Raidou eyed Kuromaru and tried to figure out exactly how much he weighed. "Oh goody," he muttered to himself. "Just when I was starting to think this mission was boring."

Still, there was a little good in it; the boy had finally said something. Raidou had been a little worried he'd been rendered completely mute by the shock of everything.

"Poor stupid doggie," he echoed, and swept the kid off the ground. The whisper of a laugh answered him. "Okay, bratlets--" Aoi gave him an offended glare. "--I've got to look after the mutt here, so you'll be riding with Little Boss. Play nice, don't hassle her, and I'll give you a cookie when we get home."

Aoi snorted softly. The boy simply dug a hand into Raidou's hair and clung.

Raidou quirked a slight smile at the little girl. "Cynic." He detached them both and handed them over to Tsume. Then he looked at Kuromaru.

Kuromaru with his teeth.

And uncomfortable frown creased Raidou's forehead. His fingers twitched with the urge to rub at the pin-prick bruises that lined his throat. With his arms full of dog, he'd have no way of protecting himself. Or anyone else.

He was on-edge enough to know just how catastrophic a bad trigger would be.

"Muzzle," he said finally. "I'll carry him. But you have to muzzle him first."