Chapter Thirty-Seven: You'll Be the End of Me

The two boys enjoyed their small meals together in silence at the kitchen table once Kachi finished cooking. The two canines exchanged awkward glances, neither one able to say anything to the other as they ate. Once finished, and seeing that Legosi's plate was empty, Kachi left his spot at the table and approached the wolf, offering to take it from him.

Legosi obliged, leaning back and allowing the black canine to take the plate from him. Once he disappeared into the kitchen, Legosi retired to the couch, walking slowly and treading softly; he'd only just stopped using his crutches, he didn't want to push himself too hard.

Kachi rinsed both plates off in the sink, removing any of what was left on them from both their meals. Still wet, he placed them down on the counter to the right of the sink while he turned toward the stove. Atop the still warm surface, the pan and spatula he'd used to cook their eggs rested just to the left of the cooking element.

He took them both to the sink before he turned on the water, put the drain plug in, and added some soap to the small puddle that had already formed. One by one, Kachi washed each dish before placing it to dry in the second sink to his left. When the small pile was gone, he drained the water and washed his hands.

Kachi then departed the kitchen after drying his hands off, crossing through the dining room and joining Legosi on the couch. It was still playing the channel that the wolf had set it to while he waited for Kachi to finish his shower, and he seemed to be just as bored watching it as he was then.

Kachi sat down next to him, watching the wolf give him a quick glance from the corner of his eye before returning to the TV. Kachi propped his legs up on the coffee table, crossing his arms over his chest as he allowed the show's images and words wash over him.

For the remainder of the day until mid-afternoon, neither canine moved very far from the couch, and if they did, it was only for a couple minutes at a time. Despite being the one with the injured leg, Legosi was the one who moved the most. Perhaps it was because the physical injury was much easier to deal with than the thoughts within Kachi's head.

Even with the constant distraction that was daytime television, Kachi's thoughts were front and center, flip-flopping between the conversation that he desperately needed to have with Dana, as well as the one he wanted to avoid with Pina. They fought endlessly, tugging back and forth for his attention. It agonized him, and he was growing more and more frustrated by the minute.

When the minutes turned to hours, Kachi felt he was beginning to lose himself. He had to resist his body's natural reaction to frustration. The slightest hint of a growl bubbling in his throat would alert Legosi next to him, and for all intents and purposes, he was absolutely not in the mood to express his thoughts at that moment.

In spite of this, he would occasionally turn his gaze toward the wolf, and with every instance, a wave of calm would overtake him. Sometimes Legosi wouldn't look back, other times he would. During those times, he'd offer a small smile before turning his head back to the TV, bringing a warmness to Kachi's chest and inspiring him to continue enduring the internal struggle.

The hours passed, the world around the two canines growing dark as the sun fell below the horizon beyond the city. The apartment faded around them, the only light in the room coming from the TV across from them.

Having been entranced by its siren song, neither Kachi nor Legosi realized just how late it had gotten. As the credits rolled to a show neither canine cared about, Kachi peeled his eyes away from the TV screen, surprised at the sudden abundance of darkness surrounding them. He nudged Legosi with his elbow, pulling him away from the screen's influence as well.

Taking a few seconds to look around, Kachi observed that the wolf was just as confused as he was, "When did it get so dark?" he asked, "What time is it even?" he added.

Kachi shrugged, "Don't know. I'll check," he replied, leaning forward to fetch his phone from the coffee table, which had remained untouched since he angrily tossed it. Gripping the device in his hand and lifting it to his face, the screen came to life, "Six o'clock?" he said, tilting his head and raising an eyebrow. He glanced over to Legosi, "Makes sense, seeing how dark it is."

Legosi nodded in agreement. He reached over to the table to his right, turning on the lamp sitting atop it. The light stung both their eyes for a moment, causing them to wince, "That's pretty late. Later than I thought it was," he commented.

Kachi's folded his brows, "What? Six isn't that late…not for us at least," he began. He quickly turned his gaze to one of the front windows, seeing the streetlights illuminating the snow-covered streets. He then lifted a hand to his chin, "It's late for Dad. He should be back by now, where is he?" he asked rhetorically.

Legosi shrugged his shoulders, "My guess is he's still downstairs," he suggested as he placed his right arm on the couch's armrest.

Kachi nodded, moving a closed fist to his lips, "Yeah…he would have told me if he was going somewhere when he was here for lunch, at least I hope he would." A few seconds of silence passed as Kachi stared off into nothing. A soft sigh left the canine, turning his head back to the wolf, "I think I'm gonna go down there and see what he's up to," he stated.

"What if he's busy?" Legosi countered.

"Well, I'll wait until he isn't, then I'll ask him how much longer he'll be. Maybe I'll ask him if I should get started with dinner, too," Kachi replied, lowering his hands to his hips.

Legosi nodded, a small smile forming on his face, "Okay. Good plan, I'm getting hungry again. I mean, eggs are filling, but not that filling."

Kachi chuckled, "I hear ya," Kachi picked himself up from the couch and stretched his back, a satisfying feeling after having been seated for hours at a time. He walked around the couch, stopping in front of the apartment's door. He felt around the wall for the light switch, turning on the living room's light so he wouldn't have to strain his eyes searching for his shoes.

After slipping them on, he pulled the door open and stepped outside, completely confusing the wolf still on the couch. A moment later, Kachi poked his head back into the apartment, a sheepish grin spread across his face, "Uh, I'll be about ten minutes. Maybe. Sorry," he said quickly.

Legosi raised an eyebrow, an almost scoff escaping him, "Sure thing. I'll be right here," he replied.

With that, Kachi closed the door behind him, certain he didn't have anything else to tell the wolf before he headed down to the gym. The space outside the apartment wasn't heated, and the chilly air that filled it sent small shivers through his body as he made his way down the flight of stairs. The cold only got worse as he stepped outside; a light, but icy breeze was blowing down the unobstructed street across the building, sideswiping the canine.

Kachi quickly sprinted toward the gym's front entrance, wanting desperately to get out of the cold. His fur was blown in every which way as he sprinted with the wind. After ten gruelling seconds, he reached the door. He placed a hand on the handle, the cold metal sending more shivers into him as he pulled it open and stepped inside. A sigh of relief left his lips as the heat enveloped him.

Once a little bit of warmth returned to his body, Kachi lifted his head from the floor and gazed into the gym from where he stood. With it being so late in the afternoon, the gym was expectantly low on patrons. Looking around, he saw two people conversing at the front desk. Judging by their outfits, they looked to be part of the gym's staff.

Looking deeper into the space, there didn't seem to be anyone else. All of the training equipment was vacant, and the tinny sound of the radio being played over loudspeaker filled the space with an eerie sentiment, as if he were in a mall after hours and he wasn't meant to be there. Some of Kachi's fur stood on end; the atmosphere was unnerving.

Thankfully, there was another layer of sound to pull him away from the harrowing nature of an empty space. Though he couldn't see from where it came, a rhythmic thumping hovered just within earshot of the canine. Kachi's ears stood straight up, hoping to capture more of it. As he listened in, on occasion between beats, a voice could be heard. He took a few steps deeper into the room. As both the thumps and the voice grew louder, he recognized the latter as his father.

The canine's eyes narrowed as he slouched over slightly, tiptoeing further into the gym and keeping his ears laser-focused on the sounds he heard. He turned his head to the left, catching a glimpse of the full-size boxing ring at the far end of the room. Inside, he was immediately able to recognize his father. The tall, black wolf was in a defensive position while he blocked incoming attacks from the other occupant in the ring. With every few punches thrown, Shen gave his opponent some words of encouragement.

"Yup. Just like that, keep 'em coming," the wolf said, his voice echoing throughout the space.

As the ring's two occupants continued their spar, Shen quickly stepped out of the way of an incoming attack, allowing his partner's face to be seen in full. As he continued his set of attacks on the wolf, Kachi's eyes went wide and his ears fell flat. The pristine white fur and curled horns of an unmistakable acquaintance stood before him; his brows folded as he focused solely on attacking Shen.

Kachi couldn't believe what he was seeing. The sight had shocked him into complete silence. He stared, dumbfounded as the Dall and his father continued their exercise. Flurries of questions entered the canine's mind as he watched them, the most prevalent of which being of an event that, at that point, already felt so far away. Though it'd happened a mere five months ago, Kachi could have sworn it'd been years.

He watched with great interest for the remainder of the exercise's duration, Kachi returning to Earth when the sound of his father's voice came through louder than before. He shook his head, shutting his eyes tightly before rubbing over them with his hands.

"Okay! Alright, enough! That's enough for today! Brad! Cut it out!" shouted Shen.

The ram looked up to meet the wolf's gaze, an apologetic look in his eyes. He lowered his arms, taking off his gloves before he removed his mouthguard, "Sorry, Coach…got a bit carried away there…" he said as he looked off to the side.

Shen chuckled, patting Bradley on the shoulder a few times, "Yeah, you did. That's good though, you did well today," he stated, offering a smile.

Bradley looked back up toward Shen, "Really?" he asked, still unsure of himself.

Shen scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest, "Uh, yeah? Your progress recently is insane. Are you sure you aren't seeing anyone behind my back?" he joked, garnering a laugh from the ram.

"No, I promise I'm only training here. I wouldn't go anywhere else even if I got paid to do it," admitted Bradley.

"Really now? Well, tell you what, you're getting to be one of my favorite students."

Bradley beamed, "Thanks, Coach."

Another chuckle left the wolf, "No problem. Now, let's go get cleaned up. Any plans for tonight?" he asked, turning to leave the ring.

Bradley shook his head, following the wolf's footsteps, "Not really, probably just gonna relax. I gotta work tomorrow," he explained.

As the two reached the ground, Shen looked up to see his son standing awkwardly in the middle of the floor, staring off over his shoulder. Shen tilted his head, waiting for his son to finally notice that he'd moved. After another moment passed, Shen lifted his arm, giving it a little wave. The sudden motion had snapped Kachi back to his senses. He blinked once, seeing that his father was now on the floor in front of him.

"Sounds nice. I've still got work to do here tonight. Tomorrow's my last day," he began. As Bradley began walking to the locker room, Shen put a hand on his shoulder, "Hey, Brad, come here a sec," he added.

Bradley stopped in his tracks, looking over as soon as he heard Shen speak. The wolf lifted a finger and pointed it toward Kachi, causing the canine to shrink in his spot. As soon as his and Kachi's eyes met, they were unable to pull themselves away from the other's gaze. Bradley's jaw fell open slightly in surprise. In turn, so did Kachi's.

Shen released Bradley's shoulder and began approaching his son. Remembering what he was told, Bradley followed close behind. Watching the two approach him, especially Bradley, was unnerving to Kachi. His body told him to run, but he knew he couldn't. How would he explain that to his dad later? Instead, he stood, frozen and unable to find any words to say. He shut his mouth, clenching his jaw tightly to avoid making any sounds.

Shen put his hands up in a defensive position, "Look, I know I said five o'clock earlier, but I just had to keep this lesson going a bit longer. He was making a lot of progress today and I didn't want to stop him," he explained, moving one of his hands to rub his neck.

Kachi didn't answer. Though Bradley had finally pulled himself away, Kachi couldn't help but keep staring. Of all the places he'd expect to see the ram again, his father's gym wasn't one of them. "Kachi?" Shen continued, startling him.

Kachi slowly peeled his eyes away from Bradley, "Uh…um, Hi," he stammered, immediately regretting even opening his mouth again.

Shen blinked once, resisting the urge to laugh, "Yes, hi. Did you hear any of what I said?" he asked, growing concerned for the mental wellbeing of the canine standing in front of him.

Kachi closed his eyes and tilted his head downward toward the floor. He pinched the bridge of his muzzle, taking a deep breath in through his nose before finally letting it out. The confused expression had left his face, replaced by one of mild annoyance toward himself, "Yeah, I heard you. I…I was just coming down to ask if you wanted me to get started with dinner, seeing as you were taking so long," he stated.

Shen nodded approvingly, "Yeah, go for it. I'll be about twenty, maybe thirty minutes. That okay?" he asked, shifting his gaze to Bradley.

Kachi followed his father's eyes, getting a look at the Dall across from him. Once again, words began to escape him. "Yeah, that's…okay," he said slowly.

Unaware of his son's apparent affinity for his student, Shen tapped Bradley on the shoulder, "Again, good work today. I'll see you after the holidays, won't I?" he asked, his tone hopeful.

Bradley nodded softly, "Of course." In an instant, the ram shifted his gaze from Shen to Kachi, causing the canine's heart to nearly jump from his chest. Kachi did his best to keep himself in check while Bradley looked him over. "Kachi," he began, "I didn't think I'd be seeing you here," he stated, his voice gentle.

Kachi chuckled nervously, placing a hand upon the back of his neck, "Hey, I'm just as shocked as you are. I never thought I'd see you again. Not after the tree-lighting, and especially not here…" he replied.

As the two boys conversed, Shen watched, a growing look of confusion settling onto his features. He shifted between them both, each having a look in their eye indicating to him that there was definitely history between the two teens. He shook his head, lifting a hand to it, "Wait, so you two know each other?" he asked, hoping for clarification.

Kachi and Bradley both looked toward the elder wolf, a soft smile having formed on both their faces. A few moments passed as neither spoke, Shen growing more eager for an answer. In the gym's eerie silence, they all exchanged glances, lying in wait as the moment came for it to be broken.

Kachi sighed, putting the focus onto him. Shen and Bradley looked over to him, "Yeah, he is-" he began. As the words left his mouth, he realized that he had to tread carefully. What he was planning on saying hadn't been the truth for a while, and though it was somewhat painful to think about, he knew he'd be able to push through, "well, was, my stepbrother…" he continued, his voice trailing off.

Realizing what he'd said, another dejected sigh left his lips. The topic was bound to surface around his father sooner or later, and with the ram in question showing up in the place he least expected it, the former had come to fruition.

It was the first part to a story that needed to be told. He'd managed to avoid it for the entirety of his short history with his father. Originally, Kachi'd hoped that he'd never have to tell him of what he'd done, but with his counterpart standing less than a foot from him, it was becoming increasingly difficult to want to keep to himself.

The drive behind it was the fact that the two people he thought so far disconnected were right there in front of him. Kachi wondered if it was still too soon, both for Bradley and for Shen, for him to be speaking of his sins. Guilt nagged at him, and his train of thought shifted. They were right there. When would it happen again?

He knew the answer. After the holidays. But he couldn't wait that long. He still had Dana to deal with then, and when he left, he'd have Pina to confront as well. Seeing Bradley again that day was both a gift and a curse. His mind was elsewhere, but seeing the ram jogged it perfectly to speak the words that needed to be spoken.

"He was my stepbrother," Kachi repeated, "Right up until…" his voice trailed off again. The faint smile disappeared as he turned to look to Bradley. Seeing the expression on the canine's face, Bradley's smile faded as well. A soft sigh left Kachi's lips as his eyes met the ram's, "You don't mind if I tell him, right?" he asked.

Bradley blinked once, taking a few seconds to catch onto what Kachi was referring to. He turned his gaze to the floor, his expression turning somewhat sour as memories flooded his mind. He rested his arms in front of him, slowly bringing his eyes back to the canine across from him, "I don't know, I…" he started, the rest of his sentence becoming trapped in his throat.

He looked around him, scoping out anyone that would be able to overhear, be it intentional or not, the conversation that was about to be had; one of rather sensitive nature. Bradley saw no one else, the gym was empty; it was just the three of them.

Bradley's hesitance was beginning to worry Kachi. Maybe it wasn't the right time after all; maybe it was still too soon for him. It confused him. Recalling the tree-lighting, he was so adamant with his father that he was over it…A wave of nausea washed over him. Maybe it was just an act…

"I can trust you, right, Shen?" asked Bradley suddenly, catching both Kachi and Shen by surprise. He'd only heard Bradley refer to his father as 'Coach,' never his real name, and judging by the look upon the elder wolf's face, it wasn't a common occurrence that the ram addressed him as anything else.

A gentle expression spread across Shen's face as he lowered himself down slightly to better meet Bradley's eyes, "Of course you can," he said, his voice just above a whisper.

The frown upon the ram's face improved a little as he put his arms back to his sides. Bradley looked back over toward Kachi, his shoulders slumping a little as their eyes met. Kachi dared not say anything; the look in Bradley's eyes told him there was something on his mind, a look he knew all to well back when he would argue with the ram on a daily basis.

"Whenever you're ready, I guess," said Bradley with a shrug.

The short and blunt answer the ram gave made his fur stand on end. It just sounded so…certain. The decision came so quickly, Kachi hadn't had any time to prepare himself. A chill passed through the canine's body, but he resisted the urge to shiver. His breathing deepened, realizing that seconds had passed and he'd said nothing.

He took one last deep breath, steadying himself to stay as calm and collected in the conversation to come. As he carefully considered the words he was about to speak, a sour taste developed in his mouth. Though Bradley appeared to be over it, Kachi was far from it. He pushed forward; the first step toward forgiveness was repentance.

Kachi sighed, looking toward his father, "Okay…So, remember how Mom told you that she sent me away?" he asked. Though confused, Shen nodded understandingly, "Well, the reason for that was because…" he gritted his teeth together, forcing himself to finish his sentence, "because I attacked him." Kachi threw his arms up in frustration, "I don't know what else to say beyond that. It happened and, well, it split the family."

Shen didn't respond immediately, though Kachi heard a soft sigh leave his lips. He couldn't tell; he didn't have the strength to look him in the eye. Another few seconds passed as Kachi waited for his father's reaction. Though he hoped for the best, he knew to expect the worst. He felt his lower lip quiver as he kept his head down.

"I see it now…" said Shen slowly, barely above a whisper. "I should have put it together as soon as you mentioned you knew each other…"

Kachi's brows folded. Though he felt tears in his eyes, he still felt the need to look back up to his father, "What?" he asked, genuine disbelief coating his tone. His confusion only grew when he saw the smile on Shen's face.

"Kachi," he began, "I already knew about what you did. It was the reason your mother called me all those months ago. Though, she'd only told me after she sent you away, which is why it bothered me so much," he explained.

Kachi's confusion shifted to frustration as he folded his arms over his chest, "Wait, so you knew what happened this whole time and didn't tell me? Do you know how long I was stressing over telling you that?" barked Kachi, his voice growing louder as he spoke.

Shen lifted a finger to his lips, shushing the young canine, "Keep your voice down. Kachi, I'm sorry, I just figured you didn't want me to bring it up," he lifted a hand to his neck, "Frankly, I didn't want to bring it up either…which is why I'm glad you worked up the nerve to tell me yourself," he continued, speaking quickly near the end of his sentence.

Kachi shook his head as he threw his arms into the air, "How are you not freaking out about this though? Isn't it the ultimate crime?" he asked, struggling to keep his tone in check.

Shen shrugged, his smile weakening slightly, "…I won't contest that, but no, I'm not upset," he replied softly. Kachi couldn't help but smile, all feelings of fear and doubt leaving him momentarily as the grin on his father's face warmed his tired body, "If I weren't here for you, then what kind of father would I be?"

Kachi looked down toward the floor, a sigh leaving him, "Thanks, Dad…" he said softly.

In the silence that followed, Bradley joined Kachi in staring off into the concrete below him. He thought carefully over the short exchanged that had just occurred, picking up on a few key words that brought upon a startling revelation to him. His eyes went side and his head shot back upright, getting the attention of the two canines next to him.

He lifted a closed fist to his lips as he scrutinized his own thoughts. He didn't want to make any assumptions, but with what he's been presented with, the chance that he was wrong was very low. Still, it couldn't hurt to be cautious, "So, hold on…" he began.

As both Shen and Kachi stared at him, each wearing the same confused expression, Bradley picked up on other glaring similarities between the two canines. Their black fur, their blue eyes, even their posture…eerily similar, and with context provided from the conversation, there was no doubt about it.

Resting his eyes on Kachi, the ram finally spoke up, "Kachi, that's your dad?" he asked. The younger canine nodded following the shrug of his shoulders. Bradley's shock continued, "No way…I thought he was dead. That's what your mom said, right?"

Kachi rolled his eyes, a sour expression returning to his face, "Yeah, she did say that. To everyone…including me," he spat, spite and vitriol coating his every word.

Bradley shrank slightly in his spot, understanding that he'd more than touched a nerve. He clasped his hands together over his waist as he struggled to avoid the canine's icy glare, "Wow…that can't be easy," he said solemnly.

Kachi shook his head, putting his hands into his pockets as he looked off to the side, "No, it wasn't, and after that, I figured I'd just leave. Just get away from her and her lies. It's a shame really, she spent all that time trying to keep me in the dark, and in the end, she chased me away to the person she didn't want me to know."

Bradley was driven further into speechlessness. He mulled over what to say, but every reply he came up with sounded dismissive. He just couldn't find the right string of words, and with every one he thought of, the sentence dissolved on his tongue as quickly as it had appeared. He stammered, tripping over his words as he managed to spit one thing out in response, "S-Sorry…I-"

"No," interjected Kachi, "You don't have anything to be sorry for, nor do you ever have to apologize to me."

Bradley inhaled sharply as he was cut off. He tried to continue what little he had left to say, but the look in the canine's eyes was enough to vaporize the thought instantly. Eye contact remained for another few seconds until Kachi pulled away, his furious expression softening considerably as he stared off into nothing.

The empty gym's disturbing ambience returned in full force. The dull humming of the ceiling fans above blended almost perfectly with the poor quality of pop music playing over an aging speaker system. From his spot, Shen watched as both boys stared silently in opposing directions. It was that which bothered him even more than the quiet that surrounded them.

Doing what he did best, the elder wolf put a smile back on and tried to pick the spirits back up from the blow they'd been dealt by the previous topic, "Brad? Why don't you go get cleaned up? I'll go with you, there's some things I'd like to talk with you about," he stated.

The ram looked up from the concrete and into Shen's eyes. His mood was still dampened, the twinkle he'd seen in his eyes minutes earlier still missing, "Yeah, okay," he said, his voice low.

Turning his focus to the younger canine, Shen noticed a similar trend in him; his eyes were duller, "Kachi, why don't you wait here for us? We can start anew once we're finished," he concluded.

Kachi glanced away briefly from his father's gaze before opting not to give a verbal response. He nodded once, placing his hands behind his back. Shen nodded once in return before he turned back toward Bradley, tapping him on the shoulder. Taking the hint, the ram began walking forward to the locker room, with Shen following close behind.

As they walked away, Kachi watched the two until the disappeared through a door on the far wall. Once it closed completely behind them, Kachi continued to look around him for a moment as the gym's environment began to close in around him. Though he was completely alone, he still felt claustrophobic, and a sudden dizziness forced him to sit down on the cold concrete below

Even through his clothes, the chilliness sent shivers up his spine and caused goosebumps to form under his fur. Still, he resisted the urge to shiver. In fact, in that moment, the cold was a welcome feeling.

Had he not kept his breathing in check, Kachi knew for sure he would have passed out. His head and limbs felt heavy, and the heat that was building under his skin was becoming unbearable. It took every fiber in his being to avoid simply lying himself spread eagle on the floor, allowing the cold floor below to envelop him in a sad, yet endearing hug.

He sat cross-legged with his head rested on his hands. He stared down to the concrete, counting the little imperfections in the small area around him. Minutes ticked by as the number in his head increased; it was the most of anything he'd ever counted, with the number approaching three hundred by the time the silence surrounding him was broken by the door to the changeroom opening.

The final tally was three hundred twenty-one as Bradley and Shen approached him. They exchanged glances as the young canine came into view; both were curious as to why he was seated on the floor when there were plenty of other, more suitable seats around him.

Kachi looked up from the floor, the same bored expression still on his face from when they'd left him. He stared right through them, and their concern for the canine only grew as they realized that what they'd originally planned while in the changeroom most likely wasn't going to work.

What they had was simple; just talk to him. Friendly conversation was their first option, and they figured they'd be able to pull Kachi from his slump with an engaging topic, but after seeing the vacant expression on his face, they both knew that anything they said would go in one ear and out the other.

They were at a loss…but not for long. An idea. Bradley's eyes went wide as he looked up to Shen. The wolf glanced downward to the ram, the brightness in his eyes having returned. A weak smile formed on his face as he waited for Bradley to continue, but when he said nothing, he took it as a hint. He nodded once, turning his gaze back toward Kachi.

Bradley took a step forward, looking down at the still-seated canine. His tired gaze shifted up to the ram's eyes as he tilted his head. Bradley folded his brows, "Kachi. Did you want to walk me home? Catch up a bit?"

The young canine's expression softened, a bit of life returning to his features. A long-winded sigh followed a sharp inhale as his lips parted, "Are you sure? Aren't you worried?" he asked slowly, his voice low and raspy.

Bradley gripped the straps of his gym bag tightly as he shook his head, "No, I'm not. As justified as I would be, I don't want to be like that," he said with conviction, "…I don't want to be like my dad. You and I could definitely use the chat, I know that much," he concluded.

Kachi's ears fell flat against his skull. What more could he have asked from the ram? A chance to talk with him about…everything…what kind of fool would he be to pass it up? Even still, a lump formed in his throat as he tried to form a response. It was as if his brain wanted to move past that harrowing chapter in his life, but his body wouldn't let him. He didn't deserve it.

Though his mouth was dry and the lump he felt was growing steady, Kachi managed one short sentence, "I guess…" he said, his voice promptly trailing off.

Bradley smiled, extending a hand to him, "So whaddaya say?" he asked.

Bradley shook his hand slightly, hoping Kachi would take the hint and grab it. Kachi looked up from the floor, immediately catching a glimpse of the cheerful expression on the ram's face. It was like a knife to the heart. Though he'd suffered so much at his hands, he still had the strength to smile when faced with the one who hurt him, and to extend his hand to him when he was down only proved to him how much stronger Bradley really was.

Kachi let out a shaky sigh as he gripped the ram's hand. Bradley quickly pulled the canine to his feet, a weak smile forming on his face as their eyes met once again. Kachi cleared his throat, "Sure. I just gotta go get my coat," he finally replied.

Bradley beamed, "Fine by me," he said, releasing the canine's hand.

Shen was also quick to join in on the celebration, "Alright, perfect. I'll just be finishing up a few things down here before I head upstairs. Dinner should be ready by the time you get back," explained Shen.

Kachi nodded as Shen began to walk away, presumably toward his office, "Alright, see ya," he replied, giving a short wave. He then shifted his gaze toward Bradley, who still had the same smile on his face. Kachi smiled back as he led the ram to the gym's front door and back out onto the cold street beyond.

Bradley followed Kachi across the front of the building to the door at the opposite corner. Once sheltered from the wind, Kachi signalled to Bradley that he'd be back in a minute. The ram acknowledged him and Kachi disappeared up the flight of stairs to the door of the apartment.

Kachi pushed the door open and entered, stopping at the coat rack. The warmth upon his fur was more than welcome, but he knew it wouldn't last so he tried not to appreciate it too much. As he threw his coat over his shoulders, he looked to the couch, where Legosi had presumably been watching him since he barged in. The confused expression he wore only confirmed his suspicions.

Thinking quickly, Kachi gave him his explanation, "Uh, I'll be back later. My dad's gonna be up in a minute," he said with haste as he zipped up his jacket.

Legosi turned his body, draping his arms over the back of the couch. His eyebrow was raised as confusion settled in, "Where are you going? Weren't you just going to see how long your dad was taking?" he asked.

Kachi shrugged, rushing to put his hand on the doorknob, "I'll tell you later, I promise. I just have to go, okay? I'll be back for dinner!" he shouted, stepping through the door.

"Kachi!" shouted Legosi. He was swiftly cut off by the door to the apartment slamming shut. The wolf winced as the sound echoed throughout the room. A short, frustrated growl left him as he turned back toward the TV. Right at the bottom of his peripheral, his injured leg was propped up on the coffee table, just as it had been the entire day.

If my leg wasn't all cut up, you know damn well I'd be coming with you. Ugh, heal faster…

Back outside, Kachi emerged from the stairwell to see Bradley back on the street. He was huddled into his thick jacket as the wind blew his wool in every which way. The wind battered Kachi, slapping him across the face. He swiftly pulled his hood over his head to try and block it, though it really didn't do that much.

As he shoved his hands into the pocket of his coat, Kachi met the ram's gaze, his pale, blue eyes glowing in the night, "Uh, where do you live?" he asked.

Bradley shrugged, "Ah, just up the street. There's a townhouse block we live in," he replied, his voice muffled by the jacket's fabric.

Kachi nodded, surprised, "Oh, alright. Closer than I thought, then."

"Yeah." A short silence as the two stood in the cold, "Shall we?" asked Bradley, glancing up the sidewalk.

Kachi followed his gaze, the street ahead continuing for what looked like miles. With what he'd just been told by the ram however, he knew it couldn't be that far, "Lead the way."


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