CHAPTER 9

TENSION & RELIEF

At Graywolf Manor, Louis was in the living room, having a meeting with his new therapist. It was a male leopard about his age, wearing glasses and suit appropriate to the business. He had his legs crossed, with a notebook on his leg and a pen in hand.

"In my line of work, there's... a lot of stress..." said Louis.

"How so?" asked the therapist.

"Keeping the city safe... keeping my family safe..." said Louis. "Then, there's pricks like the one I met yesterday that test you." he said and sighed. "You see, my family are... very powerful people... And when you have power, the powerless seek to take it away... And they don't play fair." he said and went silent for a moment. "I'm sure you heard about Golden Manor by now."

"I have." said the therapist.

"It was a... professional serial killer who did that." said Louis. "He escaped Japan on Saturday, but... The fact that he's been in the same breathing space as my son..." he sighed, then leaned down and grabbed his forehead with both hands and started sobbing.

"I don't wanna lose my son..." Louis cried. "But I don't feel strong enough to keep him safe..."

"Why not?" asked the therapist.

Louis sat back up on the couch, back against the back of it.

"My parents were killed when I was 3 years old." said Louis. "Later that year, I was purchased by the black market. I stayed there until I was 5. In their eyes, I was only meant to be food. They would starve me and make me go thirsty until they thought it was urgent that I got food, so their investment wouldn't lose them money... I remember thinking I was dying once, and welcoming it, just wanting the pain to end."

"And in your eyes, having been through those experiences, you wonder how you can keep him safe if you couldn't keep yourself safe." said the therapist.

"Yeah." said Louis.

"Well... You aren't 3 anymore." said the therapist. "You're a lot more stronger than you were at that age. And your son? He still has his father. I know from experience. The bond between a father and a son is very powerful. A lot more powerful than you may think."

"This conflict we're dealing with... With the murderer..." said Louis. "If I have to die so that my son will live, I'll do it."

"Well let's hope it doesn't come to that." said the therapist.

They were both quiet for a few seconds.

"You mentioned an upleasant first impression with someone you met yesterday." said the therapist.

"Yeah, there was some guy helping us with the case and we invited him over for dinner yesterday." said Louis. "Him, my husband and I had went to school together. So... He started talking about how my husband was the first guy he had a crush on... As you may expect, things quickly went sour."

"Are you afraid your husband will cheat on you?" asked the therapist.

"No." said Louis. "That doesn't mean I don't get jealous. I caught him checking my husband out a couple times. Our son had to... awkwardly bring up off topic stuff to keep me sane." he sighed. "And I really didn't need that ontop of all this other stuff. I've been awake for maybe 22 hours straight. Every time I tried to sleep last night, all I could picture was my son being murdered... I've never been so scared to sleep in my life."

Back at Cherryton, Hikari and Tamiko are sitting side by side, as their instructor was speaking. Hikari was taking notes, while Tamiko was distracted with other things, cautiously watching the instructor as he did what he did, only making his moves when the instructor had his back turned. Soon enough, he through a paper plane down to a girl in a seat below him, a doe. Hikari then looked at him, after throwing the plane.

"You're very immature." Hikari whispered.

"I noticed." said Tamiko, watching the doe read the note. Hikari just rolled his eyes and continued taking notes.

The doe looked up to see if she could figure out who threw the plane, to see Tamiko's awkward smile and him waving at her with his fingers. The doe smiles before turning back around.

Soon enough, the class ended and Hikari and Tamiko were standing outside the door.

"Did you actually learn anything in there?" asked Hikari.

"Why are you being such a grouch?" asked Tamiko.

"Because everything has its own time." said Hikari. "I'm sure grandmother and grandfather will be very disappointed in you if they find out you're failing."

"Oh, come on." said Tamiko. "You're not going to tell them, are you?"

"No." said Hikari. "But I'm sure I wouldn't have to."

Tamiko sighed.

"Listen, I know you're stressed about me not being around too much this weekend." said Tamiko. "If you need anything, just call. And... I promise I will be more free to help out."

"I'd appreciate that." said Hikari.

The doe then walked out with a friend of hers.

"I'd love to." she said with a smile.

Tamiko smiled.

"Alright." he said. "Pick you up at the cofee shop at about 7?"

"Or... I text you where I live and you can pick me up there." said the doe. Tamiko smirked and wrote down his name and number, then gave it to her. She then read it. "My name is Kohana." she said with a smile. "See you at 7, Tamiko." she said and walked away.

Hikari rolled his eyes and smiled.

"On the prowl." he said.

"I said it once before and I'm gonna say it again" said Tamiko. "Deer are attractive creatures."

"Well, you think you can focus on the next class, loverboy?" Hikari teased.

"Maybe a little more." said Tamiko.

"Well come on, then." said Hikari.

Meanwhile, on the continuing voyage of the ship Melon boarded, he and Mary are naked in their room, having drank a lot and their mannerisms showed it.

"Can I tell you a secret?" asked Mary.

"Hmm?" asked Melon.

"Don't tell anyone." said Mary.

"Well?" asked Melon.

"I killed my boyfriend." said Mary and giggled.

"Really?" Melon asked, intrigued. "Why so?" he said and took another drink.

"Because he didn't know how to fuck." said Mary and giggled. "And I've been wanting to for a while..."

"Why?" asked Melon.

"Because it's fun." said Mary.

Melon smirked.

"It is VERY fun..." he said and chuckled. "And hot."

"Wait... Who did you kill?" asked Mary.

"Hundreds of people." said Melon. "It's been my profession and hobby for 47 years."

"You wouldn't mind teaching me some things, would you?" asked Mary.

"I would LOVE to..." said Melon and chuckled. "But first... Tell me about your ex... I wanna know EVERYTHING..."

Mary smiled.

"I just got so bored one night after a round." said Mary. "Not to mention, he just fell asleep, still in me after climaxed. He sleeps hard... In more ways than one, so... I went and grabbed a butcher knife. Sliced his chest open from neck to groin, ever so slowly and pulled out his guts. I remember seeing a movie called Scream and it inspired me. I then hung him from a tree by his guts."

"Wow..." said Melon. "That is sooo fucking hot."

"I don't know if it was the alcohol talking..." both thought.

"...Or if I just wanted to see more of her talents..." Melon thought.

"...Or if I just wanted to learn some new things..." Mary thought. "But one thing I never thought..."

"...One thing that I'd never expected to crossed my mind..." Melon thought.

"...Maybe I'm in love?" they both thought.

After the therapist had left Graywolf Manor, Legoshi had suggested another method of therapy for Louis and he had excepted... Louis was lying on his back, clothes and glasses off, eyes closed and legs arched to a triangle with Legoshi equally naked and softly driving himself into Louis as he felt Louis' firm embrace on his back.

"Ooohhh... Legoshi..." Louis moaned. "Mmm..."

Legoshi bent down and kissed him passionately as he continued, putting his hand on Louis' cheek and making sure not to scratch him with his sharp claws. They disconnected from their kiss as they opened their eyes and smiled at each other.

"I love you so much, sweetheart..." said Legoshi.

"Mmm... And I love you so much, my big, strong, alpha wolf..." said Louis. "But... Go faster..." he teased.

Legoshi chuckled.

"As you wish, love." he said and kissed Louis again briefly as he went faster, keeping at this pace for a satisfying amount of time before he made one final plunge, balls deep and exploded into Louis, gritting his teeth and closing his eyes as he did so.

"Mmm... Mmmph!" Legoshi grunted. Out of breath, he pulled out and gently collapsed on Louis, who then smiled at him and rubbed the fur on top of his head.

"You did good..." said Louis. "And you were right, I did need this."

Legoshi smiled.

"Good." said Legoshi. "I don't need to be seeing my doe unhappy."

Louis chuckled.

"Thanks, babe." he said.

"Hey, anytime." said Legoshi. "Hopefully not too much sooner though. I need a time out."

Louis laughed.

"Don't worry about that." he said, before they heard the bell ring, and both sighed.

"Toki, please tell them we'll be down very soon." said Louis.

"Right away, sir." the A.I. said.

"And here, I thought we had time to relax." said Legoshi and got up.

Louis then quietly sat up as Legoshi started getting dressed.

"Do you think I'm strong enough to keep Hikari safe?" asked Louis.

"Of course you are." said Legoshi. "And I'm not letting anything happen to him."

"But something could've happened if we didn't have men at the club that night." said Louis as he started getting dressed.

"Do you know how I know that everything is going to be alright?" asked Legoshi.

Louis just listened.

"You finished off the Shishi-gumi by yourself." said Legoshi. "We took down the Kuma-gumi. You alone made the leader scared as hell and you alone ended him. You are the strongest person I know and I don't believe for one second that you are going to fail by the end of this conflict."

Louis smiles.

"How do you do that?" he asked.

"With practice." said Legoshi and smiled. "And experience."

Very shortly afterwards, the two were dressed and opened the door. Sarena was there, with two Hogo-sha-gumi guards standing behind her.

"She arrived at the front gate." said one of the guards. "She said Hikari sent her."

"What is your name?" asked Louis.

"Sarena Gazelle." said Sarena.

"Well, we are Hikari's fathers." said Louis. "My name is Louis, that's Legoshi. Come in." he said and looked at the guards, then motioned for them to follow. They go to the kitchen and sit at the table.

"So, Ms. Gazelle." said Louis. "I assume you came for a job?"

"Yes." said Sarena. "I want to join you. Badly."

"Why so?" asked Louis.

"There is someone named Melon." said Sarena.

"Ah, yes." said Louis. "We know very well who you are talking about."

"Well..." began Sarena. "He raped and murdered my mother."

"And now, you're seeking revenge?" asked Louis.

"Yes." said Sarena.

"Assuming that you're able to get revenge, what do you intend to do afterwards?" asked Louis.

"Doing everything I can to keep it from happening again." said Sarena. "I won't desert you. I'll do anything you want me to if you give me the chance. I don't care what it is."

"Do you know how to handle firearms?" asked Louis.

"I have no experience in that, no." said Sarena.

"Then I will train you." said Louis. "You're in."

"Thank you so much, Mr. Graywolf!" said Sarena, almost in tears.

"There's something you also ought to know." said Legoshi. "We are fiercely protective of our family. Even saying the wrong thing can be extremely dangerous."

"Yes sir." said Sarena.

"Welcome to the Hogo-sha-gumi, Ms. Gazelle." said Legoshi and extended a hand. She then shook it.