Chapter Twelve

I look at Tadashi and pause. I feel as if I'm backed into a corner here. If he were human then there would be no doubt in my mind that I would be explaining to him what I've found out. I know he would be upset but I'd trust that he knew what to do. I don't want him to get hurt though. He's not human any longer, he can't protect me or himself like he used to, he can't act in the same way that he did before.

"So," Tadashi says as he tilts his head to the side and narrows his gaze. "That's it then. In some ways you can look at me as if I'm human but right now you just see me as a talking dog." Tadashi sighs and he's about to jump off the bed but I grab him and pull him to me despite the struggle.

"You're not just a dog," I tell him and he turns to look at me. I can tell that he's so frustrated by all of this. "Tadashi. I saw Dad's name when I was there."

Tadashi stops struggling and looks at me in deep confusion. I set him down on my lap and he sits there, still watching me. "What do you mean?" he asked before his eyes widen. "Don't tell me you went back there."

"I felt like I had to," I tell him and then see him nod although he is worried about me. It's nice to know that whatever form he might be in, Tadashi is worried about me making mistakes and having lapses of judgment. He eyes me warily before sighing and nodding. "I found Dad's name and a code number and an address," I tell him and he tilts his head to the side.

"Dad passed away though, he's dead," Tadashi tells me and I nod. "It might give us some information on his life before he died." He tells me and I smile. Is he actually suggesting that I check this out? "If you're going I'm coming with you."

I look at him wanting to argue with him. I don't want to disrespect him though. I place my hand on top of his head and nod. "You have to take care of yourself though. If we stay together then that will be best for both of us," I tell him and he nods. "First of all though, we need to get some sleep. I was able to get rid of any clues to who had been there but I need some sleep."

Tadashi looks down before moving awkwardly. I wonder what's going on? Is there some canine-type of problem that most humans don't know about. As much as I see Tadashi as Tadashi, he is still a dog at the present time. He has the psychology of a man but his physical body needs to be taken care of in a canine manner. "Can I sleep at the foot of your bed?" he asks me and I smile.

"Yeah," I nod, glad that I'll be close to him. As weird as it really is to me, this whole situation, the more I know Tadashi is safe then the easier it all feels.

BH6BH6

I've been sitting in a nearly empty backpack for a long time. Hiro apologized for how he's transporting me but he's managed to provide me with a stable interior and there are some snacks that I can eat if I'm hungry. Also, every time he stops, he looks inside at me trying to make sure that I'm okay. He's been very apologetic about it. I can understand what he's doing though. I don't blame him for it.

"Come on," Hiro finally says as he sets the bag down. I look up at him wondering what is going on and he very gently and carefully picks me up his arms. I look around and see that it's a residential area. It's neither high-end or low-end buildings. It just looks like your average housing. "The next part is quick, a five minute walk," He tells me. "Can I hold you though?"

"Yeah," I nod as I try to figure out where he's taken me. Hiro puts the nearly empty bag back on his shoulders and then presses me against his shoulder so that he can hold me with just one arm. I don't know what is going on but I trust Hiro. Even though we might be living a life that nobody can touch and that nobody can understand, I'm with my brother. That's what is important to me.

We walk to where there is a decently sized apartment building and Hiro looks at his phone where he's managed to get an address and a code in case we don't get buzzed in. He goes over to the keypad and rings for the number on the paper.

As I hear the voice from the other side, my back straightens due to the familiarity of what I'm hearing.

"Who is this?" the man asks and I turn to look at the button. "Dad?" I ask and Hiro gently pets my head.

"No dogs. I can't…get the hell out of here!" he yells and I look at Hiro guiltily. Hiro pets me but doesn't let go of me. Instead I can feel him wrapping his arm around me so that I'm more secure in his hold. I still feel that it is my father, our father. Something must have happened. Something involving that laboratory.

"My name is Hiro Hamada," Hiro says and I can sense that the man on the other end has taken a gasp and I wonder if it is Dad. "I wanted to speak to you. I think that you know what this is about but I promise you that this dog is important and he's not going to hurt you."

"Can you leave the dog down there?" the man asks and I nod to Hiro but he holds me closer.

"I'm sorry. I can't do that," Hiro says and I take a deep and unsteady breath. He should just go without me, there are a lot of clues that need to be solved and we need to both understand if there is a way for me to get my body back.

"Just go," I whisper to him and Hiro shakes his head.

"Not without you," he says before sighing. "Sorry to bother you," he says to the box before we both hear a pained groan.

"Okay. I'll let that one dog come up," he tells us and Hiro pulls me closer. We both know that this man won't see me as a person and most people wouldn't in the way that I appear and act but if that is our father then I don't want to suffer the rejection that feels inevitable at this time.

BH6BH6

As we get to the door of the place where supposedly someone in connection to our dad is staying, I pull Tadashi closer to me. I need to make sure that he knows I prioritize him right now. I'm hoping for some answers but my main priority is that we leave here safely and that Tadashi is protected by me since he can't really do so for himself.

I knock on the door and it's quickly opened. I look up and my eyes widen as I look at a man who seems to have more prosthetics on him than body par-no that's a cruel thing to think. I look at him and then my eyes narrow. He really does look familiar but much more down on his luck, older, wearier. I take a deep breath and step back, shaking my head. Does this mean that this man is my dad? Is our mother also alive?

"Hiro?" he asks before reaching behind him. I share a look with Tadashi but as he turns back, the man is holding a gun and he's pointing it right at Tadashi. I move quickly, staring at him horrified. Did my father just attempt to kill my brother!?

I take a deep breath before looking at the man who I think is my Dad in the eyes. "Don't kill him. It's Tadashi," I tell him with tears in my eyes. I feel my heart racing in my chest and see him put the gun down. Does he have a hatred towards puppies or something? "I can't let you kill my brother."

The man looks at the puppy again before covering his mouth horrified. Tadashi is curled up in my arms with his head pressed against my chest. I look at him before petting Tadashi's head. "Is this our dad?" I ask him and Tadashi turns to me.

"He sure does look like him but Dad is dead. I remember it very clearly -"

"Yes," I cut him off. "But then I also thought that you were dead," I look up and the man said to be our father is staring at me with eyes showing a deep level of shock.

"You can talk to one another?"

End of Chapter Twelve

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