War of Love - Mikototsu (ch.4)

Chapter 3

Art by: 7イヌ on Pixiv

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The first day es and Totsuka texts Mikoto, showing his concern for his well-being. No response. Tatara couldn't help but panic at the thought he did something wrong, despite nothing coming to mind as to what he could have possibly done that could've upset the other.

The second day es and Totsuka would text him again, asking if he did do something wrong. Again, no response.

Then a third day arrives and Totsuka felt tempted to go over to Mikoto's house, his worry overwhelming him. Until his phone buzzes, a text from Mikoto saying one word: 'Sorry'. Once he receives the text, he's quick to call Mikoto and Mikoto was quick to answer him. "Mikoto?! Are you o-"

"I'm fine." Mikoto would say, sounding exhausted over the phone. "Just... come over and I'll explain, or something. Or not, it doesn't matter."

Totsuka scoffs at the dismissive attitude Mikoto seemed to have about it. "Of course it matters, I'm coming over right now, and I'll bring some soup or something!" He gives his farewell before hanging up, grabbing whatever he could that would make a soothing meal for Mikoto. Hopefully he'd explain the claws, and the teeth, and the eyes, and the... well, everything. He wondered if Mikoto was a vampire trying to stay away from human blood, or... a werewolf, considering all the meat he had in stock. Supernatural creatures were rather common in this world but if they were to commit a crime, their punishment would be much harsher than the jail time humans would receive, being downright slaughtered as a permanent consequence, thanks to the hunters in this world. But Totsuka had quite the fascination with these creatures, always having written about them in his novels, always wishing he could meet one himself -- or, at least one that he was aware was a different species from him.

Once he rushes to Mikoto's apartment, he pauses at the marks that were patched up, having new white paste-looking stuff covering over it. As soon as he knocks on the door, it swings open and a young man slightly shorter than he was standing there and raised an eyebrow at the sight of Totsuka. "Who the hell are you?"

"I'm... here for Mikoto." The guy before him blinks for a moment, staring at him before it processes, and he grins.

"So you're the new treat!" His grin shows off his rather sharp canines before he's pushed out of the way and Mikoto appears in front of him, dark bags under his eyes as if he hadn't slept in days.

Mikoto closes the door behind him before turning to Totsuka.

"Who was that?" Totsuka would ask, tilting his head.

"A..." Mikoto pauses, thinking of how to respond to the other. "Friend. I have some friends over." He rubs the back of his neck as he averts his gaze away from Tatara. "Look, I can't tell you what happened, but it has nothing to do with y-"

"Werewolf."

Mikoto freezes and by the look on his face, Totsuka knew he hit the nail on the head. "...What did you say?"

"You're a werewolf, aren't you?" Mikoto now stares at him with wide eyes, and Totsuka just smiles in response. "I mean, it's not like it matters or anything."

"You're not bothered by it." Mikoto manages to say, perplexed by Totsuka's uncaring reaction.

"I have a 'weird fascination' with werewolves, ?" Totsuka would joke and look up at Mikoto, standing there for a moment before leaning forward to hug him. "Just... don't push me away like that again, okay? Please. You really worried me." He tightens his hold around Mikoto's waist and closes his eyes. "I care about you and I don't want you to have to go through it alone, whatever that was." Mikoto sighs, placing his hand on the back of Totsuka's head, beginning to slip his free arm around him to hug him back until the door opens again.

"So, this is the new boyfriend?" Mikoto jolts and turns to glare back at his best friend, Izumo Kusanagi. Despite his glare, Mikoto huffs and pulls away from Totsuka, a bit flustered and Izumo smirks.

"Shut up or I'll kick you out."

"W-wait, boyfriend?" Totsuka's time to blush arrives and he nearly pulled his hoodie over his face to hide within it.

"Don't mind him, he's just. Something else." Mikoto grumbles as he pulls Totsuka inside.

"Wait-- I brought food for you."

"Ah?"

"Yea- I made sure to bring some meat too, although most of it's fish. I'm not sure if you're into fish though." He'd pull out the ingredients to the soup he was planning on making for the other. "I'd still have to make it though." As Totsuka was looking down at the ingredients he pulled from his bag, Mikoto would grab his arm and pull him into his room -- Away from the others before he just tosses him onto his bed. "Ah-- M-Mikoto?" Mikoto slumps beside him and drapes his arm over him, halfway leaning on him as he relaxes to rest. Mikoto's arm was wrapped around his shoulders and Totsuka looks at him, seeing the werewolf's eyes closed and smiles. "Did you invite me over just so you can have a nap buddy?"

Mikoto leans closer and seems as if he's moving in to nuzzle Totsuka. "Be quiet."

Tatara sets the hand Mikoto wasn't leaning on on top of the other's back. "Are your friends out there.. Also werewolves?"

"...They're my pack." Mikoto grumbles his response.

"Oh. What kind of pack is it-"

"You talk too much." Mikoto growls before adjusting their position so they're faced towards eachother and he has Totsuka pulled against him, lazily holding him as he nestles into his pillow. Mentally, Totsuka would question why Mikoto was cuddling him like this, as if they were established lovers, but he wasn't complaining. He'd love to call Mikoto his boyfriend but he doubted the other would ever feel the same way. So he accepted the way the other held him, curling against him and falling asleep in his arms as they would both drift away into a nap.