Some things you couldn't quite believe you'd heard. "He put his back out?" Raidou echoed blankly. "He's a ninja. How can he put his back out by walking?"

It was a little like hearing Arakaki had faceplanted carrying his shopping home. Some things just didn't happen.

But this one had--that snap at Tsume's face had been nothing but real. Raidou sighed and did a mental reshuffle, working out how they'd get home now. Someone needed to have free hands--or paws--to protect everyone, and it obviously couldn't be Kuromaru. Or whoever ended up carrying the kids.

Raidou eyed the panting dog and grimaced. "Can he walk?" No, wait. He shook his head and addressed Kuromaru directly. Dogs and summons that could speak, you treated like a person. Even if they did get snappy in the night. "Can you walk?"