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[throughthelookingmax]

"Hey, looks like there's a town up ahead."

Reigen obviously saw it --- he was the one driving, so he saw just about everything. But Max wasn't sure that the others in the back had. She looked over the shoulder of her seat as she said it, making sure that her voice wasn't drowned out by the sound of the 80s citypop CD they acquired at the last town they ran into.

Max turned back around and squinted her eyes, trying her best to filter out the rays of blinding light that seemed to reflect off of everything.

"I think it might be near a beach, too," she said. "That looks like a seagull, right?" Max pointed at the figure of a bird flying overhead.

Comments

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

“Just checking on you.”

[aoihitomi]

"Oh," Hitomi breathed. "I'm just a little sad that we might be leaving Doppio behind. But I should be happy, right?"

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

“Hey, I’m sad too. Right as I got him to perfect my special onigiri yaki-onigiri technique! Who else is gonna make a dozen of those things upon request?”

[aoihitomi]

That was enough to set off the waterworks for Hitomi, who tried to brush away the tears as fast as they came. It was no use.

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

‘Ah, jeez.’

The road was narrow and the priest drove his truck in no particular hurry. Reigen took one hand off the wheel to gently pet Hitomi’s hair.

[throughthelookingmax]

What was she supposed to say in a situation like this? It wasn't like Max could just tell her they could keep in touch via email. They weren't even sure if they'd be able to come back here to visit. For all they knew, some chasm would open up behind them and puke up some other big section of the galaxy, stopping them from going back the same way they came.

Max knew that from experience.

But still, Hitomi had something that most people didn't. So maybe they couldn't Google Maps their way back here, but they did have their own way of getting back. Even if it was really long and not always convenient.

"You're right, this is where Doppio belongs. But this doesn't mean it's goodbye forever. We can always use your pendant to get back here. And even if there's a chance we can't... we should really try to enjoy the time we got with him."

Hitomi peeled her hands away from her eyes just long enough to look up at Max's.

"Doppio definitely wouldn't want to see you crying right now."

[aoihitomi]

"You're right. Thank you... both of you."

Hitomi brushed away what she hoped would be the last of her tears.

"I don't want Doppio to be worried our last days together."

[espresso_doppio]

Doppio bounced slightly with every bump the truck ran over. It made him nauseous in the van, but somehow he felt fine being in the wide open air in the truck bed. Better than fine. The sharp air of the coast flowing through his air mingled with the warm sun on his skin. It wasn’t just familiar, it was nostalgic.

When he leaned his head back, he suddenly felt something wet and slimy on his cheek. He shrieked and fell onto his side—and when he looked where his head had just been, he saw a giant fluffy white dog’s head sticking out of the rear window to watch over the two humans in the back.

“Meet Vento,” Father Serra laughed from the front. “He’s a Maremma Sheepdog. The shepherds said he was no good since he bonded with his humans instead of the flock, so I took him in a few months ago.”

“Vento?” Doppio spoke his name as he sat back up, attracting the big boy’s attention. He carefully pressed a hand to his snout, giving it a little rub.

[princechid]

"A sheepdog..." Chid said in a mixture of awe and surprise. He had seen plenty of creatures since being whisked away from Freid, but those were mostly Pokémon. He had never seen a dog like this, that reminded him so much of a Beastman who visited the palace when he was even younger than he was now.

Chid raised a tentative hand to touch the dog's neck and after a moment of hesitance, let his hand run over the dog's long fur.

"Did you have a dog growing up, Doppio?"

[espresso_doppio]

Vento lowered his large head a little more for Chid to reach. Doppio was sure he was at least two times the boy’s size.

‘Did I?’ It didn’t stir any memories, but it definitely stirred a feeling of longing.

“Oh, no, though Doppio certainly spent a lot of energy pleading for one when he was about your size. Most of the animals around here are working, though.” The priest took a hand off the wheel to give the big dog’s side a friendly pat. “That what makes a Vento special soul. A big cuddly layabout, he is.”

[princechid]

"My father was not fond of animals, so I never had a pet of my own." Chid tried to hide his disappointment, but it still somehow showed. "But I learned to ride a horse when I was really young."

[espresso_doppio]

"Chid is the prince of a country called Freid," Doppio supplied.

"Is that so? You must be quite a long way from home, Chid." Father Serra glanced at the boys in the back from the rear view window. "All throughout history, Sardinians and horses have been working together hand in glove. After dinner, I can take you to see the pastures if you'd like."

[princechid]

"Really? I'd like that!" Chid continued to pet the dog. "Doppio, you'll come too, right?"

[espresso_doppio]

Doppio nodded, watching the way Vento flicked out his tongue to lick at Chid's hand. Even his tongue nearly as wide as the boy's hand. Sometimes he forgot how young Chid was - he spoke with so much poise and gravitas. Even if he couldn't remember everything yet, Doppio was sure he was nothing like him as a child.

"I don't know how to ride horses, though. You'll have to teach me."

[princechid]

"Doppio hasn't ridden a horse before?" Chid asked Doppio's father. He had to confirm the facts.

[espresso_doppio]

"Well...the first time he got up close to one, he got a little overwhelmed and never tried again."

Doppio winced. "...Not even once? Are you sure?"

"Well, there's no time like the present to try again, isn't that right?"

[princechid]

Chid nodded solemnly, as if taking this as seriously as an oath. "I will show you what you need to do. I'm sure you can do it this time!"

[espresso_doppio]

"R-right!" Doppio cleared his throat. There was absolutely no way in hell he was going to look bad in front of Chid.

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

"...What do you think they're talking about?" Even as they slowly rolled into the charming sun-warmed village, Doppio was making so many dramatic faces that Reigen couldn't help but comment on it.

[throughthelookingmax]

"Think he might be remembering a few things?"

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

Reigen hummed. It certainly seemed so to him.

"...Wait, if we're going to his childhood home...doesn't that mean...baby pictures?"

[throughthelookingmax]

Hitomi peeked up from the back at that. Max just grinned.

"You looking forward to seeing baby Doppio?" she asked Reigen.

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

"Oh don't act like you aren't. If this is gonna be my last few days with my strange little friend I'm gonna milk it for everything it's worth. I'm gonna get the stories about him you'd only hear at his wedding."

[aoihitomi]

"I wonder if there are any pictures of his family. I'm sure his mom was very pretty. I wonder if they shared the same hair."

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

Given how easily Doppio passed as a girl, Reigen had a hard time imagining he didn't take after her.

"Hm...if Father Serra took him in as a baby, did that mean there was no one left to do it?"