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esp_dragonv2Fandom: SK8 THE INFINITY
Summary: There was something off about Kaoru.
Notes: Werewolf!Kaoru au
Planned one version - ended up with two branching outlines, hah. This is the shorter version. I'll hopefully get started on the second version soon.
Rating: PG
Genre: General
Word count: 4,336
Status: Complete
There was something off about Kaoru. Kojiro kept an eye on him as he served customers around the restaurant. A deeper crease between the brows, his movements weren't as smooth, Kaoru's shoulders tense. Kaoru wasn't grumbling in his direction as he passed by with another plate either.
Something was definitely up.
Kojiro finished preparing Kaoru's food and brought it over. "Here's your - you okay?" Barely visible under Kaoru's sleeve, Kojiro saw a flash of a bandage as Kaoru pushed his glasses up his nose.
"If I wasn't, I wouldn't be here, idiot," Kaoru said, glowering at him, but it didn't have is usual sharpness to it.
"Let me see." Kojiro leaned over and tugged the sleeve back.
"Oi!"
The bandage covered most of Kaoru's forearm and there were dots of dry blood in the centre, in the shape of half an oval where it almost ended off his arm. "Something bit you?"
"A dog," Kaoru said, straightening his sleeve again. "It happened on the way home yesterday after S."
Kojiro already knew that, because he would have noticed the change in bandages then (along with Kaoru's fanclub). "Your machine didn't alert you to it?"
Kaoru took the bait, scowling at him. "Carla." It was good to know Kaoru felt himself enough to be annoyed by the usual needling; Kaoru hadn't been that badly hurt. "She knew the dog was there but I didn't ask and she only alerts me unprompted if there's an oncoming obstacle, not a dog chasing after me. I'd get constant notifications if she did."
"Sounds like excuses," Kojiro said, his voice light, eyes tracing over what he could see of Kaoru's hand.
"It'd like to see you do any better," Kaoru shot back, "but then I don't think a dog would consider attacking a gorilla."
Kojiro grinned. That sounded more like Kaoru.
Kaoru exhaled, his shoulders relaxing. "I'm fine, Kojiro," he murmured. "It wasn't deep and I didn't even need stitches. It's just sore." He paused for a few seconds, flexing his hand slowly. "I can still hold a brush and my balance isn't affected. I'm fine."
"Good!" He clapped Kaoru on the shoulder, relief flooding him. Only a small scare.
He turned his head to the sound of the front bell, seeing new customers come in. "I'll speak to you later," he said, giving Kaoru's shoulder a squeeze.
"Yeah, yeah."
* * *
Kaoru didn't visit as often after work, but enough to let Kojiro know he wasn't developing an infection.
At the next S, they met at the entrance like they usually would.
"A new look?" Kojiro murmured as they made their way up. Both of Kaoru's forearms were covered in bandages up to the elbows - had both his arms been hurt? They were clean though, with no sign of blood.
Kaoru snorted. "It would be more noticeable if only one arm was covered." He didn't speak as a couple other skaters passed by, music blasting. "And there's still some bruising."
"Only?" That was fast.
"I said it wasn't deep." Kaoru narrowed his eyes at him. "Do you need your ears cleaned or are they just blocked by muscle?"
"Oh, are you saying you were bit by a chihuahua?" Kojiro elbowed Kaoru's side, Kaoru pushing back.
"It was bigger than that! Enough to knock me over."
"I think you need your prescription rechecked." Kojiro jumped over Kaoru's kick, grinning at Kaoru's scowl.
"For weight?"
They continued bickering as they made their way to the start of the race.
* * *
"You didn't have to stay behind," Kojiro said as he lifted the chairs onto the tables. The last customers of Sia la Luce had just left and he and Kaoru were cleaning up, Carla playing some of Kaoru's music.
Kaoru glanced at him from the corner of his eyes, carrying over the mop and bucket. "I've done it before."
"Yeah, but..."
"It was weeks ago. The bruises are gone now."
"You didn't inject yourself with nanomachines now, have you?" It was barely two weeks - it had completely healed already?
"Hah. It would help interfacing with Carla faster, but no." Kaoru pulled back his sleeve, revealing only pale scars across his skin.
Kojiro reached over, tracing the scars. They were only slightly raised to the touch and not warmer than Kaoru usually was. The bite mark was wider the Kojiro's palm, almost going off the other side of Kaoru's arm. "Fine," Kojiro said, letting go, "it was a mutant chihuahua."
Kaoru nailed him in the ribs hard enough to prove he hadn't lost any of his strength in his arm.
* * *
Things were back to normal for a couple of weeks, until Kojiro caught Kaoru scowling in Sia la Luce again. "You didn't get bitten by another dog, did you?" he asked as he placed Kaoru's order in front of him. There didn't seem to be any bandages in sight as far as Kojiro could tell.
"No," Kaoru said, running a hand through his hair. "A growing headache."
"You have been getting dragged around from event to event recently." It was a surprise he even saw Kaoru during the week.
"It's quietening down again soon but..." Kaoru sighed again, removing his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Not soon enough. It already feels like it's getting worse."
"Then go home, dumbass. I'll catch you later." Kaoru didn't have to be here if he wasn't feeling well.
"What," Kaoru growled, "you're going to throw me out just after serving me my food?"
"I can make it take-out, if that gets you home faster." Kojiro reached for Kaoru's plate.
Kaoru was faster, fan slapping Kojiro's hand away as he yanked his plate further away with his other hand.
"You're going to drop it!"
"Then let me eat it!"
* * *
It had been a few days since Kojiro had seen Kaoru, not since Kaoru had almost tipped his plate onto the floor. They'd exchanged a few texts, but nothing too in depth.
Kojiro checked the night sky as he locked up. It looked clear enough, the full moon shining, and he patted his bag, making sure it still contained the food he'd packed in it. If Kaoru was sick, he probably wasn't eating well either, so he'd drop off some food just in case.
It was late enough that it didn't take long to reach Kaoru's house and as he pulled up, his phone vibrated.
[Don't come in.]
From Kaoru. The message made Kojiro smile, glancing up at the windows. Kaoru was well enough to be up at least, but as far as he could tell, none of the lights were on. Probably seen him on one of the cameras.
Kojiro let himself in and all the lights were off. The only thing illuminating the room was Carla, who was resting in her usual place, flashing softly. He set the food on the counter and went over. "Empty...?" he murmured, crouching next to her. Just enough energy for the warning it seemed like. Her plug was next to the outlet, like it had fallen out of place.
"He'll whine if he found out you were out of juice," Kojiro said, plugging her in. He'd had enough of that already and Kaoru was inconsolable until Carla was responsive again.
"I brought food," he called out as he stood up again. "Do you want it now or do I leave it in the fridge?" He knew what the answer would be though and he went over to where he left the food, starting to unpack.
Kojiro froze when a low growl answered him instead from the direction of Kaoru's bedroom.
Kaoru didn't have a dog. He wouldn't dogsit either; he hated fur and other things that could potentially clog Carla's hardware.
A clatter of paws on the floor racing closer and Kojiro threw himself to the side, the animal slamming itself into the counter.
Too big to be a dog. The wrong shape. The limbs too long, paws too big.
Kojiro got that much before he was getting a close up of the animal's fangs as it snapped at his face, saliva flying as Kojiro held it back by its neck to stop it closing its jaws around his head.
He winced as its claws scrabbled against him, his shoulders burning. It didn't feel too deep. Now, at least.
Straining, he pushed the animal away from him, hearing the scrape of wood as the animal dug its claws into the floor next to him.
It gave him enough breathing room to see the pink fur shining in the moonlight coming in from the window. The gold eyes glaring at him.
"Kaoru?" he blurted out, even though it made no sense, except it was the only thing that did.
The animal -wolf? The snout was canine-like- pulled back, ears flicking up. Only for a second, the growl reverberating from their chest again.
"Jeez, even as a werewolf you glare the same, Kaoru." That was a good thing, right? That if this was Kaoru, he was still acting like himself. Just. A bit more bitey. If Kaoru lunged at him again, he should be able to catch him in a better hold, but after that, Kojiro wasn't sure what he could do. There was nothing within reach that he could use to restrain Kaoru.
The ears pricked up again, for longer. Reacting to his name, or Kojiro's voice? Whatever, so long as Kaoru was reacting and not trying to bite his head off.
"You're just as aggressive like that too."
Kaoru leaned in, sniffing heavily and Kojiro grunted, easing his hold. "If you're going to recognise me by scent..." It was almost cliche, and he didn't think Kaoru would know what Kojiro smelled like, unless it was more the scent of Sia la Luce.
Kojiro's thoughts drifted as Kaoru continued to sniff him. It was a full moon tonight, and Kaoru had been bitten by a dog a couple of weeks ago. A month ago?
A werewolf...?
The fur on top of Kaoru's head was just as long as it normally was, and Kojiro slowly ran a hand through it. He got a twitch from an ear from that, but that was all. Kaoru's hair was a bit coarser than usual, thicker. Other than that, it felt the same.
Kaoru nosed at Kojiro's torn shirt, and Kojiro sucked in a breath at the wet nose against the scratches. Kaoru jerked back at that, glancing at him.
"It's...fine...?" Maybe? Was he going to be a werewolf too? Kaoru hadn't bitten him, and Kaoru had only mentioned being bitten, not scratched.
He watched when Kaoru lifted up a paw - or a hand? It had the pads like a paw, but the digits were longer, enough that Kaoru could peel away the rest of Kojiro's shirt to reveal his tattoo.
A whine replaced the silence and Kaoru attacked the wounds with his tongue with as much force as he did before.
"Oof, hey!" Kaoru was definitely heavier like this and Kojiro had less room to move his arms.
Okay. Definitely not attacking him anymore. "Good to know you're still there, Kaoru," Kojiro said, bracing an arm against Kaoru's chest and pushing him back, "but you probably shouldn't do that." Who knew what could happen.
Kaoru growled at him, glaring again.
"Yeah, yeah, I know you don't like being told what to do." He continued the pressure as he sat up, and Kaoru did step back, his growls more like grumbling. "We don't know how this happened, so for now, no kissing my wounds better."
An ear flick, Kaoru studying him. Once Kojiro was sitting up properly, he looped an arm around Kaoru's shoulders and pulled him into his lap, Kaoru letting him. "This is fine for now, okay?" he murmured as Kaoru twisted around to press into his chest. "Just no licking."
"Hrrr." Kaoru huffed, and then took up as much space as he could across Kojiro's lap. Yeah, that was Kaoru all right.
They stayed like that for a while, Kaoru not moving as Kojiro ran his hand through Kaoru's fur.
What could he do? It wasn't like this was a broken bone and he could drive to the hospital. Kaoru would bite him if he went to find a vet too. Kaoru didn't seem like he was in pain anyway. Just. A little different. If it wasn't for the way he looked, Kojiro would have thought he was mostly the same. Just. Without vocal chords. Or even trying to talk.
He missed Kaoru's voice. He hadn't heard it for days already, and now... He might not again?
Kaoru shifted, looking up at him, whining.
"Heh, you can always tell how I feel..." It wasn't much use trying to hide that.
"It should just be a couple more hours." If what he remembered was true. He was sure he hadn't heard about any other dog attacks in the past month, so the other werewolf had to have changed back after the full moon.
"Okay, that's enough thinking for now. Are you hungry? I brought-"
Kaoru rolled to his feet, eyes zeroing in on the food Kojiro had left on the counter.
Kojiro couldn't help but grin at Kaoru's reaction. A bit later than expected, but he was still right about what Kaoru wanted.
He checked the counter but it didn't look like it had been slammed into a couple minutes earlier. The container was still in place. "Whew, we're lucky it didn't get knocked over in the tussle."
He opened the container, presenting it to Kaoru. Kaoru sniffed at it, but didn't start eating.
"You don't like it?" That couldn't be right - it was Kaoru's favourite.
Kaoru raised his head to glare at him, and Kojiro recognised that look. "Right, right, I'll get a plate," he muttered, putting the container down. He could just hear Kaoru grumbling about not eating like a barbarian. "I'm not sure if you can use cutlery right now, though?"
Kaoru did have thumbs, which were easily seen when Kaoru sat at his spot at the table, his hands splayed out in front of him.
When Kojiro placed the plate in front of him, Kaoru picked up the fork. He dropped it a few times, growling afterwards, his ears flat, and Kojiro was on the verge of offering to feed him but Kaoru was able to do it. Slower than usual, like he was figuring out where his hands were, what his snout did, but he still did it.
Kaoru's ears pricked up at the first bite, his tail wagging hard enough to slap into Kojiro.
"Huh, as much as the transformation was a surprise-" Understatement. "-I have to say it also makes you a hell of a lot easier to read." Kaoru was easy to read anyway, but there were some things he acted certain ways about, such as how much he really enjoyed Kojiro's cooking.
Kaoru paused, his eyes narrowing at Kojiro.
"Hm?"
Kaoru pointedly looked down at the empty space in front of Kojiro.
"I brought the food for you because I thought you were ill - it's just one serving."
Kaoru growled, ears flicking flat again.
"How was I supposed to know you turned into a werewolf? And I ate already before I came here, so I don't need it. It's all yours."
It almost felt normal. Kaoru said one thing, but his body language said something else. His body was a bit different from usual, but it was still him.
Kaoru grabbed one side of the plate, pushing it towards Kojiro. Kojiro stopped it when it got halfway. "I brought it for you - I thought you said I was the one who needed my ears cleaned." Did Kaoru remember that conversation like this? "You should need to eat even more after what's happened." Kaoru had almost just doubled his weight so he needed whatever food he could get.
Kaoru huffed, pushing for a few more seconds before he allowed Kojiro to slide the plate back in front of him.
It didn't take too long for Kaoru to finish, his movements getting faster as time went on. When he was done, he placed the fork down and slunk to Kojiro's side, curling up against him.
"Time for bed?"
Kaoru yawned, displaying rows of sharp teeth. He grumbled when Kojiro stood up. "I'll just clean up first."
Kaoru grumbled again, following him as he washed the plate. Kaoru walked on all fours, but it wasn't quite level, his chest higher than the rest of him. Which he put to good use constantly, almost headbutting Kojiro in the side every once in a while.
"Yes, I know you're impatient, Princess, but you'll also whine at me if I just left everything lying there. One more minute."
Kaoru almost pushed Kojiro into the bedroom, resting his head on Kojiro's chest once they were in bed.
Kojiro wrapped an arm around Kaoru's shoulders, fingers playing with Kaoru's hair as he heard Kaoru drift off.
He had been tired when he'd first arrived, but now he knew he wouldn't sleep. Not for a while, if at all tonight. He had to just hope that Kaoru would transform back...
* * *
Kaoru woke up warm. Too warm. He frowned.
His pillow was breathing.
He jerked up, and blinked down at Kojiro, who just grinned and grabbed him, pulling him into a tight hug.
"The hell are you doing in my bed, you overton gorilla?" He hadn't been that sick to not notice Kojiro coming in, let alone getting into his bed, had he? Apparently he had, since he had no memory of last night.
"Hey, you're the one who pushed me into it," Kojiro said into Kaoru's shoulder.
Kaoru opened his mouth to retort but stopped short.
Kojiro was trembling.
"Kojiro...?" It couldn't be because Kojiro was cold - the man was a furnace most of the time. "What's wrong?"
"I came over with food last night since I thought you might need it, and you attacked me because you were a werewolf."
Kaoru pulled back to stare at him. "I don't think I'm the one who's sick - you must have been delirious last night." Yes, he was naked but he'd had a fever. It was gone now, and the headache and bony aches were gone too. He must have just needed the rest.
Kojiro scoffed. "Yeah? Then look at my shirt and tell me you think I was imagining things."
His shi-? Kojiro's top was torn at the shoulder, the rips long enough to reveal his tattoo. "You could have done that just by flexing too hard," Kaoru muttered under his breath. But. It looked wrong. The rips weren't along the seams, and when Kaoru pulled some of the strips away, they revealed long gashes across Kojiro's skin. "Were you attacked by a dog this time?"
"I was attacked by you!" Kojiro sighed. "Whatever. I'm just glad you're back." He pulled Kaoru into another tight hug, and seemed to fall asleep instantly.
Had he stayed up the entire night? It would explain why he wasn't making any sense.
Kaoru checked the wounds again. Four slash marks, but when he put his fingers to them, they were too wide for his fingers to reach. "Definitely his imagination."
But something had still attacked Kojiro, that much was true. And those wounds needed tended to.
Kaoru got out of bed, searching for his clothes. There was a pile of them on the floor. When he picked them up, it was what he'd been wearing yesterday.
They were torn apart, like an animal had used them as a scratching post.
He dropped them. No. It could have just meant - Kojiro wasn't one for pranks, especially anything that would involve anything being destroyed.
And Kojiro was still injured. He had to deal with that first.
Kaoru got as far as his bedroom door before he stopped, seeing the claw marks gouged through the floor. That... Everything else in the room seemed to be in order, which made the claw marks stand out even more.
Carla was glowing in the corner, and he wasn't sure if he'd remembered to charge her.
The glow intensified. "Master."
"Yes, Carla?" It wasn't often she spoke unprompted. He couldn't take his eyes off the gouges and he knelt down next to one. The claw marks were closer together here, almost matching the spacing between his fingers.
"I must apologise, Master." Apologise? "I used your number to text Nanjo Kojiro to try to keep him away."
"You - why?" Except he already knew why.
"I was unsure how you would react in that state, Master."
Kaoru opened his mouth, but the words caught in his throat. He knew, but he wasn't sure if he wanted the confirmation.
He closed his eyes and exhaled. No. He couldn't run away.
"Show me, Carla."
"Yes, Master." The projector whirred to life, displaying on the wall.
It was him in his bedroom, stumbling out of bed, a growl already evident, his face curled into a snarl. He pulled at his clothes, and when they didn't come off, he fell to his knees, shuddering. Second by second, he changed, growing bigger, fur rippling out across his skin. As soon as claws appeared, he tore his clothes off. Even by then, there wasn't much left that was human left to see.
"Shit..." He'd...changed? He really was a werewolf?
He sucked in a breath when something was draped over his shoulders. Arms went around his waist and lifted him up. There was only one person who would do that. "I thought you were asleep."
"I was," Kojiro said, setting him down again, but didn't let go, resting his head on Kaoru's shoulder. "You disappeared. I just wanted to check you hadn't ran off."
"Not without clothes on, in the very least," Kaoru muttered under his breath as he slipped his arms through the yukata that Kojiro had brought over.
"You transformed back - that's what matters."
"It... Is." It was a good point, though it still didn't change the fact he was apparently a werewolf. "What if I attack you again?" Would this happen only once a month, or was he affected in other ways?
"I'll just have to work on getting you to recognise me faster next time."
Kaoru elbowed him lightly for that. "Idiot." Putting himself in danger like that.
Kojiro chuckled, arms tightening again. "Your idiot though."
Kaoru sagged back against him, exhaling. Yes, he was.
"What are you doing out of bed anyway?"
"I was going to get something for your injuries, but..." Kaoru's eyes drifted back to the slashes on the floor. "I got distracted."
"They're not that bad, and you didn't bite me." That made Kaoru wince. He'd still hurt Kojiro. "Hey. That's a good thing." Kojiro turned him around so Kaoru could see his easy smile. "You recognised me like that."
"Of course I would." Kaoru sighed, leaning into Kojiro. "I would have really lost my mind if I forgot you." He'd known Kojiro too long and too well to lose all that in some supernatural transformation.
Kojiro's chuckled reverberated through his entire chest. "I'm glad you're back, Kaoru."
"Yeah..." They would have to figure out what they needed to do to make sure he stayed back. Kaoru pulled back. "That's enough delaying - your wounds need to be seen to." It must have been a couple of hours already since it had happened.
"Sure, sure." Kojiro looped an arm around Kaoru's shoulders and while Kaoru wasn't holding up all of Kojiro's weight, he could hear Kojiro dragging his feet.
Once the first aid kit was collected and Kojiro had stripped out his shirt as they sat on the floor, Kaoru could get a proper look at the damage. The slashes were just across Kojiro's shoulder, not close enough to touch his tattoo. They were superficial, already sealed with no fresh blood. Kaoru cleaned them anyway, Kojiro dozing off as he worked.
"Don't..." Kojiro yawned. "Don't think I'll need bandages for these."
Kaoru eyed them. "And as soon as you flex again, you'll open them up."
"I don't fl-" Another yawn. "-flex that often."
That made Kaoru snort. "You don't think so because you're at the stage where you flex without thinking. Now sit up so I can bandage them."
Kojiro did as he was told, holding still enough that Kaoru finished bandaging him quickly.
Once he was done, he paused, making sure the bandages were taut and secure.
"Kaoru?"
He sighed, leaning forward to press his head to Kojiro's uninjured shoulder. "Thank you..." For being there, for staying there, for checking on him. So many things could have happened, but it was much easier to deal with with Kojiro there.
"You would do the same, you AI maniac," Kojiro said, cupping the back of Kaoru's head, his other hand drawing him closer.
"Hmph. I would have a harder time trying to subdue your muscle-bound bulk."
"Eh, I think one of your kicks would still be be enough."
"I'd rather not find out." It hadn't been a bite - maybe that would be enough. Kaoru got to his feet, Kojiro getting up on his own, though he continued leaning on Kaoru as they made their way to Kaoru's bedroom.
Kojiro was asleep before he even hit the bed, but Kaoru lay next to him, the events of the night -that he could remember- running through his mind.
He ran his fingers over his own scars, tracing the shape of them. For the most part, he hadn't felt any different during the month except from the lead-up to the full moon.
Kojiro had already been scratched several hours ago and hadn't shown any adverse effect to it. Staying up wouldn't make any difference.
But Kaoru might do that, just for his own peace of mind.
Summary: There was something off about Kaoru.
Notes: Werewolf!Kaoru au
Planned one version - ended up with two branching outlines, hah. This is the shorter version. I'll hopefully get started on the second version soon.
Rating: PG
Genre: General
Word count: 4,336
Status: Complete
There was something off about Kaoru. Kojiro kept an eye on him as he served customers around the restaurant. A deeper crease between the brows, his movements weren't as smooth, Kaoru's shoulders tense. Kaoru wasn't grumbling in his direction as he passed by with another plate either.
Something was definitely up.
Kojiro finished preparing Kaoru's food and brought it over. "Here's your - you okay?" Barely visible under Kaoru's sleeve, Kojiro saw a flash of a bandage as Kaoru pushed his glasses up his nose.
"If I wasn't, I wouldn't be here, idiot," Kaoru said, glowering at him, but it didn't have is usual sharpness to it.
"Let me see." Kojiro leaned over and tugged the sleeve back.
"Oi!"
The bandage covered most of Kaoru's forearm and there were dots of dry blood in the centre, in the shape of half an oval where it almost ended off his arm. "Something bit you?"
"A dog," Kaoru said, straightening his sleeve again. "It happened on the way home yesterday after S."
Kojiro already knew that, because he would have noticed the change in bandages then (along with Kaoru's fanclub). "Your machine didn't alert you to it?"
Kaoru took the bait, scowling at him. "Carla." It was good to know Kaoru felt himself enough to be annoyed by the usual needling; Kaoru hadn't been that badly hurt. "She knew the dog was there but I didn't ask and she only alerts me unprompted if there's an oncoming obstacle, not a dog chasing after me. I'd get constant notifications if she did."
"Sounds like excuses," Kojiro said, his voice light, eyes tracing over what he could see of Kaoru's hand.
"It'd like to see you do any better," Kaoru shot back, "but then I don't think a dog would consider attacking a gorilla."
Kojiro grinned. That sounded more like Kaoru.
Kaoru exhaled, his shoulders relaxing. "I'm fine, Kojiro," he murmured. "It wasn't deep and I didn't even need stitches. It's just sore." He paused for a few seconds, flexing his hand slowly. "I can still hold a brush and my balance isn't affected. I'm fine."
"Good!" He clapped Kaoru on the shoulder, relief flooding him. Only a small scare.
He turned his head to the sound of the front bell, seeing new customers come in. "I'll speak to you later," he said, giving Kaoru's shoulder a squeeze.
"Yeah, yeah."
Kaoru didn't visit as often after work, but enough to let Kojiro know he wasn't developing an infection.
At the next S, they met at the entrance like they usually would.
"A new look?" Kojiro murmured as they made their way up. Both of Kaoru's forearms were covered in bandages up to the elbows - had both his arms been hurt? They were clean though, with no sign of blood.
Kaoru snorted. "It would be more noticeable if only one arm was covered." He didn't speak as a couple other skaters passed by, music blasting. "And there's still some bruising."
"Only?" That was fast.
"I said it wasn't deep." Kaoru narrowed his eyes at him. "Do you need your ears cleaned or are they just blocked by muscle?"
"Oh, are you saying you were bit by a chihuahua?" Kojiro elbowed Kaoru's side, Kaoru pushing back.
"It was bigger than that! Enough to knock me over."
"I think you need your prescription rechecked." Kojiro jumped over Kaoru's kick, grinning at Kaoru's scowl.
"For weight?"
They continued bickering as they made their way to the start of the race.
"You didn't have to stay behind," Kojiro said as he lifted the chairs onto the tables. The last customers of Sia la Luce had just left and he and Kaoru were cleaning up, Carla playing some of Kaoru's music.
Kaoru glanced at him from the corner of his eyes, carrying over the mop and bucket. "I've done it before."
"Yeah, but..."
"It was weeks ago. The bruises are gone now."
"You didn't inject yourself with nanomachines now, have you?" It was barely two weeks - it had completely healed already?
"Hah. It would help interfacing with Carla faster, but no." Kaoru pulled back his sleeve, revealing only pale scars across his skin.
Kojiro reached over, tracing the scars. They were only slightly raised to the touch and not warmer than Kaoru usually was. The bite mark was wider the Kojiro's palm, almost going off the other side of Kaoru's arm. "Fine," Kojiro said, letting go, "it was a mutant chihuahua."
Kaoru nailed him in the ribs hard enough to prove he hadn't lost any of his strength in his arm.
Things were back to normal for a couple of weeks, until Kojiro caught Kaoru scowling in Sia la Luce again. "You didn't get bitten by another dog, did you?" he asked as he placed Kaoru's order in front of him. There didn't seem to be any bandages in sight as far as Kojiro could tell.
"No," Kaoru said, running a hand through his hair. "A growing headache."
"You have been getting dragged around from event to event recently." It was a surprise he even saw Kaoru during the week.
"It's quietening down again soon but..." Kaoru sighed again, removing his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Not soon enough. It already feels like it's getting worse."
"Then go home, dumbass. I'll catch you later." Kaoru didn't have to be here if he wasn't feeling well.
"What," Kaoru growled, "you're going to throw me out just after serving me my food?"
"I can make it take-out, if that gets you home faster." Kojiro reached for Kaoru's plate.
Kaoru was faster, fan slapping Kojiro's hand away as he yanked his plate further away with his other hand.
"You're going to drop it!"
"Then let me eat it!"
It had been a few days since Kojiro had seen Kaoru, not since Kaoru had almost tipped his plate onto the floor. They'd exchanged a few texts, but nothing too in depth.
Kojiro checked the night sky as he locked up. It looked clear enough, the full moon shining, and he patted his bag, making sure it still contained the food he'd packed in it. If Kaoru was sick, he probably wasn't eating well either, so he'd drop off some food just in case.
It was late enough that it didn't take long to reach Kaoru's house and as he pulled up, his phone vibrated.
[Don't come in.]
From Kaoru. The message made Kojiro smile, glancing up at the windows. Kaoru was well enough to be up at least, but as far as he could tell, none of the lights were on. Probably seen him on one of the cameras.
Kojiro let himself in and all the lights were off. The only thing illuminating the room was Carla, who was resting in her usual place, flashing softly. He set the food on the counter and went over. "Empty...?" he murmured, crouching next to her. Just enough energy for the warning it seemed like. Her plug was next to the outlet, like it had fallen out of place.
"He'll whine if he found out you were out of juice," Kojiro said, plugging her in. He'd had enough of that already and Kaoru was inconsolable until Carla was responsive again.
"I brought food," he called out as he stood up again. "Do you want it now or do I leave it in the fridge?" He knew what the answer would be though and he went over to where he left the food, starting to unpack.
Kojiro froze when a low growl answered him instead from the direction of Kaoru's bedroom.
Kaoru didn't have a dog. He wouldn't dogsit either; he hated fur and other things that could potentially clog Carla's hardware.
A clatter of paws on the floor racing closer and Kojiro threw himself to the side, the animal slamming itself into the counter.
Too big to be a dog. The wrong shape. The limbs too long, paws too big.
Kojiro got that much before he was getting a close up of the animal's fangs as it snapped at his face, saliva flying as Kojiro held it back by its neck to stop it closing its jaws around his head.
He winced as its claws scrabbled against him, his shoulders burning. It didn't feel too deep. Now, at least.
Straining, he pushed the animal away from him, hearing the scrape of wood as the animal dug its claws into the floor next to him.
It gave him enough breathing room to see the pink fur shining in the moonlight coming in from the window. The gold eyes glaring at him.
"Kaoru?" he blurted out, even though it made no sense, except it was the only thing that did.
The animal -wolf? The snout was canine-like- pulled back, ears flicking up. Only for a second, the growl reverberating from their chest again.
"Jeez, even as a werewolf you glare the same, Kaoru." That was a good thing, right? That if this was Kaoru, he was still acting like himself. Just. A bit more bitey. If Kaoru lunged at him again, he should be able to catch him in a better hold, but after that, Kojiro wasn't sure what he could do. There was nothing within reach that he could use to restrain Kaoru.
The ears pricked up again, for longer. Reacting to his name, or Kojiro's voice? Whatever, so long as Kaoru was reacting and not trying to bite his head off.
"You're just as aggressive like that too."
Kaoru leaned in, sniffing heavily and Kojiro grunted, easing his hold. "If you're going to recognise me by scent..." It was almost cliche, and he didn't think Kaoru would know what Kojiro smelled like, unless it was more the scent of Sia la Luce.
Kojiro's thoughts drifted as Kaoru continued to sniff him. It was a full moon tonight, and Kaoru had been bitten by a dog a couple of weeks ago. A month ago?
A werewolf...?
The fur on top of Kaoru's head was just as long as it normally was, and Kojiro slowly ran a hand through it. He got a twitch from an ear from that, but that was all. Kaoru's hair was a bit coarser than usual, thicker. Other than that, it felt the same.
Kaoru nosed at Kojiro's torn shirt, and Kojiro sucked in a breath at the wet nose against the scratches. Kaoru jerked back at that, glancing at him.
"It's...fine...?" Maybe? Was he going to be a werewolf too? Kaoru hadn't bitten him, and Kaoru had only mentioned being bitten, not scratched.
He watched when Kaoru lifted up a paw - or a hand? It had the pads like a paw, but the digits were longer, enough that Kaoru could peel away the rest of Kojiro's shirt to reveal his tattoo.
A whine replaced the silence and Kaoru attacked the wounds with his tongue with as much force as he did before.
"Oof, hey!" Kaoru was definitely heavier like this and Kojiro had less room to move his arms.
Okay. Definitely not attacking him anymore. "Good to know you're still there, Kaoru," Kojiro said, bracing an arm against Kaoru's chest and pushing him back, "but you probably shouldn't do that." Who knew what could happen.
Kaoru growled at him, glaring again.
"Yeah, yeah, I know you don't like being told what to do." He continued the pressure as he sat up, and Kaoru did step back, his growls more like grumbling. "We don't know how this happened, so for now, no kissing my wounds better."
An ear flick, Kaoru studying him. Once Kojiro was sitting up properly, he looped an arm around Kaoru's shoulders and pulled him into his lap, Kaoru letting him. "This is fine for now, okay?" he murmured as Kaoru twisted around to press into his chest. "Just no licking."
"Hrrr." Kaoru huffed, and then took up as much space as he could across Kojiro's lap. Yeah, that was Kaoru all right.
They stayed like that for a while, Kaoru not moving as Kojiro ran his hand through Kaoru's fur.
What could he do? It wasn't like this was a broken bone and he could drive to the hospital. Kaoru would bite him if he went to find a vet too. Kaoru didn't seem like he was in pain anyway. Just. A little different. If it wasn't for the way he looked, Kojiro would have thought he was mostly the same. Just. Without vocal chords. Or even trying to talk.
He missed Kaoru's voice. He hadn't heard it for days already, and now... He might not again?
Kaoru shifted, looking up at him, whining.
"Heh, you can always tell how I feel..." It wasn't much use trying to hide that.
"It should just be a couple more hours." If what he remembered was true. He was sure he hadn't heard about any other dog attacks in the past month, so the other werewolf had to have changed back after the full moon.
"Okay, that's enough thinking for now. Are you hungry? I brought-"
Kaoru rolled to his feet, eyes zeroing in on the food Kojiro had left on the counter.
Kojiro couldn't help but grin at Kaoru's reaction. A bit later than expected, but he was still right about what Kaoru wanted.
He checked the counter but it didn't look like it had been slammed into a couple minutes earlier. The container was still in place. "Whew, we're lucky it didn't get knocked over in the tussle."
He opened the container, presenting it to Kaoru. Kaoru sniffed at it, but didn't start eating.
"You don't like it?" That couldn't be right - it was Kaoru's favourite.
Kaoru raised his head to glare at him, and Kojiro recognised that look. "Right, right, I'll get a plate," he muttered, putting the container down. He could just hear Kaoru grumbling about not eating like a barbarian. "I'm not sure if you can use cutlery right now, though?"
Kaoru did have thumbs, which were easily seen when Kaoru sat at his spot at the table, his hands splayed out in front of him.
When Kojiro placed the plate in front of him, Kaoru picked up the fork. He dropped it a few times, growling afterwards, his ears flat, and Kojiro was on the verge of offering to feed him but Kaoru was able to do it. Slower than usual, like he was figuring out where his hands were, what his snout did, but he still did it.
Kaoru's ears pricked up at the first bite, his tail wagging hard enough to slap into Kojiro.
"Huh, as much as the transformation was a surprise-" Understatement. "-I have to say it also makes you a hell of a lot easier to read." Kaoru was easy to read anyway, but there were some things he acted certain ways about, such as how much he really enjoyed Kojiro's cooking.
Kaoru paused, his eyes narrowing at Kojiro.
"Hm?"
Kaoru pointedly looked down at the empty space in front of Kojiro.
"I brought the food for you because I thought you were ill - it's just one serving."
Kaoru growled, ears flicking flat again.
"How was I supposed to know you turned into a werewolf? And I ate already before I came here, so I don't need it. It's all yours."
It almost felt normal. Kaoru said one thing, but his body language said something else. His body was a bit different from usual, but it was still him.
Kaoru grabbed one side of the plate, pushing it towards Kojiro. Kojiro stopped it when it got halfway. "I brought it for you - I thought you said I was the one who needed my ears cleaned." Did Kaoru remember that conversation like this? "You should need to eat even more after what's happened." Kaoru had almost just doubled his weight so he needed whatever food he could get.
Kaoru huffed, pushing for a few more seconds before he allowed Kojiro to slide the plate back in front of him.
It didn't take too long for Kaoru to finish, his movements getting faster as time went on. When he was done, he placed the fork down and slunk to Kojiro's side, curling up against him.
"Time for bed?"
Kaoru yawned, displaying rows of sharp teeth. He grumbled when Kojiro stood up. "I'll just clean up first."
Kaoru grumbled again, following him as he washed the plate. Kaoru walked on all fours, but it wasn't quite level, his chest higher than the rest of him. Which he put to good use constantly, almost headbutting Kojiro in the side every once in a while.
"Yes, I know you're impatient, Princess, but you'll also whine at me if I just left everything lying there. One more minute."
Kaoru almost pushed Kojiro into the bedroom, resting his head on Kojiro's chest once they were in bed.
Kojiro wrapped an arm around Kaoru's shoulders, fingers playing with Kaoru's hair as he heard Kaoru drift off.
He had been tired when he'd first arrived, but now he knew he wouldn't sleep. Not for a while, if at all tonight. He had to just hope that Kaoru would transform back...
Kaoru woke up warm. Too warm. He frowned.
His pillow was breathing.
He jerked up, and blinked down at Kojiro, who just grinned and grabbed him, pulling him into a tight hug.
"The hell are you doing in my bed, you overton gorilla?" He hadn't been that sick to not notice Kojiro coming in, let alone getting into his bed, had he? Apparently he had, since he had no memory of last night.
"Hey, you're the one who pushed me into it," Kojiro said into Kaoru's shoulder.
Kaoru opened his mouth to retort but stopped short.
Kojiro was trembling.
"Kojiro...?" It couldn't be because Kojiro was cold - the man was a furnace most of the time. "What's wrong?"
"I came over with food last night since I thought you might need it, and you attacked me because you were a werewolf."
Kaoru pulled back to stare at him. "I don't think I'm the one who's sick - you must have been delirious last night." Yes, he was naked but he'd had a fever. It was gone now, and the headache and bony aches were gone too. He must have just needed the rest.
Kojiro scoffed. "Yeah? Then look at my shirt and tell me you think I was imagining things."
His shi-? Kojiro's top was torn at the shoulder, the rips long enough to reveal his tattoo. "You could have done that just by flexing too hard," Kaoru muttered under his breath. But. It looked wrong. The rips weren't along the seams, and when Kaoru pulled some of the strips away, they revealed long gashes across Kojiro's skin. "Were you attacked by a dog this time?"
"I was attacked by you!" Kojiro sighed. "Whatever. I'm just glad you're back." He pulled Kaoru into another tight hug, and seemed to fall asleep instantly.
Had he stayed up the entire night? It would explain why he wasn't making any sense.
Kaoru checked the wounds again. Four slash marks, but when he put his fingers to them, they were too wide for his fingers to reach. "Definitely his imagination."
But something had still attacked Kojiro, that much was true. And those wounds needed tended to.
Kaoru got out of bed, searching for his clothes. There was a pile of them on the floor. When he picked them up, it was what he'd been wearing yesterday.
They were torn apart, like an animal had used them as a scratching post.
He dropped them. No. It could have just meant - Kojiro wasn't one for pranks, especially anything that would involve anything being destroyed.
And Kojiro was still injured. He had to deal with that first.
Kaoru got as far as his bedroom door before he stopped, seeing the claw marks gouged through the floor. That... Everything else in the room seemed to be in order, which made the claw marks stand out even more.
Carla was glowing in the corner, and he wasn't sure if he'd remembered to charge her.
The glow intensified. "Master."
"Yes, Carla?" It wasn't often she spoke unprompted. He couldn't take his eyes off the gouges and he knelt down next to one. The claw marks were closer together here, almost matching the spacing between his fingers.
"I must apologise, Master." Apologise? "I used your number to text Nanjo Kojiro to try to keep him away."
"You - why?" Except he already knew why.
"I was unsure how you would react in that state, Master."
Kaoru opened his mouth, but the words caught in his throat. He knew, but he wasn't sure if he wanted the confirmation.
He closed his eyes and exhaled. No. He couldn't run away.
"Show me, Carla."
"Yes, Master." The projector whirred to life, displaying on the wall.
It was him in his bedroom, stumbling out of bed, a growl already evident, his face curled into a snarl. He pulled at his clothes, and when they didn't come off, he fell to his knees, shuddering. Second by second, he changed, growing bigger, fur rippling out across his skin. As soon as claws appeared, he tore his clothes off. Even by then, there wasn't much left that was human left to see.
"Shit..." He'd...changed? He really was a werewolf?
He sucked in a breath when something was draped over his shoulders. Arms went around his waist and lifted him up. There was only one person who would do that. "I thought you were asleep."
"I was," Kojiro said, setting him down again, but didn't let go, resting his head on Kaoru's shoulder. "You disappeared. I just wanted to check you hadn't ran off."
"Not without clothes on, in the very least," Kaoru muttered under his breath as he slipped his arms through the yukata that Kojiro had brought over.
"You transformed back - that's what matters."
"It... Is." It was a good point, though it still didn't change the fact he was apparently a werewolf. "What if I attack you again?" Would this happen only once a month, or was he affected in other ways?
"I'll just have to work on getting you to recognise me faster next time."
Kaoru elbowed him lightly for that. "Idiot." Putting himself in danger like that.
Kojiro chuckled, arms tightening again. "Your idiot though."
Kaoru sagged back against him, exhaling. Yes, he was.
"What are you doing out of bed anyway?"
"I was going to get something for your injuries, but..." Kaoru's eyes drifted back to the slashes on the floor. "I got distracted."
"They're not that bad, and you didn't bite me." That made Kaoru wince. He'd still hurt Kojiro. "Hey. That's a good thing." Kojiro turned him around so Kaoru could see his easy smile. "You recognised me like that."
"Of course I would." Kaoru sighed, leaning into Kojiro. "I would have really lost my mind if I forgot you." He'd known Kojiro too long and too well to lose all that in some supernatural transformation.
Kojiro's chuckled reverberated through his entire chest. "I'm glad you're back, Kaoru."
"Yeah..." They would have to figure out what they needed to do to make sure he stayed back. Kaoru pulled back. "That's enough delaying - your wounds need to be seen to." It must have been a couple of hours already since it had happened.
"Sure, sure." Kojiro looped an arm around Kaoru's shoulders and while Kaoru wasn't holding up all of Kojiro's weight, he could hear Kojiro dragging his feet.
Once the first aid kit was collected and Kojiro had stripped out his shirt as they sat on the floor, Kaoru could get a proper look at the damage. The slashes were just across Kojiro's shoulder, not close enough to touch his tattoo. They were superficial, already sealed with no fresh blood. Kaoru cleaned them anyway, Kojiro dozing off as he worked.
"Don't..." Kojiro yawned. "Don't think I'll need bandages for these."
Kaoru eyed them. "And as soon as you flex again, you'll open them up."
"I don't fl-" Another yawn. "-flex that often."
That made Kaoru snort. "You don't think so because you're at the stage where you flex without thinking. Now sit up so I can bandage them."
Kojiro did as he was told, holding still enough that Kaoru finished bandaging him quickly.
Once he was done, he paused, making sure the bandages were taut and secure.
"Kaoru?"
He sighed, leaning forward to press his head to Kojiro's uninjured shoulder. "Thank you..." For being there, for staying there, for checking on him. So many things could have happened, but it was much easier to deal with with Kojiro there.
"You would do the same, you AI maniac," Kojiro said, cupping the back of Kaoru's head, his other hand drawing him closer.
"Hmph. I would have a harder time trying to subdue your muscle-bound bulk."
"Eh, I think one of your kicks would still be be enough."
"I'd rather not find out." It hadn't been a bite - maybe that would be enough. Kaoru got to his feet, Kojiro getting up on his own, though he continued leaning on Kaoru as they made their way to Kaoru's bedroom.
Kojiro was asleep before he even hit the bed, but Kaoru lay next to him, the events of the night -that he could remember- running through his mind.
He ran his fingers over his own scars, tracing the shape of them. For the most part, he hadn't felt any different during the month except from the lead-up to the full moon.
Kojiro had already been scratched several hours ago and hadn't shown any adverse effect to it. Staying up wouldn't make any difference.
But Kaoru might do that, just for his own peace of mind.