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“What are you guys doing here?” Joe asked, emerging from the kitchen. Reki, Langa, Miya, Shadow, and Cherry had just walked through the doors.
Cherry walked over to Joe, and put his hand on his shoulder. A solemn look came over his face. “Kojiro. I know you’re working, but there is something that needs your attention.”
“Did Miya drop his shoe in the river again?” Joe asked, giggling. He expected at least some sort of response from Miya, or from anyone else, but they all just stood there. No one said a word.
“Guys? What’s going on?”
Reki stepped forward. “I saw something… disturbing today.”
Joe looked at him expectantly. Reki hid his face in his hands.
Langa jumped in. “He saw Adam and Snake.”
Joe raised his eyebrow. “And… what’s disturbing about that? I know Adam’s creepy but his existence doesn’t warrant this much upset.”
“It’s what they were doing.” Miya added.
More silence.
Joe waited.
“Adam… had Snake on a leash. Walking him like a dog.” Shadow finally explained.
“Oh.” Was all Joe had to say. “Oh.”
“He called him a ‘good boy’.” Reki said.
“And WHY does this need MY attention?” Joe asked, incredulous.
“We need to save Snake. Take him away from Adam.” Reki said, determination on his face.
“Why. Why would we help him.”
“Any man at that low of a point needs our help. It’s the brotherly thing to do.” Shadow explained.
“Please?” Miya gave him his best pleading look.
Joe didn’t budge.
“Please, Kojiro. We’re begging you.” Cherry said, looking him in the eyes.
“Beg harder.” Joe joked, smirking at Cherry.
“Not in front of the kids, Kojiro, god damn it.”
Joe looked thoughtful for a moment. “Alright. I’ll help him. Let’s go.”
“Yes!” They all exclaimed.
And with that, they headed out of the restaurant and piled into Shadow’s van.
…
“You boys didn’t say ANYTHING about breaking into Adam’s mansion.” Cherry crossed his arms.
“Oh. I guess we forgot to mention it.” Miya shrugged.
“Lighten up Kaoru. It’s not a crime to break and enter.” Joe chuckled, his feet up on the dash.
“That is a textbook example of a crime, you dimwit.” Cherry huffed.
Joe ignored him. “How do you guys even know where Adam lives?” He asked.
“I followed him home one time.” Miya answered nonchalantly, not looking up from his game.
“Miya! You can’t do that!” Cherry exclaimed.
“I do what I want, old man.” Miya replied, smirking. Cherry looked like his head was gonna explode.
“All of you, stop fighting. We need to come up with a plan.” Reki interjected.
“Why would we need a plan? It can’t be any more difficult than break a window, find Tadashi, grab him, and run.” Miya said.
“If we break a window, Adam’s gonna know we were there.” Reki argued. “We gotta be sneaky.”
“Sneaky.” Langa repeated for emphasis.
“Ok. Then what do you suggest our plan be?” Miya asked him.
Reki was quick to reply. “I bought a masterkey a while back. We’ll just open the door and go in.”
“How will all of us go in and be unnoticed?” Cherry asked.
“Hmm… maybe two of us should go in and the rest can wait in the van? Or maybe be lookout.” Reki replied.
“Let me guess. You think you and Langa should get to go in.” Miya accused.
“What, I, what? I wouldn’t… but...” Reki sputtered, his face bright red.
“It’s ok. You two can go. We all know you’re in love with Langa or whatever.” Miya teased, elbowing Reki in the side.
“Wait, Reki, you love me?” Langa asked.
“Shut up, Miya!” Reki yelled.
Langa stared at him, mouth open slightly.
“Alright kids, we’re here!” Shadow exclaimed, completely ignoring what was happening behind him. He parked down the street just a tad from Adam’s mansion.
Joe gave them a serious look. “Hey. Reki, Langa. You two be careful in there.”
“We will.” Reki nodded.
Reki and Langa slid out of Shadow’s van and began their way towards the mansion. The sun was just slipping below the trees, making it easy to go unnoticed in the dusky neighborhood.
They crept up the treeline, staying low and moving quickly. Once they got up to the front door, Reki pulled out his key. He slid it into the hole, and turned it slowly.
The door opened.
“Yes!” Reki exclaimed under his breath. He fistbumped Langa.
Once inside the house, they surveyed their surroundings. Each room was decorated in a way that made them feel as though every item could be broken with a single breath. After looking for a few minutes, they decided that no one appeared to be in the lower-level of the house. They would have to look for Tadashi on the second floor.
They climbed the huge stone staircase, careful not to make noise with their steps. Once they reached the top, they saw that there were two hallways, each with several rooms that had to be searched.
“This is gonna take forever.” Reki whispered, annoyed.
“Reki, look!” Langa pointed to a door that was down the hallway on the right side. Hanging off a hook on the door was a plaque shaped like a bone. They walked up to the door, and saw that the plaque read ‘Tadashi’.
“That must be Snake’s real name! This has to be it! Good eyes, Langa!”
Reki turned the knob slowly, not making a single noise. They stepped into the room.
“Oh-” Reki started to exclaim, but Langa slapped his hand over his mouth.
In front of them was a dog cage, sitting on the floor.
Tadashi was curled into a ball, sleeping peacefully, pink rubber ball in his mouth.
Reki and Langa just stared at the sight, mouths open.
“I’m gonna wake him up.” Reki said, kneeling beside the cage.
“Are you sure that’s a goo-”
Langa was interrupted by Reki’s inability to make smart decisions. “Hey there,” Reki shook his shoulders through the bars of the cage. “Tadashi? Is that your name?”
After a moment, Tadashi stirred, eyes fluttering open.
“Ah! Wha-”
“Shhhhh. Nothing to worry about buddy.” Reki silenced him.
Tadashi sat up. “Snow? Red-head? What are you doing in my room?”
“I’m Reki. This is Langa. We’re here to rescue you.” Reki introduced them.
“From… what exactly?” Tadashi asked, clearly confused.
“From Adam! From being his dog!” Reki exclaimed like it was obvious.
“Why would I want to be rescued from that?” Tadashi asked, even more confused.
“You mean… you like this? Sleeping in a cage?”
Tadashi blushed, then looked away, ashamed. “Yes.”
“Man, what the fuck?” Reki put his face in hands. “This is not healthy for you.”
“But Adam is such a good owner!” Tadashi tried to argue. “He always takes me on walks and rubs behind my ears!”
Now it was Langa’s turn. “Man, what the fuck?”
“Langa did you just swear!?!?!?” Reki stared at him.
“It was warranted.”
Reki moved his gaze back to Tadashi. “Listen. We’re getting you out of here whether you like it or not. So are you gonna go on your own accord or are we gonna have to use force?”
“A scrawny kid like you couldn’t move me an inch.” Tadashi smirked.
“You're right about that. But I know someone who could move you. Langa?”
Langa pulled out his phone and called Joe.
In less than a minute Joe came through the doorway.
“Hey there, Tadashi! Long time no see! Do you prefer to be carried like a bride or like a sack of potatoes?” Joe asked, opening the cage.
Tadashi barked at him.
“Alrighty then. I’ll take that as a ‘I want to be carried upside down by my ankles’.”
Tadashi growled through his teeth, but let Joe pick him up with little resistance.
“Back to the van!” Reki ordered. And with that, the four of them left the mansion.
“You wanna go for a ride, boy?” Joe asked, carrying Tadashi down the driveway. “Huh? Huh? You wanna sit on my lap and stick your head out the window?”
Tadashi panted happily. “Yes!”
“Joe. Please. Don’t encourage him.” Reki gave him a disappointed mother type of look.
They reached the van, and Reki and Langa climbed into the back. Joe got into the passenger seat, and keeping his promise, let Tadashi sit on his lap.
“Hey there, Tadashi…” Miya greeted him shyly.
Cherry shook his head at Miya. “Please don’t interact with him.”
Miya went back to his game.
“So… where are we going now?” Shadow asked.
“The restaurant.” Joe answered. “We have a lot of work ahead of us.”
“Tadashi? Welcome back to the human world!” Reki cried out.
And with that, they drove off into the night.