Raidou's thoughts crossed as somehow Kuromaru entered the picture and confused him completely. There were rumours about Inuzuka and their dogs, but he wasn't exactly interested in hearing them confirmed.

Not even if it would win him the latest betting pool. Some underneaths you just didn't need to see.

"But I don' think Kur'maru hurt you like I did," he said slowly, alcohol making him stubborn. Well, more stubborn. He wiped away the last line of crusted red under Tsume's chin and let his hand drop. She still wasn't clean, but it was the best he could do. "Still don' know why I did," he muttered unhappily. "Never thought I--" he grimaced and broke off, looking away. The urge to apologize again rose up, but he knocked it away. He'd done it once--twice now--and it hadn't made a difference.