01 - Pint Sized Terror Unleashed!

[bittydragon]

Who: Yamato Hotsuin and YOU!
Where: Taurus Ward at night
Summary: Yamato is more than a little disorientated
Warnings: A fire breathing dog. THE FIRE BREATHING DOG. Also Taurus ward I guess.

Yamato's brain felt like it was in the middle of a grand overload.

The bright neon lights, the bustle of people in all sorts of outlandish clothing moving from building to building in groups, the loud laughter and catcalls - it was so alien to Yamato, who had spent his years isolated in a quiet, out of the way mansion, that he found himself frozen in place, his head stiffly moving from side to side as he drank in the gaudy sight.

At least he had his faithful demon companion by his side. Cerberus was looming over him, more than twice his height, the beast's shoulders hunched in a tense way. Its body language clearly stated that it was prepared to lash out at anything that exhibited the slightest bit of threat, a low, muted growl rumbling in the back of its throat.

Yamato took an abrupt, cautious step forward, and Cerberus shadowed the movement. As... bewildering and confusing this was, he couldn't stand still all night. He...had to get to the bottom of this. A calm, detached observation of his surroundings, even if the lack of memory about his arrival here was disconcerting.

So. A child by his lonesome, dressed in a traditional yukata, with a Cerberus trailing after him... in the red light district during the busiest hour. Approach?

Comments

[jumyouboshi]

"...Very well," he complied.

Alcor pulled away, straightened up once more, literally looking down on Yamato as the latter was so short and tiny. Then, he began to float in some direction, looking back at Yamato and Cerberus, making sure that he wasn't floating too quickly, but not too slowly so the boy wouldn't become aggravated at his speed either.

[bittydragon]

Yamato walked after him, his geta clacking loudly against the tarmac of the street. He stuck quite close to Alcor, not allowing him to move beyond four feet away. The red light district was thick with crowd, and, truthfully, Alcor's black and red stripped attire was blending in quite nicely with all the bright neon colours. It made Yamato genuinely worried that he would lose the entity in this place.

Soon, though, the crowd began to thin out, and Yamato huffed a little in exertion. He had spent a somewhat sedentary life thus far, reading and learning, and being chauffeured to his destinations by car... yes, walking long distances was not something Yamato was used to, although he'd be damned before he admitted exhaustion.

[jumyouboshi]

Alcor looked back behind him, only to see a slightly tired Yamato trailing behind him. The first thought that came to mind was that he pick the boy up and carry him in his arms, but judging from his response to holding out his hand earlier, Alcor could guess that that wouldn't be well met.

"Why not use Cerberus?", he suggested.

[bittydragon]

Yamato shot Alcor a venomous look - irritated mostly at himself for being found out, than for the suggestion itself.

"I'm fine," he said stiffly, his pride wounded. "I'm not so incapable that walking to our destination is beyond me."

[jumyouboshi]

"Yet...are you aware of what our destination is?"

Because as far as Alcor knew, Yamato was only a recent arrival, and somewhat blindly placing his trust in Alcor. A sobering thought.

[bittydragon]

"No," Yamato said without hesitation. He looked up at Alcor, and for a moment, he truly did look like a child. There was no suspicion or wariness in his wide eyes as he looked up at the star, just simple expectation that wherever Alcor was leading him, it wasn't dangerous.

Yes, it was trust that was shining in his eyes - although Yamato would sooner rip out his tongue than admit it.

[jumyouboshi]

...

...There was no way that he could refuse that. Perhaps it was care, perhaps it was his own guilt (for twisted the Hotsuin family into what it became, limiting the freedoms of its own members), but whatever it was, something made him slightly more down at the thought.

"The government building. It possesses information that you require, such as where you will be staying."

[bittydragon]

"I don't understand," Yamato said, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "Are we not returning to the manor?"

The thought that Alcor could be trapped here admittedly didn't cross his mind. He was used to Alcor being unbound, able to slip between even the most powerful of enchantments and prisons as he pleased. Always unhindered. World hopping was probably ridiculously easy for him, yes?

[jumyouboshi]

He had him there. It was true, he had the ability to hop between worlds, but what good would that do if he 1. couldn't do it anymore and 2. didn't want to in the first place, as that meant that he would go back to being nothing...?

"...Suffice it to say that I have duties to attend to here, so if you were to return, I cannot accompany you."

Of course, it would have certainly helped if he elaborated on what "here" was.

[bittydragon]

There was a bit of a pause.

"I see," Yamato said neutrally, his mouth flattening into a somewhat unhappy line. What duties were these? Yamato felt something... odd stir in his stomach. It was an unpleasant feeling. He ignored it, shoving it down into a dark little box.

[jumyouboshi]

Alcor continued to float in silence. Even though he could have simply teleported the both of them to the government building, it was probably better that the boy get a feel for the city now, with Alcor hovering by his side if anything went wrong, as opposed to wandering out later and escaping his watchful eye.

Finally, the government building came into view, looming ahead.

[bittydragon]

Yamato had been drinking in the sights at they walked, trying to commit as much as possible to memory. He could see demons in full view in this city, meshing well with the human populace. It was... bewildering. In their world, demons were hidden from the public eye, but here...

"Is demon summoning a common art here?"

If so, Yamato could at least continue his studies here, or, perhaps, learn something new and innovative for when he returned.

[jumyouboshi]

Alcor nodded.

"That's correct. The population is familiar with demons, and the dangers they present to them."

Of course, Yamato Hotsuin would pick up on that much. He was a sharp boy, very much so, and he would probably find a wealth of knowledge in regards to demon summoning and the duties of his clan here. ...Not to mention the Personae either.

[bittydragon]

There was no other way to describe it; Yamato's eyes lit up in what could only be called childish fascination.

"Is that so...? I wonder if they've developed differing techniques than those in our world? It would be interesting to compare and contrast, see if they have something more efficient to incorporate into the Hotsuin's way..."

[jumyouboshi]

"Yes, they have. There are a great many things here you can learn."

Alcor suddenly stopped his floating, planting his feet on the ground, and reached down to lightly pet the top of Yamato's hair, mess of hair in the back that resembled a duckbutt included. Then, he pulled his hand away quickly, as if he did nothing out of the ordinary.

[bittydragon]

"Ah-?"

Yamato stood stock still, blinking up at Alcor in obvious confusion at the affectionate gesture. They rarely touched, if ever. Yamato could count on one hand the amount of times Alcor had touched him in their two years together, and they hadn't been little hair pets or- anything, really.

He wasn't sure how to react. "Wh... why did...?"

[jumyouboshi]

"I had thought it an appropriate gesture. Was I wrong?"

After all, it was partly because he was acting on feeling, and partly because he had observed that physical contact was a good way to convey one's feelings. Guilt, nostalgia, a slight bit of happiness, and more remorse...it was a confusing mix of emotions. Actions spoke louder than words, was it? Of course, it also helped that Alcor didn't quite mind initiating physical contact...just when he was receiving it. Nevertheless, he seemed to have shrugged it off, continuing to float toward their destination.

[bittydragon]

Yamato quickly composed himself when he realised that Alcor was beginning to move away, and trotted after him. He still looked ruffled, and he was shooting the star agitated looks, his mouth twisted unhappily. He said nothing more on the matter, however.

"Will my accommodations be close to yours?" he asked at last.

[jumyouboshi]

"Who knows? I cannot say."

It wasn't under his control whether Yamato would be assigned a certain homestead or not. ...However, they could certainly request that he move in, or something along those lines. It might be better for him to move in with his own twin sister, though. Hotsuins sticking with Hotsuins.

[bittydragon]

Yamato's nose wrinkled a little. "Hmph. In case it isn't, I demand that you reside in mine. You don't need to sleep, correct? So it doesn't matter whether you stay in my room or yours."

[jumyouboshi]

Alcor took a second to press his hand to his mouth, as he usually did when contemplating something.

"You are right. I have no need for sleep, nor a homestead at all. I can certainly do ask you ask. But...why?"

[bittydragon]

"Isn't it obvious?" Yamato asked, and he slowed his words slightly, as if he was speaking to a particularly idiotic child; "I am unfamiliar with this place and its dangers. What is safe for you, is not necessarily safe to me. Therefore, I would prefer to have something familiar, and known to be an ally, close at hand."

Cerberus could serve well as protection but... well, Yamato would just be comfortable with Alcor in close range.

[jumyouboshi]

"What about Cerberus? It is rare for him to leave your side."

Not that Alcor minded (In fact, he couldn't help but feel a tiny bit flattered, or at least pleased that Yamato trusted him to that extent...which made the current situation between them in the "present" a bit more awkward) but...he was simply curious.

[bittydragon]

"There is a flaw in relying on Cerberus, and that is that his existence is tied directly to my mental state," Yamato replied. "If I am forcibly knocked unconscious, greatly wounded, or mentally shaken, then Cerberus vanishes from this world, bringing his protection with him."

It was logical, yes?

[jumyouboshi]

Alcor took his words in...and nodded.

"Very well. That can be arranged."

He was satisfied with Yamato's explanation, so he continued on, floating forward, until they finally reached the government office. About time.