Sunshine and a Blue Castle Prince

Chapter 25: Wolf and Cat

The chaos feels different. The realization strikes Kenma as he and Osamu enter the marketplace for their date.

It took three days for them to adjust to the phantom bond and the thrice-cursed open thought channel, but now that they're in the marketplace, Kenma finds the effort and delay to be worth it.

"So where are we going?" Osamu asks.

"Hmmm." Kenma leans up against a wall while he thinks.

"I'm not sure. If I were alone, I would pick a role to fit the area or vice versa. Now.... This is a date. I don't know how to be on a date."

"I see. It ain't that hard. Just let me be yer doting wolf courtmate."

Kenma looks at Osamu from the corner of his eye.

He's enjoying this, isn't he? Kenma asks through the communal mind bond.

Akemi snickers. Definitely. Just make sure to keep your hair off your mate-mark. The Ookami tend to keep those visible as much as they can.

The Ookami really do prize that aspect of our society.

They do.

"We are taught to be proud of our mates. So we display our marks with the same pride," Osamu explains.

He reaches for Kenma's hair. "May I?

Kenma nods, turning so that the wolf can manipulate his hair easier.

It's so soft , Osamu comments, taking Kenma's hair in hand.

He weaves Kenma's hair into a braid that sweeps from his left ear to the opposite shoulder.

A nearly undetectable sense of possessiveness blooms in Osamu's chest as he brushes his fingers against the violet mark that covers the base of his mate's neck.

"That should do it. The wolf looks good on ya."

"Thank you, Samu."

Osamu twines his fingers with Kenma's smaller ones. "My pleasure. Do ya wanna eat first? We can go pester Obasan."

Osamu brings Kenma to a permanent establishment about thirty minutes from his apartment, tapping on the door despite the clear "closed" sign in the window.

"Samu? It says it's closed."

"Obasan doesn't usually--"

"I don't what, Osamu-kun?" A thin woman throws open the door, glaring at the gray haired mobster.

"I was gonna say, ya don't usually shoo me off when I decide to eat breakfast at yer place."

"Just get in here. I'll go put food in the oven."

Osamu smirks and pulls Kenma inside.

"She seems familiar with you."

"'Course she is. 'Tsumu and I have been comin' here fer longer than I can remember."

"Just put it like it is. I all but raised ya. Ya might as well sit down. Yer Light, at least, had the sense ta call ahead."

Osamu and Kenma seat themselves in a corner.

Kenma scans the room. In the daylight, the room's dark wood furniture, the bar on the room's back wall and the wrought metal hanging lights is unremarkable, no different than any one of a hundred working class restaurants in the marketplace alone. It's the kind of place, the blond figures, the locals come for dinner after long days at work, not the place tourists come for local cuisine.