This is a revised and rewritten version of the story, HOMRA's New Stray ; renamed to Home Sweet HOMRA. I will eventually delete the old version of the story and will only continue with this one. If you have any compliment or critique, please drop it in the reviews so that I may improve in my writing.
Disclaimer: K is owned by GoRa and GoHands, I only take credit for my OC, Shishio Harumi.
CHAPTER 3
I looked up from the glass of water I was sipping from as I sat on the barstool. It's been 2 days since I joined the red clan and I slowly grew accustomed to my new life. When Totsuka-san introduced me to the rest of the red clansmen, they accepted me with open arms. They questioned very little of my background, which I appreciates and thankful for though I think Kusanagi had had a personal word with the other members about it.
And I'm especially thankful to Kusanagi for letting me stay in the spare room upstairs. It wasn't small but it wasn't large either like the plush room I used to live in. The sudden thought of home made me wondered a bit. The servants would probably worry about me more than father ever would. He would eventually have my room cleared out when he figured I wasn't returning. All my things would be taken to trash.
"You seemed to be dazing off. Thinking about something Harumi-chan?" Kusanagi's voice jolted me back to the present. He set two plates of noodles on the tabletop before continuing about behind the bar.
"Ah, sorry. I was a little lost in thoughts," I smiled wistfully. "Itadakimasu."
"Harumi-chan, say hi." Totsuka called out from behind me, filming me with what seems to be an ancient looking video camera.
"Tatara always film new members, to leave memories," Anna explained as she came up to the bar and clambered onto a seat. I reached down for the young girl and set her properly on the seat.
"Just ignore the idiot. It's just one of his ever-increasing hobbies," Kusanagi muttered as he took off his glasses to give them a polish.
"Hidoi ne Kusanagi-san. Oh, King, good morning. Did you sleep well?"
I turned around as a redhead poked out from the doorway the second stairs. He muttered an incorrigible reply to Totsuka as he made his way to the vacant seat beside me.
"About time you show your face. Playing hermit in my bar, mattaku." Kusanagi set a third plate of food before Mikoto. "Better eat up before the rest of the gang comes in. Never a moment of peace with them brewing havoc around here." Just as Kusanagi finished his sentence, a ring of the doors' bell was sounded and a group of young men of various ages shuffled into the bar. Speak of the devil.
A chorus of greetings was called out followed by sounds of furniture scrapping against the wooden floor, being pulled back and seated. The peaceful moment minutes before dissipated and now loud voices and laughter filled the air. I gathered the now empty plates of mine and Anna's and made my way behind the bar towards the kitchen. When I returned to the front, several men have seated around the bar. They called out to me when saw me.
I merely smiled, not knowing how to reply them or rather to whom as I have yet to memorize their names and faces. Totsuka, who was nearby read my quizzical look and came to my rescue, "This here is Bandōu Saburōta, Akagi Shōhei and Chitose Yō. Then there's Kamamoto Rikio, the chubby one, and Dewa Masaomi. And there's Kōsuke Fujishima and Eric Solt on the sofa. Lastly, that is Yata Misaki, HOMRA's vanguard, known for his girly looks and his fear for females." Laughter broke out as the said boy shot up from his seat and shouted indignantly in protest, "T-Totsuka-san! I'm not girly! And I'm definitely not afraid of H-H-Harumi." His stuttering and growing red blush creeping on his checks only reinforced Totsuka's statement.
"Say, Harumi-chan. How old are you anyway?" a man with wavy brown hair and eyes, known as Chitose asked coyly.
"I'm 19."
Dewa let out a soft whistle. "Another one. You're the same age as Yata and Eric."
"And yet, you're taller than Yata," Bandou joked.
Yata who was still glowering from the previous joke, snapped. He grabbed Bandou's collar roughly from behind, "You calling me short?!" and punched him. Having being attacked so suddenly, Bandou lost his balance and knocked into the bar with an impact that caused a glass topple over the edge. I immediately reacted and lunged for it. Even though I was fast, I couldn't win over the gravity pulling at the glass. The glass touched earth and shattered with a loud crash, followed by a scream. Kusanagi's.
"CUT IT OUT YOU GUYS!" Kusanagi's voice rang out sternly.
Yata and Bandou stopped abruptly with their fists in midair, inches away from each other's face. They knew better then to go against Kusanagi's order. Despite the cool and composed person he is, he can be rather intimidating at times. Especially when his precious bar was in question.
"One moment you idiots out of my sight and all hell break loose," Kusanagi scowled. "Totsuka, take these two idiots out with you. I don't want them burning down my bar later."
"Hai hai," Totsuka chimed mildly, "Com' on Harumi-chan. We might as well shop for your necessities. Anna can come along if you want."
XOXO
We made our way to several stores, buying my clothes and other necessities. By the time we finished shopping around lunch time, our hands were laden with carrying bags. The whole time, Yata and Bandou loitered behind us, glaring daggers at each other. "Will they be ok?" I questioned Totsuka as we made our return to the bar.
"It's fine, they fight all the time," Totsuka snickered. "At some point they'll make up again. That's what friends, siblings or family does right?"
"Is that so?" I murmured.
"Do you have any siblings?" the male asked.
"No, I was the only child," I smiled sadly.
"If it isn't HOMRA's weakest executive going out shopping with his girls."
We halted to a stop when we were faced by a several hostile looking men. Some of them were carrying weapons varied from steel pipes to baseball bats. I looked back and saw half a dozen more of them were closing in on us, preventing us from escaping the narrow street. Looking back also made me realized something. "Er, Totsuka-san… where's Yata-san and Bandou-san?"
"Ara, did they go off somewhere?" he said in a light tone as if we weren't surrounded by thugs.
A man from the group that seemed to be the leader smirked, "Don't think we're gonna let you off just because you have some girls with you. We're gonna pay back what you did to our members last week. Boys, GO GET EM!"
I dropped the bags I was holding and held Anna against myself, determined to shield her from the oncoming attacks but it never came. A red blur bounced off a nearby wall and knocked back the attackers before landing in front of us. I let out a breath of relieve when I saw his face. Yata… and Bandou who's panting as he pushed his way into the circle which wasn't difficult seeing how the attackers were still recovering from their shock of the sudden assault by Yata.
"Tch bastards, don't think you can go about attacking our members, not on my watch." Yata said as he cracked his knuckles. His lips snarled with rage as his body flared up in red aura. Bandou rested his hands on his knees while trying to catch his breath. "D-dammit… ha... next t-time, wait for me," he wheezed. The boy in beanie clicked his tongue otherwise made no other comments. He turned head towards us, "Don't worry, we'll take care of them in no time."
The leader having to regain his composure, barked orders to his men, "Attack them! These two makes no difference, we still outnumbered them."
"Hope you're still mad cuz this is a good time to heat up," Bandou teased the boy in beanie as he flexed his arm.
"Teme… you don't need to tell me what to do."
I watched them silently, unable to look away. Although they were clearly outnumbered, they were winning. Their bodies were wrapped in red flames as they dodged and threw punches at the oncoming men. The two covering each other's backs and blind spots, movements in sync with each other that it seemed that they were dancing in a fiery battlefield. To have such synchronization, one must have a lot of practice… or complete trust in your ally. Like a family.
The leader gritted his teeth as his men lay beaten on the ground, "Damn you bastards, don't think you've won. We'll be back." He commanded his men on their feet and hastily retreated.
"That's right, beat it cowards!" Bandou called after them.
The skater grunted, "Aho, what if they really came back huh? What if they got H-Harumi alone? S-she'd get hurt."
"Then I'll protect her no problem." His hoodie head turned towards me and grinned.
"As if any girl will fall for a pathetic bastard like you," Yata snickered.
"HEY!? Girls do fall for me ok? Like that time on the beach? And also there was that girl from last week? Don't forget Ma- ," he ranted on but the younger male grabbed the front of his shirt and threw him against the wall. "Shut your trap before you go nagging on and on… you know what, I'm still pissed off from before." And the younger male started beating up Bandou.
"Haha, it happens all the time. They're fine again," Totsuka laughed at my side when he saw my somewhat inane expression.
I shrugged otherwise smiled at the still bickering pair, "If you say so."
XOXO
By the time we reached back, the street lights had just lighted up, chasing darkness away. The bar was now peaceful for others had returned; leaving Kusanagi and Mikoto it's only occupants.
"Tadaima," Totsuka greeted, holding the door open to allow entry for me and Anna.
"You're back. How are things between those two?" Kusanagi said, coming towards us from behind the bar.
The male turned towards me and a exchanged sly smile, "It's fine. They're back on good terms again."
"I see," Kusanagi smiled as he glanced over to Mikoto who was sitting lazily on the sofa. He nodded at the carrying bags, "Go put those upstairs first before we have dinner."
When I return downstairs, I could smell the scent spaghetti and tomato wafting in the air. I rushed to Totsuka's aid when I saw him struggling with three plates mounted with spaghetti covered with tomato sauce topped with a mint leaf garnishing.
"It's red," Anna said when I place a plate before her, slightly taken aback by her weird statement.
"Ah, Anna can't see any colors besides red," Totsuka explained when I asked later after we were seated and began eating. "By the way, if you have any questions, feel free ask. I'll explain it the best I can."
"Actually," I gnawed on my fork thoughtfully, "What was that fire thing Yata-san and Bandou-san did back there?"
"Well, each clansman will receive power when their king accepts them under their rule. That power is the red aura you've seen from Yata and Bandou."
"Eh, so everyone in HOMRA can use that power? Even Anna?" I peered at the little girl.
"Anna rarely uses the red clan's power since she's more accustomed to her strain's power."
"Oh," I chewed silently for a moment, as I digest my new gained knowledge, "Is it possible to use the red clan's power even if you're not a part of them?"
"Not that I know of… unless you're a strain. But strains abilities vary from person to person and very rarely would a strain possess a power similar to a clansman."
"...I see. Thanks for telling me," I smiled at him. Totsuka opened his mouth as if he wanted to say more but he smiled back instead. Once we've finished eating, I offered to help clean up but Totsuka playfully pushed me away and told me to go take a shower and deal with my new bought necessities. I laughed as I made for the stairs, promising that I would do the dishes next time.
XOXO
Totsuka looked up from his washing when he heard Harumi's door close behind her. "That was strange."
"What was?" Kusanagi asked as the younger male handed him a clean but wet plate and proceeded to wipe it dry.
"Harumi-chan doesn't know much about anything related to Kings and their clans but she seemed to know about strains however she's not showing it."
"Hmm…"
"It's red," Anna said, staring at a couple of her marbles lying on the counter.
Totsuka shifted his attention to the little girl, "The spaghetti? If you like it, we can have that again for tomorrow."
"No, Harumi," Anna shock her head, "There's a tiny red in her."
"Don't tell me… she's a strain it is?" Kusanagi frowned.
The little girl shook her head again, "I can't tell for sure. But it's not dangerous."
"Everyone have their own secrets… it's up to themselves if they want to share it. Harumi will say it herself when that time arrives,"
"Sasuga, a wise comment from an old man," Totsuka laughs as Kusanagi smacks him on the head.
"Well, for the time being, just keep a close eye on her. It's your job to look out for new members isn't it?"
XOXO
I stripped off my street clothes, letting it drop into a pile on the floor and stepped into the small shower. I turned the knobs and felt the lukewarm water cascading down my body, washing away my tension. I lean against the tiled-walls of the shower. I held out my left hand, palm facing up, catching drops of water. For a moment, water pool on my hand then it started to bubble as it was being boiled. My hand became hotter and hotter until every drop of water it touched evaporated into steam. A thin red aura began to lick the skin of my hand, the similar aura I've seen on Mikoto and the members of HOMRA. I let out a weary sigh.
When I was young, they confirmed I wasn't a strain. And I know I'm not a clansman of any king. So… what am I?