Picking Up Strays

by Bleach-ed-Na-tsu

You should never travel alone. It can be unsafe, but most of all it can be lonely. Tsuna had always had his dog, Natsu. So when his friends started bringing strays into their camp, Tsuna could only be happy. He'd never really been good at saying no to puppy-dog eyes anyway. Spin-off of 'Whims of a Road to Nowhere'. NON-Mafia AU.

3. Gyuudon

Gyuudon – Great Dane

Xxxxxxxx

It's not even six weeks after Lambo joins them that the group of travellers are wandering around Vancouver Island, taking their time and being sure to avoid Tsuna's home. None of them wanted to see the young man go through anything like seeing his family before he was ready.

There were a lot of logging companies around, a lot of builders and craftsman. It was an experience for everyone, especially the Americans among them who had never seen anything like that.

It was there that Tsuna and Lambo happened across a very large puppy wandering around. He was tall and all in the legs. His years were pointed and his jowls long. Tsuna could see many of his other litter running around (some with older dogs, and others with humans) but this one didn't seem at all concerned with the other.

No his eyes were on Tsuna and Lambo (who had been running around and exploring that afternoon). He grew especially bouncy when Tsuna kissed his teeth and held out a hand. "Come here, sweetie."

The Tsuna's hand is slapped down and a screech builds in the throat next to him. "NO! He's going to bite us." And Lambo clings to Tsuna's sleeve and tries to scramble away from this giant animal.

The puppy (and from the size of his feet and the weird proportion, Tsuna can tell it's a puppy) just tilts its massive head in question. He doesn't move though, a very quiet animal.

Tsuna hold Lambo (who is not yet fourteen) close with one hand and holds the other out for the dog. Lambo screeches right in Tsuna's ear about his brother losing his hand, but Tsuna drowns the boy out for a moment. "Shhh, shh, it's okay." Even though it's not necessarily for the dog, it seems to appreciate it.

The giant spotted dog walks forward, head down to reach Tsuna's hand. The dog is large, already about thirty inches at the shoulder and it couldn't have been a year yet. It was going to be a beast. But a gentle one.

It pushed its head under Tsuna's hand and woofed loudly. Natsu approached and after a huff and a quick sniff he's trotting off somewhere else.

"Come on, Lambo. I promise he won't hurt you. Just be gentle."

Tsuna had never actually seen Lambo be gentler than he was when he held out his hand for the dog. And the Great-Dane returned the favour by pressing into Lambo's palm and licking his fingers.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

The dog stuck around. He trotted clumsily beside the other dogs, already a part of the pack. He stuck closer to Lambo than the others, but took affection from all of the humans around.

Xxxxxxxxxx

The great-dane was very good at finding sticks, and soon enough Lambo would just pick up the ones he dropped and throw them. He smiled and laughed, when he thought no one was looking. But everyone say how well Lambo took to the great animal, and didn't tease him for it.

Xxxxxxxx

Every day Tsuna and the others would give the resident dogs (at this point about three of them) lessons in obedience. None of them could risk travelling with dogs that wouldn't listen, or grew rowdy in a crowd. They needed dogs that listened to commands, and were 'bomb-proof'. They couldn't be distracted for long if something was happening.

Lambo used to sit out, unless he needed to learn how to give a new command. However, wit the new splotchy dog joining the pack, Lambo took an initiative and took pride in the way he commanded the dogs.

Xxxxxxxx

Tsuna sat the dog, who didn't have a name yet, down in front of him. He knew that Lambo loved the dog, but he was such a picky child. He didn't like to admit it, even though he enjoyed stroking the large –getting so much bigger already –dog when he sat by the fire.

Tsuna had also seen Lambo eyeing up the dog-packs in the stores they passed. He had picked the dog's collar. It was basically all set.

So Tsuna gave the dog a package and he took it gently in his mouth before trotting smoothly over to Lambo.

Lambo took the parcel, glaring at Tsuna but opening it regardless of the ridiculousness of his big brother.

Inside were his favourite grape candies with a scribbled note:

I've brought you candies! Will you give me a name, please?

-Signed, your Dog.

Lambo laughed for half an hour before rubbing the great-dane's head.

"I guess I'm not getting rid of you, am I, Gyuudon?"