And Koromaru was his Namaeru (Rei no Kaado)

[mugenginga]

(OOC: *beats up the Japanese language for a thread title*)

Koromaru hadn't seemed to care much about not knowing where he was going, likely because he was reading Minato's body language. It had taken a pretty swift jog of a few minutes before the group had gotten back together. Koromaru had ended up on Minato's left while Ryoji walked on his right. There was still tension there, but Ryoji seemed to have relaxed. He was in fact quite glad someone from their original world had shown up. In a way, he blamed himself for Minato being pulled from his friends. He tried not to show it. He failed.

* "Alexandria? I was there once, but it's been years." *

None of the three would understand the language, and it would be pretty unlike anything the three of them had ever heard. It sure as hell wasn't Japanese or English, not by a long shot. As the group came closer to the apartments they would see a blond man talking to Adil, whose position marked him as having just come out of the Apartments. The conversation seemed friendly, at least.

Adil laughed, * "Years? So you were there when you were a kid?" *

Haytham gave a knowing smile, almost as if there was a joke. The body language indicated the source wasn't Adil. He shook his head, * "You misunderstand. You're planning on going to college for law, correct?"

Adil blinked in surprise, * "Did... I don't think I mentioned that..." *

That slight smile flashed again. Before he could reply, he seemed to notice the presence of Minato's group. He turned his head and looked back at Adil, * "I apologize, but I have to go. I'll see you later." *

Adil just looked confused as Haytham walked passed him. He looked towards where Minato and the others were standing. He seemed puzzled and looked back at Haytham. He was pretty sure the guy was messing with his head, but damned if he could figure out why. It didn't seem to be malicious... he shook his head and lifted a hand towards the group.

- "Hello. You're Minato-kun, right?" - Haytham asked in English, the honorific coming out a bit forced.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Minato had a bit of a softer expression on his face as Koromaru walked beside him. Softer, and a bit sorrowful, too. Koromaru had slowed down. Minato knew Ryoji didn't notice it, but Minato had taken that dog out on enough walks he knew his usual energy level, and this wasn't it. There was a bit more pain at that, actually. He should have been there to see this dog age. He wondered how SEES was now. Had Aigis been shut down? Did Mitsuru really take over the Kirijo Group? Did they not let Junpei graduate 'cause his grades were so bad? Had they ever gotten over his death?

Minato hadn't really paid attention to the two men coming out of the apartments. In fact, the only reason he'd looked toward them was because he realized they were looking at him and Ryoji too. And then Adil spoke to him in English. It took a moment for Minato to process that he'd been spoken to in English, and it took him another moment to stumble through an answer.

- "Oh, ah... right! You're from the Angel Mort." - Minato replied. - "Adil, right?" -

Koromaru was cautiously watching Haytham, and he gave a bit of a low growl. He could sense something not quite right about him. The general presence he had about him was not unlike that the Naganaki Shrine had.

[mugenginga]

Haytham didn't stop his exit at Koromaru's growl. He didn't even seem to notice it. Frankly, there was no indication from the man that he'd known what Koromaru meant. Adil had blinked at Koromaru's growl and looked at Haytham again. The man didn't seem aggressive, but he tended to trust the judgment of canines. After Haytham left he turned back towards Minato and gave a quick nod.

- "Did Anzu-chan tell you about me? Oh, and you're... Ryoji-kun, right?" - Adil took a step forward as Ryoji nodded, crouching down and scratching behind Koromaru's left ear. Given the fact Koromaru had been growling a moment earlier, it showed rather the trust of dogs. He looked up at Minato and gave a smile, - "Anzu-chan didn't say you had a dog. I've always liked dogs, they're better judges of people than most humans are." -

- "Here for Anzu, then?" - Ryoji asked, his English showing to be roughly the same level as Minato's.

Adil didn't get back up, but he turned towards Ryoji and nodded, - "Yeah, but I think she's got the wrong idea. She's trying to fill some kind of hole, I'm just not sure what. -

He looked embarassed, - "I don't think she actually likes me, but I wouldn't feel right just cutting things off." -

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Koromaru gave a whine of pleasure as Adil scratched him behind his ears. Now that was the spot. He wasn't sure how, but humans were always ever to scratch that one spot he never could.

- "We just got him today," - Minato said. He found himself agreeing with Adil's comment about dogs being better judges of people than humans. Koromaru was smart enough Minato tended to trust his judgment on everything except TV shows. He looked down at Koromaru. "Koromaru, say hi!"

Koromaru gave a bark. - "His name is Koromaru." -

Minato frowned as Adil brought up Anzu. So he'd noticed it too. - "She had a guy she liked for long time reject her on Christmas Day." -

He put a hand in front of his mouth like he was thinking about something. - "It is not right to lead her on, either... perhaps break it to her slowly?" -

[mugenginga]

Adil was finally pushing himself up after Koromaru introduced himself. He looked towards Minato as he explained the situation and he looked puzzled for a moment. He seemed to be thinking about something and one could see him realize something. Right, the other day, and apparently Japan used the more common day for it. Once the few seconds of processing passed he looked a little upset.

- "What kind of jerk would do that?! I mean, I don't know how Japan celebrates it, but it's a holiday! You should never dump a girl on a holiday!" -

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Minato said nothing as Adil ranted, only giving a frown as he went on.

- "He was already involved with someone else when she approached him," - Minato said, deciding to defend Yuugi without actually directly mentioning him. - "It wasn't like he could just drop things there." -

[mugenginga]

Adil's expression had become even more irritated as he spoke. However, he gave Minato a rather hard stare as he spoke. He seemed rather focused, and Ryoji blinked at it. It hit Ryoji the man was reading Minato past his words, especially once Adil's shoulders relaxed. He looked towards the apartments.

- "It's one of your friends from the apartments then?" - He let out a sigh, - "I can't fault you for defending a friend. I'm just worried about how she will react. The interest is there on my end, but I don't want to take advantage of her feelings. -

He looked back at Minato, - "I don't think it will do her harm if I help her through it. I don't want anyone taking advantage of her." -

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Minato nodded at what Adil was saying, convienently forgetting the fact that he'd technically tried to take advantage of her the day before, however jokingly it was.

- "That may be good plan of action to take," - Minato said. - "I think she needs someone not from the apartments to help her through this. Anyone here would remind her of who rejected her." -

[mugenginga]

Adil gave a smile. Minato really did seem concerned about her. He nodded.

- "I was actually just finishing from dropping her off when that blond fellow approached me and asked if I was from Egypt." - Adil frowned, - "You know, I'm usually a really good judge of people, but damned if I could figure out his exact motivations for talking to me? He seems to think we'll run into each other again. You wouldn't know him, would you?"

There likely wouldn't be a chance to respond because of something Koromaru would notice. In the thin space between apartment buildings, something seemed to be watching them. As soon as Koromaru tried to find out what it was, it would vanish before he could reach it. Or anyone else if Koromaru chose to simply alert the group. Nor would any careful angle allow it to be seen...

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Minato shook his head. - "I thought that you would know who he wa--" -

He didn't get a chance to finish. Just as he'd said that, Koromaru had broke off into a run toward the space between apartment buildings. The dog was barking rather loudly, and the speed he'd run off at meant Minato didn't have a chance at stopping him.

"Wha? Hey, Koromaru!" Minato yelled. He ran after the dog, leaving Ryoji and Adil behind rather quickly.

Koromaru stopped at the space between buildings. He seemed to still be growling at it, but he couldn't sense what had been watching them in there anymore. Whatever it was had disappeared.

[mugenginga]

Adil and Ryoji both jerked in surprise as Koromaru dashed off. They exchanged a quick look before both running after Minato and Koromaru, Ryoji starting just a bit earlier and therefore arriving just before Adil. It had been a short sprint, so neither of them were out of breath. Adil looked around when he noticed Koromaru was still growling.

"Minato, what happened?" Ryoji asked.

- "No one could have vanished that quickly, right?" -

Adil wasn't questioning that Koromaru had sensed something in the least. It was just that... nothing was there. Adil was scanning the area and not seeing anything. Ryoji was focused entirely on Minato.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Koromaru continued growling. He knew he'd sensed something there, but he could not sense it anymore. That only meant something supernatural had been watching them.

"I'm not sure. Koromaru just ran off over here," Minato said.

He turned toward Adil as he brought up his point. - "I cannot think of anyone--" -

Except he could. He'd seen a demon do that once before... Or rather, Souji had said a demon had done that once before. Either way, the experience had ended badly for Minato, but one thing he could remember that the demon had just... vanished. A few painful memories fell into place and he put a hand on his head. Yeah, he... didn't like thinking about that.

[mugenginga]

Ryoji looked down at Koromaru. The dog had never been reckless, better behaved and trained than any other he'd ever seen. Smarter too. So something had been over here, and with Adil there he didn't want to venture too many guesses. No need to involve someone normal into the group.

Adil had opened his mouth to ask another question when Minato had winced and grabbed his head. He looked concerned and took a step forward to check on Minato before finding Ryoji cutting him off and giving Minato a far more concerned look. He blinked in surprise at how fast Ryoji had moved.

"Minato! Are you okay?"

Adil looked down at Koromaru, - "Was it a ghost?" -

Which had the indirect meaning of Adil believing in that sort of thing. As it was quite the honest question.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Koromaru gave a bark. A yes, then. It hadn't felt like any other ghosts he'd sensed before. Somehow it had felt different.

Minato lowered his hand and turned toward Ryoji, a bit surprised at how fast Ryoji had moved himself. "I'm fine, don't worry."

He looked toward Adil. "I think I have an idea what it was, but I can't say it with him here." Actually, he probably could, what with Adil not understanding Japanese, but he didn't want to chance Adil catching on.

[mugenginga]

(OOC: Just clearing this up. Yes, Koromaru can understand English. No, Adil didn't know that. He just got lucky. XD)

Ryoji frowned, worry plastered over his face. He stepped towards Koromaru, squeezing past Minato due to how narrow the space was and looking around behind him. Whatever it was, it was gone now. He looked back at Minato as he addressed him in Japanese, noticing Minato's less than subtle glance towards Adil. Adil seemed confused for a moment and then gave a smile and a perhaps surprising reaction.

- "I was heading out when we got into our discussion. I should get going. If it turns out to be a ghost, could I ask for information if its not a problem later?" - He gave a bit of an embarassed chuckle, - "I'm kind of into that kind of thing. My parents said it was a wonder I didn't keep a collection of skulls as a kid. I'll see you later, okay?" -

Adil didn't really wait for a response. He stepped back, being the only one fully out of the alley, and turned to go. He'd stop if they stopped him, but he'd gotten the impression that something very important was going on. Something they didn't want to involve him in, probably, and not for bad reasons. These people seemed good enough, after all.