Knock them out? Raidou suggested. That's pretty surefire. He wasn't too sure about leaving the children with Kuromaru. The crunch of breaking neckbones was still playing a dull chord in the back of his mind. But the dog's argument to kill the child had been rational...


He glanced left at the giant hound, and at the crying girl half buried in his fur. Kuromaru seemed tense, but they were all tense. He'd made no move to hurt anyone else, unless you counted standing on them.

Raidou nodded once, and flicked, Kuromaru. Then, making sure the dog could see, he added, Eat any of them and I'll skin you raw.

Aoi gave him a curious look. "What does that mean?" She pointed at his hand. "The sign thing?"

"I'm talking to my... friend," he said, only hesitating a moment. "We're deciding what to do."

Her eyes widened. "You know what to do! You promised!"

Raidou dropped his arm around her again. "Easy," he murmured. "I won't let you down."

She still looked suspicious. He glanced over her head at Tsume and raised an eyebrow. With both hands occupied by children, he simply said, "Awake or not?"