Safer Than Most

[TAMIKO]

"Always, little one. If you need a friend, you can always come to me, young Hinata, any time of the day, I will always be available for you, always," Lord Sadako said as he held the kid in his arms so tightly like a son he had missed for so many years.

He could tell that Tamiko was going through some shit, and frankly, while Sadako wanted to not ask, he couldn't help himself. He cared way too much about the kid in his arms and he could give him the word if he had to.

"What happened, Hinata? You're on this side of the realm, who hurt you, son? Who caused you so much pain? Tell me, point me in their direction and I will torture them to the ends of the world that they wouldn't wish to live in the end.

"Tell me, son. Who hurt you?" Lord Sadako asked as he gently pulled from the hug.

He could sense the worry and hurt in Tamiko's voice and he wished there was more he could do.

The kingdom was slowly coming back to life and there was only one aspect missing, though if Sadako took Tamiko with him to Kawai, then there wouldn't be a puzzle to solve anymore.

Instead, there would just be murders that needed to be committed and people who needed to face the wrath of the king of doom.

Oh, but that day was coming.

Maybe it wasn't soon, maybe it would take a while, but with the dark king back, the day was coming that the realm would have to run at the mention of any lycan. It was coming and no one would be safe from it.

"I'm fine. I just needed to go on a run. I haven't gone on one for a long time, you know. Anyway, you tell me, what are you doing on this side of the realm?" Tamiko asked and Sadako figured that the kid wouldn't be telling him shit.

However, he wasn't going to keep pushing. He wanted Tamiko to lead a normal life, though Sadako had a feeling that each time he was thinking the kid would be normal, shit would happen to him and that wouldn't be pretty.

"I was patrolling in the hope that I would see you again. Someone told me that you were at war with the alpha. And it seems that he hurt you so badly. Is that why you are here on this side? Is the alpha always hurting you? Is Grealor causing you pain?

"I could end that if you want me to. I could teach them a lesson on messing with a kid I like. All you have to do is tell me what you want me to do, and I would do it, in a heartbeat," Sadako said, his words so familiar to the young lycan that Tamiko felt at a loss again.

Igor Konstantin had come into his life and loved him like he was the apple of the man's eyes and now as it was, Igor was leaving, right when Tamiko needed him the most. It was not what he wanted to hear again, and unlike with Igor that he had been silent, Tamiko spoke up to Sadako.

"Someone also promised me the same. He said he would always stay. He said he would make them all pay, but he left. Maybe you will leave, and that is okay, but can you not make me promises, please?

"It's just that everyone who made me a promise broke it eventually," Tamiko added quickly as he looked at Sadako to make sure that the lycan Lord didn't take offense.

Of course, Sadako didn't. How could he take offense when this was the first time the young lycan was opening up to him? Maybe he needed to find a way to make the kid feel safe and not unwanted.

Maybe he needed to fix the issue in grealor but would Tamiko really want that?

And even if Lord Sadako went and took care of the situation, if he put an end to the bullying and the tyranny of the house Grealor, how would he explain to the kid before him that he was the crown prince of Kawai and not just another servant that the wolves could step on?

How was he to make the kid understand that life wasn't always going to be fucked up, and that he had a good uncle and a father who would sacrifice the whole world just to get to see him? Oh, there were so many things in Sadako's mind, but he just let out a low sigh.

"I never break my promises, Hinata. Don't you worry though, I will refrain from making promises. How about an agreement?" the lycan Lord said and the kid looked at him curiously.

What kind of deal would he make with the scrawny kid who wasn't even able to defend himself for long enough? The situation last evening had really put Tamiko on the spot in the worst of ways.

It made him feel demoralized and he didn't even want to pick up the sword anymore. Besides, who knew what was waiting for him when everything went sideways?

"An agreement? What agreement could you make with me anyway?" Tamiko asked curiously, the low chuckle making Sadako let out a sigh of relief. At least the kid didn't seem as sad as he had been earlier. This little progress was certainly progress in the books of Lord Sadako.

"Yes. An agreement. Let me train you, Hinata. Let me teach you the ways of the land that should be home for you. Let me teach you how to wield a sword like a true lycan warrior and let me be your mentor.

"I'll even be your shoulder to cry on, but I will only ask for one thing, in all of this," Lord Sadako said and this time, Tamiko laughed.

Nothing was ever free in any version of the world and he should have known when the lycan lord was too willing to train him and be there for him. Couldn't he at least find people like Galya and Danny who loved him for who he was, and not for what he could offer them?

"I expected that much. What would you want? My life for the crown? For me to serve the dark king everyone fears? I don't mind. Besides, I believe that we aren't born evil.

"People just find a way of fucking with us long enough and then we snap," Tamiko said, rambling like he was envious.

"Oh, dear. You make it sound so formal. I don't have so many conditions and trust me, it won't be for you to work with the king. All I ask in exchange for your training, is for you to come eat with me at the outpost, once every week.

"What do you think?" Lord Sadako said and Tamiko smiled at the man like finally Christmas had found its way through the winter.

"You're crazy, you know that, right?" Tamiko teased and Lord Sadako just ruffled the young Lycan's hair.

"Well, since you asked, I do know someone who might be crazier than me, running in the wee hours of the night without any security and skills," Lord Sadako said before they got engrossed in their banter.

By the time they finally took a break from teasing each other, it was mid-morning.

And they were hungry.

But back in Grealor, Igor had really left.