This chapter has a slight focus on Hirohito and Njimura's side of the story, but it is very important to the plot, so please don't skip it! :D I'm sure it's not boring anyway ;D


Chapter 11: Wayward Wolf

"Nice kimono, dude!"

Hirohito grimaced slightly, biting back the correction that he was wearing a yukata, not a kimono. "Thank you," he mumbled instead, glaring as Hanamiya snorted in amusement.

The boy who had complimented him grinned, turning back to singing merrily with his drunken friends. Hanamiya rolled his eyes. It was barely daybreak yet Harajuku was livelier than it had any right to be, men and women chattering in colourful clothes and assorted costumes. The bars that were open had begun kicking out customers, and although the streets weren't as crowded as they would undoubtedly be in a few hours, there were more than enough people for four in the morning.

Hirohito grunted as he slammed into another body, opening his mouth to apologise only to get furry ears flicking in his face.

"Oh, sorry!" the girl squeaked, her werewolf ears and tail clearly visible. Her nose twitched as she smelt what exactly he was, and her dark eyes widened. "A-ah, this is…lycanthrope territory…" her voice had dropped, but her body had taken on a defensive position, stance wide and hands curled into fists.

Hirohito already knew, of course. All of Harajuku was wolf territory, and a big part of it was due to the region's cosplay culture. Werewolves were at a disadvantage in the sense that they did not look entirely human, whereas vampires merely had to keep their mouths mostly closed. Harajuku was a haven where lycanthropes could flaunt what they were without drawing any more attention than another cosplayer.

Hirohito held his hands up to show he meant no harm. "Yes, I'm here to see Nijimura."

The girl's mouth had an almost catlike curve to it, and it became more pronounced when she frowned. "Nijimura-sama would be asleep as of this moment. Please come back later and make an appointment."

Hanamiya's lips pulled up over his fangs in a snarl. "Do you know who you're talking to-?"

"Hanamiya," Hirohito waved him to silence. "I'm aware of the status quo, miss, but this is an emergency. I've been here before, so I know my way, but you're free to escort us if you feel it is necessary."

Her throat worked, her sharp gaze taking them both in detail. "Fine, I'll come with you. But first I'll have to ask for your names."

"Hanamiya Makoto," Hanamiya crossed his arms, staring at her intently. "But I'm not the one you need to be worried about."

Hirohito held out his hand. "Aomine Hirohito, a pleasure."

At the surname, the girl stiffened. "Aomine Hirohito?" she bit her lip, bowing lowly as recognition flitted across her features. "My apologies, Aomine-sama. Koganei Akane at your service." She straightened up but the cautious glint in her eyes hadn't disappeared, and her handshake was firm. "Please follow me."


The Wayward Wolf.

Hirohito's skin prickled a little as his gaze dragged over the large lettering emblazoned on the top of the entrance to the bar, the 'L' in 'Wolf' circled strongly to clearly identify the area as Lycanthrope property.

He hadn't been here in a while.

He stepped inside, following Akane and tailed by Hanamiya. The inside was like any bar: polished countertop with an array of stools, a pool table and dart board tucked in a corner, and a smattering of tables.

There was an old man with grey hair and the faint shadow of a moustache cleaning up glasses on the other side of the benchtop. He looked up at the noise, smiling. The wolf ears on top of his head were impossible to miss. "Well, I was wondering how long it was until you came to pay a visit."

Hirohito straightened up. "Always a pleasure, Shirogane-san."

"Likewise," Shirogane put away the glass in his hands. Akane looked between them with slight confusion. "Koganei-san, you can return to your post," Shirogane nodded at her.

She hesitated only for a brief second before bowing and leaving the establishment, a suspicious glance thrown over her shoulder at Hirohito and a scowl at Hanamiya's sneer.

"He's been expecting me?" Hirohito pulled out one of the stools and sat down on it, rearranging his yukata.

Shirogane hummed. "The relatively recent death of your agent has not gone unnoticed."

Hirohito cocked his head. "I'm surprised to see you still work here."

"I have nowhere else to be," the old man shrugged. Shirogane Kouzou was a sharp and intelligent individual, but a few years ago his old age had sent him to the hospital. He was back on his own feet now, and there was no sign that his mental abilities had diminished.

With age came wisdom, and Shirogane used to be the Crimson Claw's most ruthless tactician. Now he was peacefully cleaning the table in front of Hirohito like any other barkeeper.

Hirohito knew him, back when he spent more time telling others what to do rather than receiving orders himself. The sight before him was unsettling to say the least.

"Relax, Aomine-san," Shirogane placed a glass of sake in front of him. "Nijimura will be here soon, I've already called him."

Hirohito didn't know when that had happened, nor did he want to find out.

Hanamiya was silent beside him, surprisingly lacking any snarky comments. Even he knew about Shirogane and it was probably in his best interest to stay silent.

There was the sound of footsteps, and a man a decade or two younger than Hirohito walked out of the back door, dressed in freshly ironed slacks and a white dress shirt with the first two buttons undone. There were dark smudges under his eyes, and lines of stress creasing the corners of his mouth, as though he'd had almost an eventful night as Hirohito. Black ears twitched on top of his head and a sable tail swept quietly behind him.

Hirohito nudged Hanamiya. "Go interview the other werewolves. I need to have this talk alone."

Hanamiya grunted, feeling slight relief at leaving the stifling atmosphere.

"Nijimura Shuuzou," Hirohito smiled thinly.

"Aomine Hirohito…" Nijumura deposited himself beside the vampire, his expression troubled. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"This isn't a courtesy call."

"I figured," Nijimura motioned to Shirogane for a drink. He'd woken up barely thirty minutes ago, but he had a feeling this conversation was going to need alcohol. He needed alcohol. Shirogane's hand moved towards the coffee machine in the corner but a glare from the younger werewolf had the older man reach for the hard stuff. "This about Yukimura Ami? I've spoken to Akashi about it. I even met him a day before she was killed, although that conversation was a lot less morbid." He raised a brow. "And the killing, that wasn't one of my guys-"

"My estate was attacked a few hours back," Hirohito went straight into the problem. "Four more deaths." He turned in his seat so he could look directly into Nijimura's eyes. "Firstly, all four were purebloods. We both know trained vampires and werewolves can smell a pureblood from a mixed one. Secondly, all of them had the protection sigil. They were all stabbed through the heart. Now you tell me, how is that possible? Because last I checked, only the Crimson Claw had enchanted weapons that could manage that."

Nijimura's eyes were wide, and he swallowed thickly. "Aomine-san, that's… Are you saying someone from the Crimson Claw just went on a killing spree in the Aomine household?" he snorted. "That's ridiculous. And all of our weapons are under strict lock and key, carefully monitored and signed off. Anyway, I haven't ordered a hit in weeks. It's not one of my men."

"I'm not questioning your authority. You've been a good leader these past forty years, but there are some who make moves even without orders given," Hirohito stressed, looking down into his sake. "If it happened under your predecessor, then it can happen under you."

"That's rich, coming from you," Nijimura's words were laced with bitterness. "You were in the same position all those years back. And I'm nothing like Claw," he took the shot glass in front of him and downed it in one go, pulling a face when he realised Shirogane had watered down his vodka. It was probably a good idea, but it didn't stop him from demanding a refill. "I've got a better grip on things here. Look, I'm sorry to hear about the attack, and I'm sure Akashi will call another meeting to discuss it. But it wasn't one of my men, not today, and not with Yukimura either."

Hirohito sighed, placing one hand on Nijimura's shoulder. "Nijimura, don't you…" The words were stuck in his throat. The memories of the past still felt too fresh sometimes. "Purebloods, Nijimura. Don't you see…it's like a repeat? Forty years ago, before you took over, it's exactly-"

Nijimura shook his head. "There hasn't been any unrest. Last time this happened, we were aware of it. Even if I was just second-in-command, I was aware of it."

"We were aware of it, and did nothing, and look where it got us. Broken bonds and a downright political mess." Hirohito pushed his glass away, standing up. "Perhaps being cautious this time will change things." He turned back just as soon as he reached the doorway. "Oh, did you know Kagami Taiga is in town?"

Nijimura glanced over his shoulder. "Yeah, Riko told me." A dry chuckle slipped past his lips. "But she hasn't connected the dots yet. She has no idea what he is; from her end he's a little lost lamb sticking around for the Blood Moon Festival and she's taking care of him."

"That's all he thinks he is, too," Hirohito opened the door, letting the fresh air flutter his clothes. "Are you going to tell his father?"

"We didn't exactly part ways under the best circumstances, so I haven't spoken to him in years," Nijimura downed another glass, ignoring the look of disapproval Shirogane sent him for morning drinking. "Don't see any reason to start now. Kagami Taiga has nothing to do with the Crimson Claw. His father made sure of that."

"His father isn't here now," Hirohito muttered, and for the first time in a while, he found Kagami Ryuuichirou's absence worrisome. But the man had cut all ties, and Hirohito was in no mood to mend them. Not when he had wanted them cut as well. "I'll see you later, Nijimura."

"Hope not," Nijimura mumbled when he heard the door close behind him. He looked up at Shirogane, requesting more alcohol with an impatient tap on the table.

"Aren't you drinking a little bit too much lately?" Shirogane said, leaning closer and not doing what Nijimura clearly wanted him to do.

Nijimura ignored him again. "Where the hell is Haizaki?" he ruffled his hair. "I asked him to stay lookout, but he wasn't there when I woke up in the morning. I'm gonna beat his ass."

"Since when did you need a lookout?"

Nijimura pressed his lips together, subconsciously rubbing his forearm, and the phantom pain there. His ears flattened against his head, his fangs pressing against his lower lip. "Doesn't matter," he rasped, his throat dry. "Now fill it up."


Aomine had to bite his lip as he washed Kagami's blood off his fingers, watching the diluted red swirl down the drain. The sweet scent had lessened, but beckoned him like a moth to a flame. And he knew if he caved, he'd end up like that moth, most likely dead.

He looked over his shoulder as Kagami walked up to the threshold of Aomine's bathroom, shifting in his borrowed clothes. Aomine raked his eyes over the slightly tight collared shirt and the chocolate pants that were a tad too long. Kagami had wider shoulders than him, but Aomine had longer legs, yet the sight of Kagami in his clothes sent a rush of heat to his skin rather than feelings of amusement.

He licked his lips at the sight and didn't miss Kagami's crimson gaze tracking the movement. "Comfy?" he asked, his voice coming out rougher than he wanted.

Kagami's ears flicked, and there was a touch of colour on his cheeks. "It smells like you," he said before he could stop himself, blinking at the words once they were out.

Aomine stepped up to him, drying his hands. "Sorry, I'm not very up to date with my laundry." He'd offered his clothes up to replace Kagami's bloodied ones regardless. As if he was going to let that chance pass.

Kagami's breath ghosted across his lips, and when had they gotten so close…? "I didn't mean it in a bad way, Aomine." His nose nuzzled Aomine's cheek, and his lashes fell close. "You smell…nice."

Not as nice as you, Aomine thought, slightly out of it with Kagami's soft tresses brushing his cheek as Kagami lowered his head to smell Aomine's neck. Even Kagami's shampoo couldn't block out that addictive vanilla-like scent that gave Aomine a high. Kagami wasn't the only one going all sniffer.

"You…smell familiar." There was a small wrinkle between Kagami's eyebrows, and Aomine wanted to kiss in away. "Like…home. I-I feel safe when I'm with you. It's…weird."

Aomine placed a hand on Kagami's shoulder and pushed him back slightly before he really lost control and sank his fangs into that soft skin. "Yeah, well, I kinda let you down in that department. How are you feeling?"

"Pretty much healed, a little sore," Kagami smiled up at him. "Aomine, don't blame yourself. I had it covered, mostly. And you came in the end." He grimaced. "Did you find the other bodies? Is that why you came to check on me?"

Aomine opened his mouth but no words came out. What was he supposed to say? That he…he literally felt it in his gut? He magically knew? That the pain in his head and chest seemed, in hindsight, identical to Kagami's wounds?

He sounded crazy to himself just thinking about it.

"Call it a hunch," Aomine responded instead, pressing a kiss to Kagami's forehead. Kagami's nose scrunched at the sudden sign of affection, and Aomine was a little confused too, but it melted away when Kagami grinned and curled his fingers around Aomine's shirt, leaning forward for a proper kiss.

Their lips slotted perfectly together, and unlike the urgency and confusion of their first kiss, this one was slow and deliberate. It still left them a bit breathless, and Kagami couldn't hold back a small groan when Aomine nipped at his lips. Kissing Kagami was torturous for Aomine. He could taste Kagami so well, feel the hot blood under his lips and tongue, just out of reach. It made his fangs throb, and that in turn made him angle Kagami's head so he could get in deeper.

Kagami pulled back a little, knowing that even though they were in Aomine's room, anyone could walk in.

"You were so worried back there," he teased. "You're so corny, Daiki." Kagami's mouth ran dry at the ease of saying the name, and he remembered how their conversation earlier had been similar. Aomine's first name slid off his lips with unsettling ease, like a practised word. He'd been too injured and preoccupied before, but now the uneasiness coiled in his stomach. It must have been clear on his face because Aomine's expression shifted as well, thoughts flitting behind his eyes.

"Have we met before?"

The question seemed a little out of the blue, but Kagami felt himself wondering the same thing. He closed his eyes, trying to remember. A short spike of pain shot through his head but disappeared just as fast as it had happened, and then the answer to the question escaped his lips without a thought. "I've never left America." The words sounded a little foreign to him, as though someone else were speaking, but he ignored the discomfort. "Have you visited the States?"

Aomine shook his head. "Japan, born and raised."

Kagami stepped back, rubbing his arms as if he could get rid of the strange feeling in his gut, like he was missing something...something important, like it was right in front of him but was refusing to show itself. "I need to get back," he scratched the back of his neck. He hadn't forgotten what he had seen in the werewolf attacker's hand, and right now, his primary goal was to go back to him room and double check.

Even though staying here with Aomine was the more enticing option.

Aomine knew his expression looked like that of a kicked puppy. He grabbed Kagami's wrist as the other started to move. "Can I have your number?"

Kagami hesitated, and Aomine had a small moment of panic where he thought he was moving too fast.

But wait, we kissed…shouldn't the phone number have come first?

Kagami's words stopped his mental anguish with a chuckle. "Okay, but it's prepaid, so it might run out any time!"

Aomine smirked. "Then I'll try not to call you too much. I think I'm a bit old fashioned, I prefer meeting face to face."

Kagami rolled his eyes with a smile. "Yeah, well, it's a Nokia brick so it's not like I'm really going all out on it either."

Aomine passed his phone to Kagami so he could swap numbers, cocking his head at the device in the redhead's hand. "Disposable right? Because of your dad. My father told me," he added at Kagami's curious look.

"Yeah. My dad…you have no idea how capable he is. I just hope my friend back home is managing to keep him off my back. Speaking of which, I need to check on him too," he chewed his lip.

"Let me drop you off," Aomine glanced at Mai-chan, placed beside his futon, before picking it up and sliding it into his belt. His father had been stern about staying alert, since Aomine ticked all the boxes to be a possible victim.

"I'll go by myself."

"Why?" Aomine raised an eyebrow, but Kagami knew that if the vampire dropped him off, he'd be too inclined to invite him in when there were more pressing matters to attend. Being around Aomine was comfortable, and it was getting harder to step away.

"I…I just need some time alone," Kagami explained. "How about we meet for dinner later?"

"Okay…" Aomine nodded, but didn't stop staring at the door long after Kagami had left.


The lid of the wooden box popped cleanly open, and Kagami threw another look over his shoulder to check that his door was locked. He shifted through the wads of cash he kept in it. Accessing his bank account from Japan was a no go if he wanted his location to remain a secret from his father, but the cash wasn't what he was so intent on checking.

His fingers touched more smooth wood underneath, his nails scratching lightly against the carved symbols delicately adorning the material.

The wood was clean, and the weapon was exactly where he had left it.

"It was identical…" he whispered, trailing his fingers down the shaft of the wooden blade. "A copy? But why?"

He could hear Riko calling for him and he packed the wooden dagger away, tucking it under his mattress. The anxious feeling in his stomach made him want to retch.

Something was going on here, and he felt more involved than he was comfortable being.