The next morning before the sun rose, Kenji was in the garage whaling on a punching bag. As his fists met the bag, sand leaked at every hit. His tongue waved in his mouth as he panted, and his assault on the punching bag slowed. He collapsed into a lawn chair and poured some water down his throat. A light "Bling" sounded from the pocket of his sweater that was draped over the back of the chair. He flipped it out and clicked it on. He held the phone to his ear. "Hey, Kenji." A feminine voice came through the phone. "Who is this?" he asked as he checked the number. "It's Sasha silly, I'm in your house and I was wondering if you like pancakes." Kenji sniffed the air and smelled batter and sizzling bacon. "Umm, I guess three? I'll be in there soon so just… wait alright?" He added as he stood up. "Okay, c'mon in." She finished. Kenji walked out of the garage as he flicked the lights off. "Hey Sasha." Kenji said as he passed her in the kitchen and opened the fridge and removed a carton of orange juice. He turned to see a red faced Sasha staring at him. "What's wrong?" Kenji asked. He looked down and remembered that he had taken off his shirt and pants during his workout. He stood before Sasha in nothing more than a pair of boxers, revealing his muscular chest and abs. Another thing he realized was that the tattoo he had before he changed was marked by white fur instead of ink. The tribal design traced from his chest to his navel in a series of strange designs. She was still blushing at him after he pulled a shirt over himself.
'Damn it Kenji, you just exploited yourself in front of a kid! What the hell is wrong with you?" He thought as Sasha brought two steaming pancakes to the table and served him one. "So you plan on going home later Sasha?" He asked as he stuffed a fork full of food in his mouth. "Yeah I guess. But I was gonna go visit Bino." She said. Kenji cocked an eyebrow. "Why?" He asked. "Because we're bf gf, that's why!" She replied with a smile. Kenji almost sputtered his food everywhere. How did she get tied up with Bino? More importantly was he being nice to her? "Tell you what, I'll walk you there." Kenji said as he used a napkin to wipe some mess from his face. He thought he saw Sasha's face twitch a slight smile at the suggestion. He pulled some jeans over his legs and decided to wear a tight fitting t-shirt for the walk. As he opened the door for them to leave, he felt Sasha's arms run around his waist. "Thank you." She whispered. Kenji hugged back with one arm and said, "If you ever need a place to stay, I'm here."
The two began their walk to Bino's place, which was a few blocks down. The two spent most of their time in childish small talk. "Hey, Kenji, what's your favorite color?" Sasha asked playfully as she played with his hand. "Purple." He responded as she continued to tug at his hand. He smiled. The walk was rather peaceful until they had to go through one of the alleyways filled with none other than alley cats. A sharp whistle filled the air. "Hey baby, wanna bring that fine tail over here?" Called one of them. Sasha blushed and hid her face in Kenji's arms. Kenji pulled her closer and kept a very threatening frown on his face. Things were okay until a black tom cat walked up and attempted to smack her ass. "C'mere baby, I'll make you feel real good." He said in a slimy tone. Kenji had had enough. "Piss off." He growled in the deadliest warning available. The cat took the hint and sprinted up the fence. They got out of the other side and Kenji checked on Sasha. "You okay?" He asked. "Yeah. They always act like that. Jerks." She replied as she looked down and they continued. It only took another minute or so to get to Bino's house. Kenji knocked on the door in a little pattern and stood back a little, looking at the glass windowed door. Fido answered the door. "Oh, hey Kenji. Bino's upstairs Sasha." He directed as he welcomed the two inside. "How are things going with Bino?" Asked Kenji as Sasha bounded up the stairs. "Not great, but better. I've been pushing him to join the force and take the course. But he's kind of hard to break through to." Fido replied. "Don't worry, he'll come around eventually." Kenji encouraged. "He better come around soon, we've been needing some new officers." Fido said as he folded his arms and looked upstairs. "In need of officers huh? Hmm. Could it be possible for me to apply?" Kenji asked. He didn't have a job yet, and this would help meet people. Maybe. Fido looked to Kenji with wide eyes. "Really? You want to join the force?" Fido asked unbelieving. "Sure, I got nothing better to do. Besides, it's in my blood to protect and serve." Kenji said with a shrug. "Okay, just stop by tomorrow and I'll run you through the aptitude test and then the obstacle course." Fido replied. "Sounds good." Kenji answered as he shook Fido's hand and left the home.
As Kenji walked down the street, he realized something. "What the hell am I going to do all day?" He asked himself aloud. His mind came to the thought of visiting peanut and Grape. Kenji accepted it as his next activity as he changed his course to their home. The brisk morning air made his fur stand up on end, and he was able to see his breath in the dim morning sunrise. It was still very early when he knocked on the door. Grape answered the door with ruffled fur and half open eyes. "Oh, hi Kenji." She yawned as she rubbed her eyes. "What's up?" She asked. "Nothing much just wanted to say hi. Mind if I come inside?" He asked as he looked over her head into the house. "Sure." She opened the door and ushered him inside. "Want some breakfast or something?" Asked Grape from the kitchen as she climbed up on the counter and opened a cabinet to get a box of cereal. "Nah, I already ate." He answered as he puffed air into his hands. "Cold out there huh?" She asked through half open eyes. "Yep." Was the short reply that came. "Who's there?" Yawned Peanut as he stumbled into the room. "Just me buddy." Answered Kenji as he looked down the hallway Peanut had walked out of. "Do you guys have like parents or somebody here to take care of you?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. "Nah, they're out on a trip with family or something. It's okay, we can manage. Not the first time it happened." Grape said as she poured milk over her cereal and handed the milk to Peanut who hadn't even opened his eyes full yet. Kenji looked at the two. They weren't bad kids, far from it, and they were trustworthy. He liked that. It reminded him of when he was a kid and everyone was accountable. A small grin covered his face.
As the two continued to munch on their meals, Kenji went to fetch some blankets from the storage cupboard. He returned with two small but efficient patterned blankets. He wrapped the two in the covers to protect them from the cold that seeped from the doors and windows. "Thanks." Peanut grumbled between a mouthful of frosted flakes. "So what do you guys do for fun around here? Besides read." Kenji asked. "We play videogames sometimes, and mom and dad take us to the zoo or something, but lately we haven't done anything." Grape said as she took her empty bowl to the sink and rinsed it off. "Video games huh? What kind?" Kenji asked. As a kid he had loved videogames. "Uh, just stuff like little big planet and Mario bros. the only violent game we have is street fighter." Grape said with a gesture to the living room. Kenji looked outside and saw the trees sway in the wind through the window. 'Pff forget that crap' he thought.
"So how do you play this?" Kenji asked as he navigated his sack boy in circles, constantly messing with the figures expression unintentionally. Grape gave him an "are you kidding" me look. "Hey I'm sorry if I don't play kids games, I just wanna know how to do stuff here….. DANGIT!" Kenji exclaimed as his little character was electrocuted to death. "Look, to control your guy all you do is move the joystick." Kenji soon got the controls and began to play.
Several sissy cusses later and numerous questionable deaths, the game had been completed. Kenji leaned back on the chair he was sitting in and sighed. "Well that was fun." He said as Grape and Peanut gave light grins. Kenji looked to the clock. It was later than he expected it to be. 'Might as well go and get an outfit for my interview at the station tomorrow.' He thought as he got up. "Where you goin' Kenji?" Asked grape as she shifted in her seat. "I gotta go and get ready for a thing tomorrow guys. It was fun being here. Maybe we can do it again another time." Kenji said as he opened the door to leave. "Bye."
Kenji decided to walk around the blocks of the neighborhood. He had always loved walking at night, something about the quiet. But unfortunately he only got a few blocks down before he heard a ring come from one of his pockets. "What is it Darius?" he asked with annoyance. "You are doing this a lot differently than what I expected." Came the voice from the other side. "Well what am I supposed to do, walk around and ask everybody HEY DO YOU HAVE PROBLEMS?" Kenji retorted. "Well no but it's just tha-" A loud yelp of pain sounded in the distance. Kenji followed the sound as he continued to hold the phone to his ear. As he neared he realized the source of the sound. "Sasha!" he exclaimed. "Kenji, hold on, it isn't time to intervene." Darius warned. "NOT TIME? SHE'S GETTING BEATEN!" Kenji screamed through the phone. "Do not get involved Kenji. That is a direct order!" Darius said. "FUCK YOUR ORDERS! THIS IS ENDING NOW!" Kenji shouted as he flipped the phone shut. He went to hit the button on his chest. Nothing. He hit it again before he realized what was happening. "Oh Darius, you motherfu-." A whud sounded inside the house as though a table had fallen over. Kenji ran up to the porch and tried the door. Locked. He braced his shoulder and charged the door. The wooden frame on the wall cracked apart and the door fell to the ground, accompanied by Kenji. He looked up from the ground and saw what was playing out. Sasha was tucked in a corner, cowering and visibly bleeding from her muzzle. Her left cheek was heavily bruised. The man who had done this, her "father" was lumbering toward her in a stagger, obviously drunk. "C'mere bitch." The man slurred. Kenji got up from his feet and called to the man. "HEY, over here motherfucker." he taunted as he raised his fists. "Who th' fuck er you?" The man said with obvious rage. The second he got far away enough from Sasha, Kenjiseized the opportunity and rushed the man to the ground. "Run Sasha! Call the police!" Kenji ordered as Sasha scrambled out of the house. Kenji looked to the man who struggled underneath him. "Git off!" He shouted as he socked Kenji off of him and got up. Kenji helped himself off the ground with one arm as he wiped the newly flowing blood from his face. Kenji reclaimed his fighting stance as the drunk got his meaty fists in the air. Kenji went to make the first blow but was met by a foot to the stomach. "Oof!" he gasped as he crumpled to his knees in pain. Kenji looked up to see a chair swinging full speed at him. The chair connected sharply with Kenji's ribs, sending him flying to the kitchen. Kenji coughed and grabbed for a weapon. His hands wrapped around the neck of an empty bottle of whiskey, which he promptly smashed against the floor. As he sat with his back to the wall, he clutched at his sore ribs with his spare hand. As the drunken bastard neared into range, Kenji stabbed with the shattered bottle. The glass stuck into the man's calf, causing him to crumple to one knee. Kenji looked the man in his face and felt rage consume his. He stood over the man, grabbing a rolling pin off of the counter. Kenji raised the rolling pin high over his head, and brought it down onto the man's knee with a loud crunch. "Take that fucker." Kenji coughed as he limped from the kitchen, still grasping his ribs. The wail of police sirens neared the house as Kenji sat on the steps. As the police pulled up to the driveway, Sasha, Peanut, And Grape came from across the street. "Oh my god! Are you okay?" Sasha asked as she eyed his wounds. "I've been better." Kenji replied with a weary grin. "What happened? Asked Peanut with wide eyes. "I got into a bad fight." He replied shortly. He paused to point the police inside. "Sasha, come here." Kenji motioned with his hand for her to come. She walked forward. "Let me see your face." He said as she let him see her bruises. He frowned at what he saw. The damage wasn't permanent, thank god, but it was going to leave a big mental scar, and he knew it. 'Nobody deserves this' he thought as she sat next to him with tears brimming in her eyes. He lifted his arm for her to get closer. She buried her face in his chest and cried. He hugged her closer to keep her warm. Just then, Fido came up to them. "Sasha told me what happened, we got the squad cars here as soon as possible. Is everything ok?" He asked with sincerity and concern. "We need a blanket and an ambulance." Kenji stated. "On it." Fido said as he went to alert the medics. Kenji looked back to Sasha. She was still crying into him. It truly pained kenji to have to see it, but he felt good that he was there to do something. He sighed as she continued to weep. Kenji felt a familiar ring in his pocket. He pulled out the phone and put it up to his ear. "Talk to me." He said with slight pain. "We need to talk. NOW."
And so ends another chapter in this series. Woopdeedoo. Time to go and party. Love you reader people, guy thingies. Peace.
-plavoko12