ＨＯＵＮＤ.

     Well that went better than he could’ve hoped for. Really it was cute how he looked so curious about things, but then again that spoke for how sheltered he must have been. “The worlds a lot bigger than you know, I hope you enjoy it.” Taking his time, Sorrel walked along at a leisurely pace, just so the boy could get a good look at things. Once they met back up with Mikage, he briefly explained what he’d seen and heard. Bouncing the slightest bit out of habit, he still made sure not to jostle the child too much to avoid hurting him. Even if he seemed like he wasn’t bothered, the extent of his injuries still bothered the Servamp.

     “There we go. We’ll be home soon, then you can meet some new friends.” Hopefully he didn’t get too overwhelmed, but at least until he was healed there wouldn’t be anything too stressful. Once they were all in the car, the blonde held him closer. “Do you want to look at the window while we go?” Shifting a little bit, since the boy wouldn’t be able to speak to tell him his answer, he made it easier for him to move to the window if that’s what he wanted.

⌠❖⌡ Upon the mention of the world is bigger than he knows and the hope he enjoys it, a smile once more crosses the small boy's features with a question mark that was not visible but you could just feel on the subject. The leisure pace was nice and he found that being held like this for the first time in his life was nice, as they went there wasn't one thing he did not train his eyesight on being curious about absolutely everything there was to offer out here. Upon reaching the man he didn't know he seemed to shirk back ever so slightly into Sorrel's hold in a tentative manner, while he was fascinated with the former due to the butterfly entrance he was not sure what to think of this person before them. With the slight bouncing, he had no idea what this action was but also found he came to like it, it was nice and sort of relaxing in a strange way?

There’s a small thrill running through Mahiru, as if he’d accomplished something. The pause between words, Mahiru basked in his small victory of perhaps providing a little bit of comfort to any sort of guilt Tsurugi might have felt. The Eve of Sloth is a forgiving boy, the goal of making everyone else’s miserable life a little easier giving meaning to himself. He chuckles softly.

“Well, the first step to becoming a good person is trying to be one.”

Among a myriad of other things, but one step at a time, Mahiru will help guide Tsurugi the best he can. But even though Tsurugi took lives, he didn’t consider him to be bad. He had friends who’d done the same and care about him who he also doesn’t view as the bad sort either. But that’s Tsurugi’s box of thoughts to unpack, not his own.

Being inquired about his own health, Mahiru moves his casted arm a bit.

“I’m still a bit banged up myself, but I’m alright too.”

Unless Tsurugi meant if he were ok in otherways, which doesn’t seem too likely, but the less Mahiru let on about everything, the less inquiries he’ll get.

“The other C3 members, have they been by to see you since you got up?”

⌠❖⌡ "All I can do is try~" The little sing-song tone comes as he speaks those words, making it seem like he is not taking them seriously when that was not the case in the least. This was just the way Tsurugi was and it would take quite the feat to change him, as he once more smiles to the other as they sat side by side on the bench outside. Silently watching as he moved the casted arm a bit and spoke those words, a much lighter smile crossed his own features while keeping his gaze upon the other. 

He didn’t like this, but what else could he do? They loathed one another, after all. They could never get along, and they could never work together again. And yet, with the queer expression on Tsurugi’s features, and of how he seemed to forget his own age …

“…” For a moment, Mikuni didn’t know what to say. In fact all he did was stare at C3′s Hound - his hazel eyes narrowing. What should he do…?          Force him to listen or at least talk - or should he simply just let the crazed Dog be, and force himself and his own mind to stop focusing on the one he hated the most?

“You’re being cryptic, that’s what you’re being Tsurugi. Have you been sleeping?” As much as he loathed to admit it - he was aware of the cycles that Tsurugi would go through. He didn’t let Doubt Doubt get close to him for no reason after all.

⌠❖⌡ "Being cryptic is part of the job description!" The hound speaks without even an ounce of hesitation to be found, you could just feel the heart emoji coming off him as he smiles to the other man. ... Well, that was not a lie being as such really was apart of the job after all, as C3's Ace and Hound he knew how to play his role more than he rightfully should. Sleeping... Has he been sleeping, when was the last time he had properly slept? 

Forgetting his own age was one thing, but, with the days blurring by the more he used his magic the more he forgot and the less he saw of people's faces. One day, those faces will be gone forever and he will be left with nothing once more, won't he? It is clear that even with how much denial Mikuni is throwing in he obviously cares, for some indiscernible reason Tsurugi could not put his finger on. 

“…” He noticed the mistake he repeated in his usual spiel, the same thing he said over and over again, and yet … Swallowing thickly, he went to take a step forward toward Tsurugi. He didn’t know why he still had this need to chase him – but he felt like he needed too.

Like he wanted to.          Like his own body wasn’t going to stop him from chasing.

“I’m not wasting my time, implying as much is a waste of breath. Tsurugi, you’re twenty-six.” Why was he reminding him of his age again? Just because they weren’t teenagers again?             Because he was (gag) ‘worried’ for him… ? “What the fuck are you doing?”

⌠❖⌡ "Twenty-six... Ah, it feels like I am just always seventeen." The Hound replies while mulling over the words Mikuni spoke, catching him in the mistake was not something he intended to happen, yet, here they were... Why the other was more or less chasing him down is not something he could understand, just what could be gained from always tracking down a broken toy when there were so much more entertaining toys without even a spec upon them? The question presented did not stop him in his tracks, even if he did glance over his should to allow the other to see his expression. 

It meant nothing, yet it never did with Tsurugi. Much like how Mikuni could simply call him a boot-lickin’ dog, it always held meaning behind it regardless of it’s context. He stared at him for a moment or two longer, before forcing his glaze away to glare to the side.

Because nothing is always there even if you cannot see or hear it, didn’t you know that, Kuni-chan?

Of course, he knew this: he knew this. He called him ‘nothing of value’ before.               ‘Nothing of worth’.                               ‘Nothing that matters’.                                         ‘Nothing to him.’

And, yet, Tsurugi was always there, wasn’t he? The Nothing that bothered him, the Nothing that haunted and stopped him from ebbing over the edge …

“Being anything is better than being nothing. Being with your thoughts is better than nothing at all. Being you is better than it. But, you are a shoe-licker, so, is that better than nothing at all …?”

It was.       Ḭ̧̙͔t ̘̮wa͝s̘͚̱̰̠͘,҉̭ ̞͔͎̟͇͕̣i̦͇̥̤̹̕t̘̣̕ ̘̺̩́w̢̲̯͔͔̭͇͉a͙̙̖̣̙̞̯s̳͚̦,̮͖͓̟̠͖ͅ ̡̥̳̫̯̪̪̩it̼͉̤̻͕̪ ̜̹͔ͅw̭a̪͈̹̻̠̦s̴̱̻,̻̬̫̼͘ ̩̞̤̦̗̪̤i͍̲̼͍̯̻̕t̴̘ ̞̱͕̻̳̻w̥̠a̸̯̞̩͔̞̖̞s͏͕̱̟͉̱͈ͅ ̛͓͚̮͉͇̭̗-̴̝̜̯̻̱̫̪–̢͈͕̭̖

⌠❖⌡ "Tsurugi Kamiya, seven-teen years old, I'll do anything if you pay me, lick your shoes? I'm all licky!" The man restates as he has done countless times, however, Mikuni will notice... That is the incorrect age that was spoken as he was twenty-six perplexing wasn't it? "Kuni-chan, don't waste your time." The words were spoken in a fairly quiet manner, one where you have to pause and wonder if you even heard them right in the first place. 

Before the Hound gave the other an odd smile, then moved to leave and head back into the room where he spent his entire life. ... Born and raised down here, the surface was not a place for him even with the rare visits to it due to jobs or being taken out by Yumi and Jun. Unlike Mikuni... 

“You are many things Kuni-chan, but a mistake is not one of them.”

That caused Mikuni to fall - and stay - silent; an expression of bewilderment on his features now. How could he say that to certainty, given all he chooses to do onto him…?

He couldn’t help it, staring at Tsurugi to gauge his features. What did he mean…?         And why did he say it?                         And what was the point behind it?

“Same old Kuni-chan…”

As his frown stayed on his features, Mikuni finally seem to respond; huffing out and going to glare him down.

“Same old Kuni-chan…? What does that mean, Tsurugi?” He meant the first statement, that was causing his mind to flip and scream in anxiety – in paranoia – in fear – before Mikuni paused.

“And how do you know that of all things? A Pleasure or Mistake, being nothing wasn’t on the table here.”

⌠❖⌡ "Nothing... Nothing..." The hound replies while taking his gaze away from the other man once more, no definitive answer would be given to this question that is what this one mentioned word implies quite clearly. Upon the last set of words being spoken he once more lifted his gaze to the other, there is no discernible expression to find here. "Because nothing is always there even if you cannot see or hear it, didn't you know that, Kuni-chan?" Wow getting deep here, it wasn't something he expected to do today but here they were no going back now... 

He didn’t quite expect Tsurugi to hang onto that concept of his lightly; in fact, what Mikuni was truly expecting (re: hoping) was for the other man to deflect this subject with another, less… Foreboding one.                  But given how their conversations were going lately…

Perhaps his random blurt out about God had something to do with it.

“’m the I considered my mother ‘nd father ta’be: God’s mistake he melded with his own two hands.” As if to accent his point, he gestures out in front of him, as if presenting himself as God’s Greatest Mistake. The (assumingly, at first) sarcastic tone to Tsurugi’s words as he looked at him…

It caused him to pause, awkwardly, anxiously, before he rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. His usual expression, one of indifference mixed with curl amusement, was now on his features.

“You’re whatever God would choose you ta’be, Tsurugi. How would I  know who you are, if I’m nothin’ more than a mistake.  .  .~?”

⌠❖⌡ That is quite the expression you are wearing there Mikuni, one that has Tsurugi staring at you for a few moments longer than one would usually in any form of conversation. "You are many things Kuni-chan, but a mistake is not one of them." Yes, he knows fully well the other's story from more than just being told about it, but, when you talk with a vampire who can turn into a snake you learn some extra things from there as well. ... 

But, most of his knowledge comes from Mikuni himself speaking it after all. While he himself did not move from the spot the Hound stood upon he did turn down his gaze slightly, an expression he really never wore crossing his own features. "Same old Kuni-chan..." Aware that the other constantly beat himself up Tsurugi never commented on it, for the other may play the tough act but even this broken toy knew Mikuni was by far more fragile than he will ever be. 

He had gotten under his skin like a infectious worm; visible to only him, yet annoying him day-to-day. No matter what he’s done, he tried to dig out this toxic, annoying, forever being worm with a knife. And often times than thought, he tried to dig it out from his own skin.

Feverishly and manically, he tried more and more…                           And yet…?

“I don’t care.” Mikuni had hissed back, the lie as venomous as his tone. “You’re just being off as all Hell. I’m only curious on if I’ll finally need to put you down.”

⌠❖⌡ "Put me down, are you going to kill me, Kuni-chan? Uwaaaa, so happy!" That is the reply the other received from the Hound, one he spoke more often than not even if his expression severely did not match the tone. Once more, arms are crossed over his chest as he steps back with a hum, once more intending to just leave and go about his day bowing down to people and vehemently apologizing for anything and everything. "You have better things to do, Kuni-chan~!" Not a lie after all, first it was about not wanting Jun and Yumi to be mad at him for whatever reason. 

| Continued From HERE - @bvlder​ |

Out of everyone he could’ve just blurted this out too, it needed to be him. Falling quiet for a moment or two, he didn’t quite know where to continue from there. He figured he stopped trusting in God since his father ruined his family, but…

                                        …

“God hasn’t done anything for either of us. That’s why.” It… Felt like a good enough reason why he just blurted this out to Tsurugi. Uncertain about what to do next, or how to proceed, Mikuni adjusted the hat on his head.

“We’re both either God’s mistakes or God’s greatest pleasure - and ‘m certain I know which I am personally.”

Mahiru has been wanting to visit Tsurugi’s room ever since he’d woken up in his own hospital room. He’d finally gotten the green light to at least walk around, and  just in time for Tsurugi to be awake too. It’s quiet, save for Mahiru’s attempts at small talk. Asking him how he’s doing, is he recovering alright, did anything hurt.

Then the question comes and Mahiru is rendered quiet for a minute. It’s a silly question, why else would Mahiru be here if he hadn’t forgiven Tsurugi. He was just doing his job, Mahiru understood that. Besides, Mahiru risked a lot himself to try and save Tsurugi.

“Of course I can. I wouldn’t be here otherwise. I didn’t think you were a bad guy to begin with.”

⌠❖⌡ While his wounds still hurt and body ached the Hound had endured worse in his life before, it will come and go as it always had. Thanks to being around Jun and Yumi at the very least he was well acquainted with small talk and how to go about it, even if there were still instances he was fairly awkward and lacked in a reaction where most would not stutter or seem to stop working like a skipping music disk. "Such kind words for me Mahiru~♥" Ah yes, back to his usual speech pattern for perhaps a moment or so, the pause taken in-between however spoke more volume that mere words could ever hope to convey.

"Thank you, for believing in me, I am not a good person but maybe I can try to be." Meaning he knows of the wrongs he has committed, the lives he has taken both Vampire and Human alike with C3 destroyed and Tai-chan missing... Maybe this really was a chance for change, he wanted to stay with Yumi, Jun, and maybe even Mahiru those he considered to be his friends. 

He wanted him to leave by his own accord –  not because the fool simply skip-scampered-away from him in a wishy-washy way. No, he still wanted the other’s presence to be around when he deems it necessary.

Mikuni glared down Tsurugi with eyes that weren’t sure how they felt. With his fist clenched tightly to his side, he couldn’t help but to grit his teeth as he took a few steps forward. His words – comments more like it – caused him to bite down on his lips. He needed to keep himself calm –                     He was ‘worried’ after all.                                  He ‘cared’ after all.

“Like hell I am. I’m just’makin’ sure your friends won’t heckle me if you’re in a ‘off mood’ like always.” Mikuni spatted then, his fists still clenched tightly as his dullen nails dug into his skin. “You’re bein’ odder than usual, even a fool can see that. The Hell is wrong with you, Tsurugi?”

⌠❖⌡ Watching the way the other react was quite the spectacle for him to behold, getting under Mikuni's skin was something he had always been able to do rather effortlessly. Even when they were younger and worked together as partners perhaps nothing will ever change in the end, head slightly canting to the side for perhaps a moment a grin soon crossed his features in quite a noticeable manner... Ohhhh, there it is, the words he was expecting to...Sorta hear, the last set wasn't really predictable. 

     If he were a more vindictive man, he might have taken the child and come back later at night alone, but he wasn’t. Instead, he knelt down after his hand was taken. “You’re a brave boy, let’s take you somewhere safe.” Moving some, he took off his jacket (and only his jacket), and wrapped it around him as he picked him up. “I know some children who’d love to play with you.” While he doubted the other understood just exactly what he meant, he at least thought his tone being soothing would help. Once he was covered properly, and comfortably, Sorrel made his way to the window and carefully made his way out of it. “Hang on sweetheart.” Of course he didn’t fall, and instead safely and slowly made his descent to the street. 

⌠❖⌡ Brave? A word he did not understand the meaning to as the other knelt after his hand was taken, the boy merely keeps watching with an intense curiosity having no idea what was going on here. As the jacket was taken off the other he did not know what to think of it, until he was wrapped around in it and picked up. The action caused his body to twitch and shoot pain through its receptors, that hurt, but he does not make a sound to indicate as such and only keeps that smile he saw the other make prior upon his features despite how being held was strange. Children who would love to play with him...