Ch4. Eyes on the Prize

Everyone looked at the duo, more specifically the little boy as he stood in front of the white haired teen.

"No! I won't let anyone hurt my brother! Hmph!" Haru puffed out his cheeks and gave Bete a super serious look.

Look what you did Bete! You upset the kid." Gareth was the first to speak up and step between Bete and the two kids.

"Let's just let it slid today and get you home to cool down." Gareth raised both hands and walked towards the agitated Bete.

"Bu-but I wanted to talk to him more…" Betes ears lowered as his tail stopped swishing back and forth making Haru sad until he got a great idea.

"Um, mister Bete? I'm kinda tired and was wondering if you could give me a piggyback ride as we head to the guild? We can talk as much as you want along the way!" Haru smiled wide as he skipped up to Bete and grabbed both of his hands.

Betes tail began to swish rapidly as he looked over at Loki pleadingly.

"Fine, Finn has paperwork to do anyways back at the manor…" Loki hoped that Bete truly knew the kid, because if he did it would be much easier for him to sucker the kid into joining the Familia… then Loki can cudd-ahem watch over the little cutie.

"Well what are we waiting for?" Bete immediately knelt down and waited for Haru to hop aboard.

He wanted to ask so many questions, Bete thought he had lost everyone…but here was the youngest of his brothers alive and well, suffering from amnesia, but alive and well nonetheless. It was a good day as he set out with Haru on his back while Ais and Lefiya trailed behind with the white haired kid.

.

.

.

Said white haired kid kept a weary eye on Bete the whole time they made their way to the guild, after all Bell and the others had found Haru abandoned in the middle of nowhere.

Bell knows that family don't do that to one another, therefore 20 minutes later he plucked up the courage to interrupt the talkative wolf man.

"Bete was it? Um do you know why Haru was in the middle of nowhere when we found him?" Bell flinched as both Bete and the two beautiful girls all turned to look at him with questioning and bewildered looks.

"Middle of nowhere?" Bete looked back at Haru who hid his face.

"Mmn, I and two others were on our way here when we found Haru on the side of the road." Bell notice the man named Betes face grow cold as he got lost deep in thought.

"Do you know how you ended up in the middle of nowhere Haru?" Bete eventually broke the awkward silence and asked Haru.

At this moment Haru felt guilty, he had to lie. Unlike the kind old carriage driver Bete would ask more questions. There was no way he could tell them the truth, it was way too far reaching.

"N-no I don't remember much of anything, I woke up in a large field and just picked a direction to travel, I could only really remember my name and basic stuff." Haru closed his eyes and waited for Jesus to punish him, the sisters always said Jesus would punish those who lied…

However after a few moments of no smiting, Haru peeked open one eye and looked around cautiously before letting out a small breath….he's safe for now, Jesus must have been okay with that lie.

"I'm gonna find whoever left you out there, whoever destroyed our family, and I'm going to kill them with my bare hands." Bete grit his teeth and let out his seething thoughts for everyone to hear.

Haru never noticed Bell, Ais and Lefiya all nod their heads in agreement.

But..

Haru noticed Bete shaking and decided on one more lie…

Wrapping his arms around Bete, Haru snuggled his face into the Beastkins back.

If this lie could help, then it was worth being struck down.

"It's ok big brother Bete, I might not remember my past, but I forgive you and I'm back now. So you don't have too be mad anymore, your not alone!" This had an adverse effect on Bete.

Almost like years of pain were lifted from his shoulders, his eyes stung and tears began to fall.

He thought he had failed them all, but he hadn't…he still had Haru and he wouldn't let his guard drop this time.

He made a solemn vow in his heart at that very moment to never let anyone harm his last surviving family member, or to not survive if they did…

"We're here." Ais spoke up lifting the heavy yet happy atmosphere causing Bete to click his tongue at Ais inability to read a situation out of combat.

"I'll go with Haru to register, we'll be back in a moment." Bell waited for a reluctant Bete to let Haru down.

Both walked into the guild upon curious gazes, both male and female alike kept their eyes on the due as they walked up to an available counter.

"Hello and good day, my names Bell, I was wondering if I could register to become an adve—" Bell was cut off by a tired sigh.

"This counter is for registered adventurers only, I don't have the ti-" Rose Fannet loved her job at one point, but years of watching people she always came to care about die made her despise adventurers.

When she heard the voice speak about becoming one she got annoyed until she looked up, and a horrible furry took over her mind.

"Absolutely F*cking Not!" Roses sudden outburst caused everyone in the building and walking past it to come to a halt.

'Ohhhh she said a bad word…wait I've said a bad word before…never mind continue pretty wolf lady.' Haru was completely oblivious to the seething Rose.

"Uhhh, sorry?" Bell was told by his grandfather that if a woman was ever mad and you had no idea why, to just apologize and back away slowly.

"Get back here now!" Rose noticed the white haired teen start to back away and this made her even more angry.

"What's wrong with you? Why do you want to be an adventurer so bad? You willingly to die down there for a handful of Valis?" Rose kept yelling causing both Haru and Bell to lower their heads.

'Why am I being yelled at too? I didn't even want to go into that stupid dungeon.' Haru kept his thoughts to himself and occasionally peeked up at the scary and very angry wolf girl.

After a solid ten minutes, Rose had run out of steam and Haru decided to speak up.

"Umm sorry but only my big brother wants to register and he only wants to go into the dungeon when he gets into a familia…" Haru noticed the wolf girl sweat drop upon realizing she went on a tangent before the two before her finish talking.

"My point still stands." Rose however, woke up today and chose to be particularly stubborn.

"ROSE! THE HELLS YOUR DEAL!" Betes voice rang out in the guild hall as he stomped forward to the reception desk and stood in front of Haru.

"My deal? I'm ok with grown ass men trudging into the dungeon to inevitably die! But not a small child!" Rose shouted once more as she pointed and Haru.

Bell stood awkwardly and felt like he was being left out of this…

"WHAT!" Bete turned around and looked at Haru.

"You said you weren't going near the dungeon! I'll be damned if I let you step a single foot inside there!" Bete crossed his arms and looked into Haru's blue and green eyes.

"I don't plan on it, but I still want to register, it be cool…" Haru twiddled his thumbs, he really didn't plan on going anywhere near the dungeon.

"I can register them over here instead." A female voice called out from the window down from Roses.

"MISHA!" Rosé shouted at her colleague, clearly angry and offended that she would over rule her.

"What? I trust the kid won't go dungeon diving and you're all causing a scene, it's unprofessional!" Misha smiled bright when she saw the cute kid look over at her and smile.

'Mwahahaha, I'll set a good impression and become his favorite receptionist, then when he's older I'll woo him and he'll be mine!' MISHA wiped the drop of drool that leaked from her mouth at the thought of a grown up Haru.

'No Misha! Calm down, keep your eyes on the prize' Misha smiled big as the small boy began to walk closer to her before he suddenly stopped and his eyes went wide.

"Pretty." Following his gaze, Misha suddenly had a sinking premonition.

"Oh"

"Holy cr*p!"

"I need to go too the bathroom right quick."

Everyone's gaze suddenly landed on a woman who entered the building with a massive moving wall behind her.

The woman looked around before she caught sight of her prize.

Walking up to the small child with a graceful step and a lustrous smile, the woman bent down and gently put her hand out.

"Hey cutie, names Freya and you?"