a human form?" Nekota asked, while his sister held up a pair of shorts against her frame and looked up at him with the question. "S-Sorry, that was rude-"
"No, it's ok." She spoke up, smiling at him. "You're bound to be curious, just like me, because we can gain a human form at different ages. I've had mine since I was nine."
"Eight." He replied, his sister nodding while she put the shorts aside and started digging through the pile again and pulled out another pair of shorts to compare them to the ones she was just looking at. "Just after…"
Silence fell over them as the older's sentence trailed off and Nia looked down at the fabric in her fingers. The both of them understanding what he meant, but not having the courage to finish it, as she set the article of clothing aside to wear and started looking at the different shirts. A few of them being looked at, before she picked one she liked and he turned around to give her some privacy. The agonizing silence continuing between the two of them, till a finger tapped against his shoulder and he turned to see her dressed in some of Yata's old clothes. The khaki shorts and black V-neck t-shirt actually fitting her better than him, even though she was slimmer than him, and only the left shoulder of the shirt hung slightly to the side.
"Did Kenji-nii get his after you?" She asked, as he nodded and his sister pulled him over to sit on the bed together with her. "I thought so. Kenji-nii was always a late bloomer. He always wanted to be first, but one of us usually beat him."
Another nod left him, while Nia pulled her bag over and dug through it before she produced a small travel brush and a few hair ties. The girl brushing through her hair, and the curls bouncing back into place on their own accord, before she parted the strands and pulled them into a pair of pigtails behind her. The two bundles only an inch from one another, but keeping her hair back, before she smiled at him and gestured for him to turn around. A quiet command he didn't deny, as he turned around and let the younger start to brush and pull his hair into separate little bundles to be braided.
"They did take me to the vet, but I survived." She quietly spoke, making him stiffen, as he didn't dare turn and look at his sister. Mostly for the fact she probably had him turn around so he couldn't see her. "They gave me medicine, and it made me sick, but after the first one I somehow managed to use my illusions and make them believe they gave it to me. I got better not long after and the humans who brought me there took me back to their nest."
By now she was slowly braiding his hair, the girl weaving the strands into an intricate pattern.
"I was scared at the time, but they were very nice and careful with me. They weren't mean, or cruel, and they treated me with respect. They fed me human food, and gave me a nice place to sleep, and didn't shower me with a ton of affection. They never got another animal, and they treated me like another member of their family, but they never let me outside. It wasn't till I turned nine that I gained my human form and surprised the both of them. They really thought I was a normal cat." A little bit of humor seemed to seep into her voice, and Nekota had the feeling she was softly smiling, till her hands stilled and he fought the urge to look back at her. "I was expecting them to be angry with me, because I suddenly turned into a human in front of them, but they weren't. They were surprised, and a little scared of me at first, but when they realized I was the one the most afraid they realized I was always like this and they changed."
Her fingers started moving again, tightening sections of the braid and slowly reaching the end of his hair.
"They stopped looking at me as a cat, and instead they started treating me like a human. They bought me clothes, and gave me a bed, and…and they started treating me like a daughter." A hair tie wound it's way around his hair, before the braid hit his back and he turned to look at his sister. A small smile on her face, and an almost nostalgic look in her eyes, while she looked at him. "I was too young and confused to understand at the time, but when I could understand they told me they had been freaked out I was a strain at first and after they realized I wouldn't hurt them they started treating me like their daughter because the female human couldn't carry young. They felt bad that they took me away from you and Kenji-nii as well, after they realized you guys were strains too, and while they raised me they tried to help me search for you guys. They called other humans to help, a year ago, since they couldn't find anything, and in the meantime I've been going to school. They had hired a human to teach me what I didn't know, so I could catch up with human kids my age, and I got to attend when I understood what they were teaching. I even have a few friends now."
A small sigh left her, before she took his hand into his and squeezed his fingers. Her hands only slightly smaller than his, and her nails painted a light blue, till she looked up from their jointed hands and smiled.
"Even though it was scary, and you two probably thought I died, I was actually happy…I still am. I mean, I know mom said humans were dangerous, but the humans who take care of me now aren't and I'm kind of glad they're the ones that took me, even if I was separated from you guys. I missed you both so much, and I thought about it everyday, but I couldn't have been safer."
Without a word, Nekota gave her a soft smile and pulled her close. His sister wrapping her arms around him, and sitting in his lap so they wouldn't have to sit in an awkward position, as she curled up against him and laid her cheek on his shoulder.
"I'm glad." He replied, holding her close. "We were both worried, and I couldn't help but feel it was my fault they took you, but if you're happy I can't be upset about it anymore. They treated you respectively and treated you like their own, so I can't fully hate them for keeping you alive."
"Neither can I."
A calm silence fell over them, the two of them just being content in the fact they were close, even if their position would look awkward to outsiders, before Nia sat up and gave him a smile.
"Now that I've told you about me, spill it mister. What were you and Kenji-nii up to?" She playfully ordered, and he couldn't help but chuckle.
At this rate, they weren't going to be down in the bar for quite some time.
"They've been up there forever." Chitose frowned, his eyes glued to the staircase, while Yata rolled his eyes.
"They're probably catching up." Akagi put in, looking at the cards in his hand.
"It's been two hours."
"They've been separated since they were kids, idiot." Yata grumbled, while he cursed at the card the upbeat man set down. "Seriously, Shouehi!? I swear you're fucking cheating!"
"How do you even cheat at goldfish?" Dewa asked, while the vanguard set down one of his cards with a frown.
"The hell if I know, but he's taken almost every single one of my cards!"
"I just have good luck then." The man chuckled, getting a glare from the skateboarder. "Don't look at me like that, Yata-san, it's just a game."
"Shut up and just play another card, would yah?"
A chuckle left Kusanagi, as Mikoto sipped at his drink and ignored his friend watching his clansmen argue. Something that was slowly becoming an hourly ritual, so he didn't understand why it was a big deal, till Tatara settled down beside him from his trip to the kitchen to start up dinner.
"Shouhei has gotten close to Yata-chan recently." The hobbyist chuckled, and the bar owner nodded. "I thought it'd take longer."
"Yata-chan does have a way of shutting some people out, especially people he thinks are annoying."
"San-chan won't be too happy with that. He'll think Shouhei is getting too much attention." Tatara laughed, making the bar owner frown.
"The last thing I need is another fight in my bar."
"True, but it'll happen eventually and we won't be able to stop it."
A hum left the blonde; just before the sound of footsteps on the stairs reached them and they turned to watch Nekota and Nia walk into the bar. The strain's sister in Yata's old shorts and shirt, her bag over her shoulder and her old clothes stuffed inside, while Nekota walked beside her and held her hand. Something that had the king frowning slightly, but dismissed almost immediately. It was the kid's sister for crying out loud; of course they'd be close after not seeing each other for so long.
"There you are, Nekota. Everything ok?" Yata asked, as the older strain nodded and Nia let go of his hand to smile a nod.
"Sorry about that. I wanted to talk to Nekota-nii alone." She spoke up, the vanguard suddenly blushing and looking away almost instantly.
"I-It's f-fine." He replied, getting a nudge from Chitose who got smacked upside the head. "Shut up, perv."
"I wasn't being pervy!"
"Yeah right!"
"I'm being serious! Nekota-kun might kill me if I even touch her!"
"I'd get rid of you myself." Nia spoke up; a small smile on her face, while his clansmen paled and Nekota glanced at her in slight surprise, which had the girl looking up at her brother. "The humans I live with had me take a few defensive courses. I couldn't use them before because those guys caught me off guard, but I once took out a classmate twice my size before because he touched me in gym. A few of his friends had to carry him to the nurses office."
"Shit." Chitose muttered, as he shrunk into himself and the girl quickly waved her hand.
"But don't worry. I won't do anything if you behave." She beamed, while Nekota lightly chuckled beside her. "Don't laugh, Nekota-nii. It's not funny."
"I'm just imaging you being the crap out of someone."
"That's mean." She pouted, before the older strain laughed.
Something that had them all staring at the two of them in surprise, considering the boy that had been sulking this morning, and refused to interact with anyone, was now smiling and laughing like it was an everyday occurrence. Almost as if just the presence of his sister had shattered whatever had kept him chained down and he was slowly returning to who he was supposed to be.
"Sorry, I can't help it." He apologized, before Kusanagi smiled at them.
"Well I'm glad to see you're alright. Would you like to stay for dinner? Or do you need one of us to escort you home?" The bar owner asked, just as Nia quickly turned to the clock on the wall and blinked at it in surprise, before she dug through her bag for her phone. The girl checking it for messages, while Nekota seemed to be looking at her protectively and in worry.
"Crap, they called me. Excuse me for a moment." She quickly spoke, before she tapped her phone and put it to her ear. Nekota reluctantly moving away from her to give her privacy, while the younger talked into the phone and the redhead frowned at his best friend for his horrible timing. True it was getting a little late, and the girl's guardians were probably worried, but the last thing he needed was the strain relapsing into his past depressed state. "I'm fine, Mina, really…."
"Did you have a nice talk with your sister, Nekota-chan?" Tatara asked, getting the older strain's attention, before he gave a small nod.
"Yeah, we caught up." He replied, keeping an eye on the girl, his hands shoved into the pockets of a pair of jeans he must've stolen from the King's closet and from the stash that used to belong to his vassal. "She's living with the humans that had taken her, but they're treating her like their daughter so…I can't be mad at them."
An understanding look fell over his vassal's face, till the girl hung up and turned to them.
"They said I could stay, but they'll come and pick me up in an hour." She spoke up, giving them all a smile and the others returning it.
"Then I better get dinner cooking." Tatara spoke up, standing from his seat and he gestured the vanguard to follow him. "Come on, Yata-chan, I could use an extra hand."
"Alright, give me a second." The skateboarder spoke, as he handed Akagi the rest of his cards and stood. "Don't go flirting with her, Chitose."
"I don't plan on it." The womanizer sighed in dismay, frowning at his cards, while the brunette across from him proceeded to decimate him in the card game. "Ok, you have to be cheating!"
"So you must be Mikoto-san." Nia finally spoke up, as the redhead glanced away from his clansmen to find the younger strain standing beside her brother and smiling at him. "Thank you for keeping Nekota-nii safe."
"You're welcome."
"How about you two sit down." Kusanagi suggested, getting a nod from the girl as they settled down at the bar. Nekota letting his sister sit next to the king, but keeping an eye on her. "Do you want anything to drink?"
"Tea please." Nia piped up, while Nekota asked for water. "Is that all you drink? You know our stomachs can handle other drinks."
"I'm fine with water." A small smile appeared on the girl's face, while Akagi destroyed the others in goldfish and they put away the cards.
Kusanagi getting the two of them their order, and the others moving back to their usual spots, before Chitose and Dewa sat in their seats at the bar and the brunette watched the two siblings.
"So was Nekota-kun always this scared of everyone?" The womanizer asked, while Nia turned to look at him in confusion and turned to her brother to see a distressed look on his face. It taking her a few moments, before she smiled and turned to his clansmen to shake her head.
"No, Nekota-nii wasn't always so timid. He was very kind and protective of both Kenji-nii and me. He'd do everything he could to keep us all together, even if it meant putting himself into a dangerous situation." She explained, getting a look of surprise from the brunette, as she giggled. "Nekota-nii even jumped at my current caretakers when we were little so he could free me from the box I was in."
"That's not funny. I was trying to save you." Nekota pouted, before his sister patted his shoulder and continued to giggle.
"True, but it's funny to look back on. Seeing a kitten suddenly jump from the top of a truck at a human to make them drop a box would be funny for anyone." She tried to amend, while Nekota's huffed. "Oh, come one Nekota-nii! I didn't mean it like that. You did save me."
"For ten minutes."
"It's the thought that counts."
"What exactly happened?" Dewa asked, making the older strain stiffen and the girl to look between her brother and his clansmen.
"Nekota-nii?"
"You're safe…so it doesn't hurt for them to know." A small nod left her, before she turned to the man and let Nekota take her hand.
"When we were little some humans found us and took me. I was sick at the time, so I couldn't run, but Nekota-nii and Kenji-nii worked together to save me before they could take me to the vet. They succeeded, but not long after I was taken again and I told them to leave me behind. I didn't want them to be taken as well, since we could die from being taken to the vet, and I was raised by my current guardians."
"Can those medications really kill you?" A nod left her.
"Yep. It seems stupid, but with our powers, and the fact we can switch forms, the medications they give pets can kill us. Something in their make up disrupts our system and if we continually take them our bodies could break down." She explained. "But I was only given a single dose when I was little, so I'm fine. I haven't had a single problem."
"That aside, it's an honor to met you and know you're alright." Kusanagi interrupted, before the others could pry more, and the younger strain beamed.
"Same here. I couldn't be happier to know Nekota-nii is alright." She smiled, just at Tatara and Yata walked in with dinner.
"Who's hungry?" His vassal asked, before cheers rang through the bar and a warm chatter filled the bar.
"Let me help clean up."
"Oh no, we got it Nia-chan. Thank you, though." Totsuka spoke, while Nekota watched his sister try to help the hobbyist clean up the dishes from the dinner.
A small pout falling over her face, before she gave in and watched the man carry the dishes to the kitchen. The others kindly speaking to her, and gaining her attention, as they started up an innocent conversation and it took everything the older strain had to pull his eyes away from her. The action making his chest contract, before he messed up his hair and ignored the looks the king and bartender were giving him. He knew he probably looked stupid right now, but he couldn't help it. It was his sister for crying out loud.
"You alright, Nekota-chan?" Kusanagi asked, making the teen nod, before his sister's ringtone sounded and he quickly turned to watch her answer her phone.
"Hello?...Oh, Mina! Yes, we finished dinner…you're already here? Oh, let me get my bag." She spoke, making the older strain's stomach twist unpleasantly, while she watched her grab her bag and wave to him. "Nekota-nii come outside with me for a second!...I'll be right there, Mina. Give me a minute."
A dreading feeling filled the older's belly, as he forced himself out of the stool and felt a hand rest on his shoulder. Sapphire eyes turning to find Mikoto getting out of his seat behind him, before he gently tapped his back and nodded for him to follower her. An action that had him relaxing a little as the two of them followed her out of the bar and into the night air. A car already parked in front of the building, and a woman stepping out of the car to greet his sister, before she paused at his presence and Nia smiled at the two of them.
"Mina, meet Nekota-nii. Nekota-nii, this is my guardian Mina." His sister spoke up, gesturing to each of them in turn, before the human stepped around the car to stop beside the girl and give him an apologetic look. "Nekota-nii is one of my older brothers I told you about, Mina."
"I'd say it's a pleasure to meet you, but I don't think it is." The woman spoke, as the teen roughly bit his lower lip and forced back the urge to take out his inner most hatred on the woman.
"It isn't." He replied, trying to stay calm, and ignoring a slightly dejected look his sister gave him. "But…You kept her safe, so I can't completely hate you."
In response the human woman nodded and gave him a small smile, Nia looking a little more hopeful with his words, and only proving his subconscious thought that his sister wanted them to get along. An idea that only made his stomach twist unpleasantly, and his anger to rise a little more, till the woman glanced at his sister and smiled.
"Anyway, I'd rather not overstay my welcome. So thank you for protecting her, Nekota." She spoke, before glancing at the red king behind him and giving him a small bow. "And thank you for watching after Nia. I greatly appreciate it."
A hum left the man behind him, before the human headed back into the car and Nia gave him a little smile. His sister tackling him into another hug, and almost squeezing the lifeout of him, before she stepped away from him and beamed.
"I'll see you soon, Nekota-nii. Promise." She happily spoke, as she pulled open the car door and settled inside.
"Be safe." Nekota returned, getting a nod from her, while she closed the door and the vehicle started up.
The noise making him flinch, as the horrid growl blasted into his ears, and Nia giggled at him from behind the window. A small wave being directed to him, before they drove off and it took everything he had not to go after her. Something Mikoto seemed to pick up on, as a hand rested on his shoulder and gently squeezed. An action that had him forcing himself to relax, till the car was out of sight and he finally relaxed. His anger slowly dissipating, and the red king keeping that firm hand on his shoulder, before he let out a curse and gripped at his hair. The teen lowering himself to his knees, and he yanking at the strands as squeezed his eyes shut. Guilt and regret flooding over him, just as arms wrapped around him and pulled him against a warm body.
"I should've gone back for her." He quietly spoke, curling up against the man beside him and relaxing a little when fingers rested on the back of his head, careful of the braid. "I should've saved her."
"You didn't know she was alive." The king's rough voice spoke, arms tightening around him.
"She was all alone though. She was scared and alone." He replied shakily, burying his face into the man's chest and holding back tears. "She grew up without us."
A small moment of silence passed over them, the king holding him tightly against him, till he felt the man's cheek rest against his head and a soft sigh left him.
"At least she didn't have to live through what you and your brother probably lived through." Mikoto finally spoke, making the strain open his eyes and bite his lower lip. "She didn't have to experience what you've gone through, living on the streets and trying to scrounge for food. She lived safely and comfortably."
"She was taken from us."
"And she's back now."
"I'm a terrible brother, though." He shakily spoke, the tears finally falling from his eyes and his voice cracking. "She…she wanted me to get along with that human and I…I couldn't. She's the one that took her from us. How could I be ok even being near her?...I wanted to yell at her so much. To blame her for taking her away, but…"
The rest trailed off, as he dug the heel of his hands into his eyes and held back a sob. His figure slowly shaking, till hands tilted his head up and pulled his hands away from his face. Amber eyes looking down at him warmly, while a small, rare, smile spread across the king's face.
"You have all the right to be angry, but your sister only wanted to know she was safe." Mikoto spoke, fingers brushing against the teen's cheeks. "She was worried about you and didn't want you to be upset or worry about her being alright."
"But I-" The man's thumb pressed against his lips and had his face flushing slightly when his smile grew a little.
"You've been protective of her since you found her and she noticed it, everyone did. She was trying to give you a piece of mind." A small nod left him, his gaze falling to his lap, while the man wiped the tears from his face. "Of course she won't have to worry about you."
In confusion he glanced up at the older and found those amber eyes looking at him…lovingly?
"I'll keep you safe."
A comfortable silence filled the air, the room dark, and soft rays of moonlight filtering in from between the curtains, casting light in strips of light against the floor and walls. The only noise being the soft breathing of the boy next to him, curled up against his side, and grasping his shirt in his sleep while he dreamed. A calm, peaceful, look on his face, as Mikoto reached down to brush the strands of hair out of the teen's face and softly smile. His fingers grazing against the younger's cheek, and making him mumble and shift against him in his unconsciousness, till the king lifted his head and turned to the figure now standing in the doorway, resting against the door frame.
"So his sister was alive the entire time." Kusanagi spoke, watching the teen curled up against the king, his sunglasses absent while the redhead nodded. "Is that good or bad?"
"Both." He replied, looking back down at the boy beside him. "He's opening up, but he's protective of her."
"Can she be trusted? He hasn't seen her in years. She might not be the same girl."
"She is." Mikoto spoke, raising his right hand up slightly and looking at it. "I couldn't feel a shred of bad intent coming off her. She's just an innocent girl."
In response the blonde nodded, before leaning his head against the doorway.
"What are we going to do about that gang of men using that strain drug?" His second in command questioned, glancing back at the boy beside him. "They're going to be looking for him again."
A huff left the red king, before he laid back down beside the teen and slid an arm under the boys waist to pull him closer. The bar owner just watching him, and never once seeming to be bothered by the action, nor the little signs of affection he had been and was showing the boy. To be honest, he doubted Izumo even cared that he was showing emotion toward the boy and probably cared more that he found a genuine interest in someone and cared about them, because in all the years they knew each other they both knew it was hard for him to really care about something or someone. His usual laziness and uninterest in everything, besides his clansmen's wellbeing, kept him from actually making worthwhile and meaningful relationships, but Nekota was different. They both knew that. Even if Mikoto would never voice it, Izumo knew he cared about the boy, for both his current and hidden personality, and he would do anything to keep him safe. Just like he'd do anything to keep his clansmen safe, and it didn't matter what got in his way. He'd burn everything to ashes.
"I'll burn them all." He finally replied, before his best friend chuckled and stood up properly, knocking a knuckle against the doorframe.
"Then we'll start looking for them tomorrow." Came the blonde's reply, before he disappeared into the darkness in the hallway.
Mikoto relaxing against the mattress the moment his second in command left, as he looked at the boy now curled up against his chest and sleeping peacefully.
He'd keep him safe no matter what it took, because he didn't want to see him in tears anymore. Nekota deserved to be happy and he'd be sure to give the boy that happiness.
Scarlett: *waves happily* hello everyone! I'm back with a new chapter!
Nekota: *frowning at the chapter, glancing at Mikoto* About time you admitted you liked me *rolls his eyes as the king shrugs* lazy lion.
Scarlett: *chuckles* come on, give him a break. I did mention it'd take him longer because you're not a clansmen. *pats Nekota's head when he huffs*
Nekota: Still going slow with the whole route though. *sets the chapter down and pulls out a stray paper* what is this?
Scarlett: *snatches it from his fingers* nothing! *crumples it and tosses it across the room, smiling*
Nekota: *frowning* it ain't nothin with the reaction. You had a list of everyone's HOMRA tattoos *raises an eyebrow when she looks away* spill
Scarlett: Well *rubs the back of her head* since I'm graduating in a month and half, and my birthday is a few days before, I wanted to get something permanent to celebrate getting through college and-
Nekota: so you're thinking of getting a tattoo? *sighs when she winces* seriously?
Scarlett: It was an idea i thought would be cool *pouts* I love HOMRA and the guys and I'm real proud of myself that I've gotten so far with my art and stuff. So what better to show it than to have a permanent reminder of my accomplishment and show my pride for both HOMRA and my anime art style? *messes up her hair* That's not important right now though! *shoves him away, looking at the camera* Anyway, here's the new chapter everyone! Nia and Nekota have gotten the chance to catch up, we've discovered what exactly happened to her after Nekota and Kenji left her, and Nekota deals with some new emotions. After finally knowing his sister is alive, and ridding himself of the huge weight on his shoulders, he feels guilty for letting her grow up without him, but it didn't last long thanks to Mikoto *smiles, winking* not to mention our favorite red king is starting to show our favorite strain some of his love! *beams* So I hope you enjoy the chapter, and ready yourselves for the next chapter! As always shit is going to be going down in part 6, so get ready for the ball to drop! *gives a small bow* And this next week is my spring break, so I may have the next chapter up earlier, but don't keep your fingers crossed. Still got homework to do. *waves* enjoy the chapter everyone!
Reviews Answered:
Panda Master X: *reads review, smiling* Agreed, I like the distressed Nekota as well. I've been having a ton of fun manipulating his personality and seeing how far I could stretch and pull it, but I've been having fun with this route. Especially Nia, who I decided to leave innocent to torture Nekota little more. Nia may be the same, but seeing her grown up, and oblivious to the hurt she may have caused him by introducing him to Mina, makes her a disturbing force in his life. She may have opened his heart more, and started to return him to who he really is, but by opening his heart so fast our wonderful little strain can still get hurt easily. So we'll have to see what happens in part 6. Nia may be his downfall without having to be present *winks, reading review, laughing* yep, there's so much I could do with her in this chapter I had a tone of fun making up ideas but this idea stuck the best. With her being a student, and living like the human's daughter, she can appear at anytime if I want and challenge Nekota's mental state *winks* so she's more of a wild card than Kenji is. Of course I can't wait to finish this route and move to a new one. I've got an awesome idea for Yata's second side route and I'm itching to start working on it. *beams, bowing* Anyway, enjoy the chapter hun!
Guest: (Chapters 9 & 10, CA - AC - Part 4 & 5)~ *reads both reviews, before she starts laughing hysterically* s-seriously, hun? Of course it's gay. *wipes a tear from her eye, tossing the review aside and trying not to laugh* what the hell do you think you're reading? *holds back a laugh* there is a warning and everything in the summary. *waves at her face, trying not to laugh* oh jeeze that's funny. Thanks for the laugh.
K and it's characters do not belong to me. They belong to Furuashi Hideyuki, GoHands, and GoRA.
Nekota however belongs to me. If you wish to use him, please ask permission before using him.