The Warmth Of Red ||DISCONTINUED||

Chapter Eight

March 3rd- Thursday Morning

Izumo stood behind the bar cleaning a glass cup like usual as Mikoto sat at the bar drinking as he starred at nothing with a bored look. Anna and Tatara were sitting on the couch putting pictures they had taken in a big photo album.

"I wonder how Kara is doing? She hasn't been around in a week and hasn't answered her phone." Tatara thought out loud as he placed a picture of Karasu and himself in the album before writing a little message on the bottom.

"Have you tried going to her place?"

"I went yesterday and she didn't answer. It's really strange for her to go missing for this long."

"She must have a valid reason as to way she isn't here."

"Kara." Anna whispered when she saw one of her marbles glowed when the door opened showing a tired looking burnette.

"Where have you been?" Izumo asked. Karasu grumbled making her way to the empty couch, laying on it and the next thing they know she was softly snoring.

"She doesn't look good." Tatara said with a worried look as he kneels down beside the couch looking at her.

"I'm surprised she walked out her apartment like that. She dresses up before coming here." Izumo said. Karasu was simply wearing black sweats, a black muscle shirt with her hair in a messy bun and black and white sneakers.

"She's burning up." Tatara said when he placed his hand against her forehead. Karasu let out a sigh when she felt the cool feeling against her.

"That idiot. She came here sick." Izumo said.

"What do you want us to do, Mikoto? Want us to take her back home?" He looked at his amber eyed friend to see him looking at the sleeping brunette.

"Leave her here, I'll take her upstairs."

"Okay." Izumo gave his friend a knowing smile to which he returned with an annoyed grunt. Getting up from his seat at the bar he made his way to the sleeping woman, picking her up in his arms making his way to the staires.

"I'll be up there in a minute to check on her." Izumo said as Mikoto went upstairs with Anna right behind him.

Anna opened the door to Mikoto's bedroom for him, letting them walk into the room, Anna closed the door behind them. Mikoto laid Karasu on the bed, taking off her shoes placing them at the end of the bed before placing the covers over her. Karasu tiredly opened her eyes looking up at Mikoto before looking at Anna who quickly made her way to the bed.

Knock
Knock

The door opened revealing Izumo who had a glass of water in one hand and a little bottle in the other hand.

"What were you thinking coming here sick, huh? You're even more reckless than Tatara." Izumo scolded the girl who slightly smiled. Anna smiled sitting at the end of the bed, as for Mikoto he moved back leaning against the wall beside the window in his room lighting up the cigarette.

"You're such an idiot. Now sit up and drink this." Karasu slowly sat up as she held her head feeling a bit dizzy.

"Here, it'll help with the headache." Izumo placed two small orange pills in her hands which she placed in her mouth, swallowing them down with the glass of water Izumo gave her.

"Rest for now. I don't want you coming downstairs until you feel better." Karasu nodded her eyes starting to close but she quickly opened them. The action made Izumo chuckle shaking his head. He gently pushed her back down on the bed covering her back up. She fell asleep once her head laid on the pillow.

"Come now, Anna. Let's leave them alone." Anna looked up at Izumo, turning to Karasu before nodding looking back at Izumo.

"If she starts burning up just place a small wet towel on her forehead."

"Okay." Mikoto nodded at Izumo before he closed the bedroom door.

"Tsk." Mikoto clicked his tongue putting out his cigarette.

"Idiot." He starred at the brunette laying on his bed.

"... Lion..." Mikoto raised an eyebrow hearing her call him by his pet name. He sat down beside her, brushing her bangs aside. Karasu let out a deep sigh turning onto her side facing him, her hand grabbed onto his shirt.

Mikoto sighed, knowing full well she won't let go of him until she decides to turn the other way. Mikoto took off his shoes before getting under the covers laying on his back, his arms tucked behind his head as he looked at the ceiling. Karasu moved closer to the newly arrived heat next to her curling against it. Mikoto rolled his eyes with a smirk when Karasu wrapped her leg around his own, her arm laid across his stomach and her head laid on his chest.

"Shorty."

"Shut up, lion." Karasu mumbled in her sleep as she rubbed her head against Mikoto's chest. Mikoto chuckled as he closed his eyes.

*~*

"Don't they look cute together." Tatara smiled as he showed Izumo and the rest of HOMRA the pictures he just took of their King and their little raven.

"They won't be happy about this." Izumo said as he cleaned a wine glass.

"Karasu won't like this, not one bit." Saruhiko said once he looked at the pictures.

"Don't sweat it. Everything will work out in the end." Tatara said with a smile as he placed the pictures in the photo album as he wrote another message.

"How long have they been asleep?" Dewa asked from a table as he was playing cards with Kōsuke and Bando.

"About three hours or so."

"I can understand that the King likes to take long naps but Kara? She hardly sleeps here."

"She's sick."

"And she came here of all places?! She should've stayed at home!" Shōhei yelled. A teen boy with messy blond hair and blue eyes looked confused.

"Who is Karasu?"

"Ah, that's right, you haven't met Karasu yet." Izumo said.

"I guess you can say Karasu is apart of our family."

"She's a member?"

"No, she isn't. But if I had to guess, it's only a matter of time before she joins."

"I can't wait until that day comes." Tatara said.

"I wonder if she can fight?" Yata asked.

"We just have to see about that when the time comes, Yata."

"What's with all the noise? It's so loud." Karasu asked walking into the bar with a yawn.

"Ah, good to see that your finally up. How are you feeling?"

"A little bit better but I'm still sleepy." Karasu blinked when she saw the blond haired boy.

"You're new to HOMRA, huh? What's your name, kid?"

"E-Eric Sōlt... Y-your the Raven of the West..."

"Raven of the what?" Rikio asked.

"I haven't heard that name in such a long time. Your worked for the yakuza, right? That's the only way you could've heard that name." Karasu asked looking at the Eric who looked scared.

"You look so scared, don't you worry about me kid. I won't hurt you." Karasu smiled at him. Anna got off her running towards the brunette hugging her leg.

"Anna, I hope the boys have been good while the lion and I were sleeping." Anna nodded but smiled when Karasu ruffled her hair.

"Hey! We're always good!"

"Yeah, right. You couldn't behave even if you wanted too." Karasu rolled her eyes as she placed her hands on her hips.

"H-hey!" Karasu laughed as she put a blushing Yata in a headlock messing up his hair.

'Yakuza? What was Kara doing with those kind of people?' Izumo thought as he starred at the smiling brunette.