The hardest words to say....

He had originally come over half an hour ago to drop off the new print of the English release of the cd, with the cover that Ursa had been asked to pose for. But not five minutes into going to drop it off there had been pounding on the door a chaos of hyper voices and laughter and what sounded like skate wheels going down the hall and he had shifted and to his smaller hound form and jumped up to curl up and lay down on the bed watching them and listening. They were friends of Ursa and talking for a while back and forth Ursa so utterly relaxed among them as they all took seats on guy on a desk the other on the chair Ursa sat near him on the bed the other two not so close.

"Check it out man.....these places have some hellish rad courses to grind wheels on." Kenichi said waving the travel guides in the air as he leaned forwards and handed them to Ursa. "We're gonna be heading to the first in Russia tomorrow, It's gonna be a blast Ursa you're coming right?"

"Slow down Azure..." Rickard said laughing as he looked at there friend Rickard didn't place but these two did. Ursa first Azure second. "It's gonna be a real thrill I don't know if you planned on heading back home for a while after this Urs, or if your coming with but we have at least a dozen or more stops planned out....it's gonna be a blast...."

Kenichi looked at Ursa and then looked at the deep azure hound and shook his head. "We've scooped out at least twenty places to really burn up the tracks at Urs, and when we go I'm certain we'll find at least twenty to thirty more who needs to settle down or place roots as long as we've got our boards?" Kenichi and Rickard fist bumped and looked at him as he was quiet not really saying anything. "....Hey Ursa where'd you get the hound? You know you can't take him traveling all over the world with us right? It wouldnt' be fair to the poor guy to keep sticking him in a kennel in storage on planes every couple of days." Kenichi said thinking of how cramped caged in it would be for the poor dog he was looking at not at all thinking that the dog might have other ideas...or have a home here.

Jigoku laid there head on his front paws listening to these two they had only been talking for the last half an hour about taking Ursu and leaving Japan....his ears were perked up they were laying down his tail was tucked in and he was for better lack of terms curled up just behind Ursu....he didn't want him to go.

He had laughed and goofed off with them, but when they mentioned just packing up and leaving right away, he felt a twinge of pain in his chest and he fell silent, his expression changing into one of sadness. "I don't know mate. I don't really think that Russia is my scene, ya know?" he said as he sat there looking at them all. When did his thinking change and verge from theirs? When did he begin to think of this place as home?

"I'm not sure if I want to go with you guys..." he responded as he looked at them all and then down at the carpet of the hotel. They were all around the same age, so it was normal for them to all be in a group like this. They had been his friends since he started, especially Rickard. He had started out with him in Australia. But now he felt like he had finally found a place to settle down in. Even if he didn't know much of the language, he could learn that.

Kenichi leaned forward. "Do you hear what you're saying Ursa? Russia is just one stop on a long list of...." He said and blinked when Rickard put his hand out stopping him looking at Ursa. He smiled.

"I hear ya mate." Rickard said smiling. "Russia's a bit cold for my liking too, but I'm looking forward to where we're going after." Rickard got up and walked over putting his hand on Ursa's shoulder smirking as he looked at him. "Man this rocked....and not like we won't be making circles back this way, hell Nippon Pro was hellish rad." He said smirking. "But....you really took off here didn't ya?"

Kenichi looked and rolled his eyes. "He hit that double half pike like it was nothing." He said leaning forwards. "Up till Nippon Pro you missed it every damn time Ursa and suddenly you land it." He shook his head and sighed standing up as Rickard grinned squeezing his shoulder a bit.

"We've been to a helluva lota places mate, a helluva lot. But Since we got here out of all of us you just sorta fit in everywhere you know? When you skate here it's like your really happy here and it's like all your stress and worries are gone mate. Don't....decide right now don't worry about Azure hell....figure out YOU want the most Urs, your gotta know you'll always be able to skate always be able to join in the the tournaments. Doesn't mean you have to be a wanderer like the rest of us....besides...maybe I'll be lucky and find me that pretty Italian I'm always looking for." He said laughing as he sat back and flipped his board up.

"We're gonna hit the streets for a while, did you wanna come?" Kenichi asked as he too flipped his board up....Since coming here...since that day he collided with that guy....everything had begun to change with Ursa he had begun to change...

Rickard looked at Ursa and smiled. "Hey Urs....mate....there's nothing wrong with finding a place....to call home. I'm still looking for mine but if you found yours....." He said holding out his hand fist closed as he kept his board tucked under his left arm. he was smiling as he the dog behind him on the bed had seemed to have fallen asleep when they were talking. "It's hellish rad."

Kenichi rolled his eyes as he hands rested on the door knob. "Gag me....who needs a place to call home...I'd rather be hitting the streets and jumping ramps every day...." He said looking at his to Aussie companions one who was waiting to 'fist bump' the other.

Ursu smiled sadly at them all though. "I don't know when it happened really, but this place just feels right...ya know?" he said as he stood up off the bed and brought up his fist and fist bumped Rickard. "I'll always be at the tournaments, but this place seems to have a lot to offer for my career...I think I'll stick around for a bit and see what comes of it mate," he told Rickard as he smiled at him. Goodbyes were never his thing. However, this wasn't really a goodbye, it was a "until next time."

He moved over to Kenich though, who was obviously the one taking this the hardest. Rickard had grown as a skater and as a person with Ursu. Kenichi hadn't had that chance. He was a little younger than him and Rickard, so he was still fond of dreaming that he would always have his friends with him where ever he went in life. He put a hand on Kenichi's shoulder and turned him to look at Ursu. "Ken, mate, don't get so upset please, for me?" he asked lowly as he looked at him. "I know it might seem like I'm saying goodbye forever, but really, it'll only be a few months until the next tournament and you'll be seeing me again, right?"

Ken looked at him and sighed reached up and ran his hand through his hair. He sighed as he listened to Ursa and then smiled nodding. "Your right, it's not forever it's just a couple of months." He said looking at him. "It's gonna be weird without you there though Ursa. It's always been the three of us since I joined up but now it's just me and Rickard...."

Rickard laughed. "Yeah but I gotcha yer back mate." He said looking at the kid as he walked up and ruffled his hair as well then looked at Ursa. "We knew there's always a chance something like this might happen ya know? We left this 'Walkabout' as a team of six and ended up a team of two till Ken joined up." He looked at Ken making a point of telling him so that he understood. "But we always see the others at the tournaments." He said smiled. "It's never goodbye mate, it's 'Till we meet again."

Ken nodded as he looked at them and smiled. "Alright take care of yourself Ursa. I don't know what you found here but if it feels right, then it feels right." He said and that was hard to argue with. He held up his hand for that fist bump there usual 'see ya later' parting or good luck till we meet again. Ken didn't know if they'd see him tomorrow morning or heck...anytime within the next couple months till the next meet but....he did know Ursa well enough to know he'd be at the tournament. "And next tournament I'm taking the gold Ursa....you won't be the star of the show." He said smirking.

Rickard laughed. "I wouldn't count on it mate. Urs has been skating since he's been walking. I swear he was born with a board in one hand." He said good naturedly as he looked at his best friend. "Take care Urs."

Kenichi laughed. "Yeah but where is Ursa gonna get the ramps to practice on? This place isn't exactly full of different height ramps all over the place you know? That's why we travel..." Rickard looked at him and smiled.

"I don't know mate....something tells me Urs will be just fine. We'll catch ya later mate....it's getting near time for our own walkabout to be starting one more night in town before we catch that plane in the morning ya know?" Rickard said smiling goodbyes were always hard but....he knew he'd see Ursu Agni again. He grew up around him it wasn't good bye never. But at the same token....one of Ursa's dreams was finding a place where he could have the one thing...he never really had a home and a family and that was....here. He was radiating here....happy. Rickard wasn't about to try to talk him into giving that up not for all the stars in the sky.

Ursu sighed and smiled at him, fist bumping Kenichi as he finally offered it to him. "Yeah. We started this thing with all of our friends and ended up with it just being me and you, huh Rick?" he said as he remembered those days. The sadness as he watched each and every one of his friends scatter across the globe and different parts of Australia. Two had went to America, while one went to England and one went to Germany to live with his family there. The others had moved to other parts of Australia leaving Rickard and Ursu behind.

"When they told us a kid from Japan was coming to join our sponsors, I never imagined he'd end up being Kenichi. It was so cool to get to learn things about this place and learn the silly things, like how to cuss and stuff. We got into so much trouble all the time because of Ken, but it was because we were all having so much fun that I was able to feel happy then...you guys were the brothers I never had..." he said as he lowered his hand and looked at Kenichi and Rickard.

"I don't know what I'll find here, but I'll find it and then I'll tell you about it. All of it, no matter how bad or good. I'll learn to speak Japanese properly and then I'll send you letters in it Ken. I'll show you everything I've learned and everyone I've met. I'll make sure you know I'm all right mate," he told Kenichi, who was still unhappy with the sudden choice.

He smirked though. "Don't count on beating me mate. I'm gonna jump over your head like a 'roo!" he said and ruffled Kenichi's hair.

Kenichi snorted. "Ha." he said but he was feeling better. "You better write. And will have fun writing back...." He said nodding as looked at him and smiled. "You may jump like a 'roo....but I? I will soar above you like a dragon in the sky...." He said smirking as he looked at him but he was smiling now really smiling it was hard saying good bye to him but they had to....this was his choice. Kenichi wasn't here, this was his place and he knew it and Rick wasn't here either. But for Ursa....it was.

Rick looked at him and nodded. "Yeah, nothing but trouble but total fun." He said looking at Ursa and nodded. "We'll see you at the next meet mate. Family is family so you know he'll keep in touch Ken." he said and Ken nodded and grinned.

"Alright. We'll catch you later Ursa we'll see you at the next big meet, but for now there's some primp skating hours we're loosing and I'm itching to try out a few new tricks."

Rick started laughing. "You mean your itching to fall flat on your arse and have me carry ya back home again mate." Ken stuck out his tongue and then shook his head.

"I'm not the one whose gonna be falling...I'm gonna land it this time you'll see..." Ken said and Rick shook his head. Looked at Ursa.

"Sure he's still trying to land that reverse double flip and still lands on his bloody arse every time mate.......every time..."

Ken mock pouted. "I just haven't found a high enough ramp yet.....that's all you'll see once I get the soaring height I"ll land it and then I'll be the one laughing." Rick smiled.

"It's all good." He looked at Ursa nodding. "You got something good here Urs...I've never seen you this happy.....ah crazy bugger." He said as Ken laughing and shouting see ya later Ursa had darted out the door and then hit the stair well railing on his board grinding down the rail...."I suppose I should go watch his fool arse...." He said shaking his head.

Ursu laughed at them both as Kenichi being Kenichi darted out of the room. Even if the kid wasn't going to show them, Ursu knew that when he ran like that, it was because he wanted to run away before he started crying in front of them all. Ursu knew that while Kenichi was skating down the rail, he was crying because he had had to say goodbye for now.

When Rickard had said that he had better go watch after Kenichi, Ursu grew serious and looked at his best friend. "You take care of him Rick. He's gonna be pretty upset for a while, but don't be too hard on him. This is his first time having to say "Until next time" okay?" he said as he looked at his best friend. "I'll see you guys tomorrow. I promise I'll come see you off so you make sure you tell Ken not to cry just yet, okay?"

Rick nodded. "Your got it Urs." He said as he looked at him. "I"ll tell him not to cry yet he can do all his balling on the way onto the plane." He said nodding smiling. "Don't worry I'll look after him for ya Urs." He said knowing that Ursa had been looking after the kid for the most part but now he was staying here and they were moving on. But Ursa also knew he could count on Rick to look after Kenichi for him and he would. He'd travel with the kid and keep him safe. "Catch ya tomorrow mate."

He left him then with the hound and jumped hitting the rail grinding down it after Ken knowing he had to catch up before the kid went and got himself hurt because his eyes were all blurry with tears Rick himself was fine, he wasn't gonna cry because he knew he'd see him again. One did not get rid of Ursu Agni they'd hear form him again. And again.

Jigoku wasn't really listening to them this was private between all of them so he was curled up on Ursa's bed in his hand form head resting on his paws and tail laying across the bed. his eyes were closed He knew they were talking and about what? Not really sure he was drifting in and out taking  a nap for the last half an hour figuring he'd give Ursa space to be with his friends since....it wasn't his place either way to tell him to go or stay...even though he really wanted him to stay. So here he was laying on his bed....half asleep.

Ursu smiled and waved at Rickard. "Thanks for everything up until now mate, take care of yourself too," he told Rickard as he watched them leave to go skate. It wasn't really sad for him. Not as sad as it should have been at least.

When they were gone, he sat down in the floor and sighed. He knew that was going to be hard, but he never imagined Kenichi would be the one to take it the hardest. But this was his chance, this was his time to start over and he was going to take it.

"Jigoku, I know why you stayed when they came....and it's okay. I wasn't going to leave anyway..."

Jigoku yawned and stretched shaking himself out as he did then moved still in the form of a hound and dropped to the floor before he padded easily enough over to Ursa and then dropped down behind him. He laid down behind Ursa and dropped his head on his paws. "I'm glad your not leaving..." He said lowly as he laid there behind him he was curled just right his head was beside him. He sighed. "I stayed for a couple of reasons..." He said lowly. "One....if you were leaving....to be able to say goodbye....the other if you were staying to let you know how glad I am you are." He said as he curled around Ursa a bit.

Jigoku hadn't shifted back though was in no hurry to, he looked like he himself was taking it rough and so he shifted forwards a bit more and pushed his head under Ursu's hand so that his hand was resting in the silken fur on top of his head. Either way.....Jigoku had stayed in case he just need some comfort. It was something Kira had said at one point sometimes just being able to pet a vampwolf helped calm raw nerves because of how soft and silken the fur was.

Ursu looked down at him and smiled at him. "I know you didn't want me to leave Jigoku," he said as he ran a hand through the Inu's fur. "I realized that almost the moment they mentioned leaving. The look in your eyes clearly said you didn't want me to go," he explained as he sat there and continued to pet the large dog.

"Thanks for wanting to help me all of this time. Especially after I ran into you. Normally when something like that happens, people are pissed off and won't listen to anything I have to say...so thanks, for being so patient with me," he said as he smiled at Jigoku. But even while he was smiling, he could feel the inner turmoil begin. He was happy here, but what would he do for work? Where would he get a place to live? How long would it take him to learn Japanese?

Jigoku sighed softly and shifted just a bit more so that he was resting his head right on Ursa's lap one of the perks of this form. He could also scent the pheromone shift in him as he started into that turmoil of what now? It was a common place to go when you made a choice like he did and he knew why it was happening to Ursa. He had suddenly decided to put down roots and he was still trying to learn the language. "You'll be alright." He said as he felt the fingers running through his fur. "I can help you learn Japanese, as to work....well if you don't mind it we can always talk to Rei and the others, palace guards and aids and such..." he said as he relaxed. "You met him although you didn't actually get to see him at the Nippon Pro because he was covered with a scarf the whole time, Kira, Rei and the others are always looking for someone to look after him when he goes out Kira is such a gentle soul that some people make him nervous because there presence is so strong." He said as he relaxed there.

"There's also the restaurant that Sai runs, if you'd rather do something like that." He said easily relaxed. "He actually pays his employee's really well for having to deal not only the customers but his temper he knows he has a short fuse." Jigoku said bemused. "As to a place to stay....I can help you with that depending on if you want an apartment or if you decide to work at the castle you'll have a home and room there....you'll become part of the family there...." Jigoku's tail bounced lightly on the carpet of the hotel room. "Honestly Rei and the others wouldn't mind you being there. They'd welcome you as part of the family with open arms.."

Ursu shook his head. "I'm not really that worried about getting a job. The problem is breaking the language barrier before I can do any of the other things. I want to get an apartment, but I don't understand the language enough to read it or write it...." he said and sighed.

"I need someone to move in with me until I learn Japanese and can speak, read and write it fluently..." he complained lowly as he ran his hand through Jigoku's fur.

"As far as a job goes, I still have my skate sponsors. They pay me everytime I go to a competition and cover everything while I'm there. The problem is, between competitions, I don't make money from my sponsors because they're no events for me to enter. If I was working somewhere while I had those breaks between, it'd be much easier..." he said as he let his gaze move to his sketch book. "Hopefully I can get into a gallery or something to make some extra money for all of the new expenses I'll be having...first thing's first though, I need to go get my working visa and everything for here..."

Jigoku listened to him as he said he'd need someone to move in with him while he learned...the language for one. Then there was the working visa and he was an artist. The things he learned every day he was with him. He stayed as he was a moment longer not in any real hurry to move as he simply enjoyed feeling Ursa's fingers running through his fur like this. Right now Ursa didn't seem so nervous talking with him and that was fine with him. His tail continued it's light rhythm on the carpet as he listened to him and then spoke. "I can room with you." he said he lived in the castle normally but it wouldn't be that big of an issue he didn't believe if he wanted to go and get an apartment with him, besides this way he could help him learn Japanese, how to read and write it.

"As to a working Visa, that's through the Diet building the forms are in Japanese though so I'll go with you to translate them. They can read English just fine but the forms are all in Kanji." He was relaxed and in no honest hurry to move unless Ursa made him move by getting up himself Jigoku could lay there and just let him play with his fur for hours like this. "As to getting into a gallery? I can talk to Kira....he's actually well loved in several galleries if he's willing to sponsor you as up and coming Artist here in Japan they'll scoop you up." He said as he relaxed there and it was true. If Kira painted something, sculpted made anything.....the art world wanted it and was willing to pay millions for the smallest piece of his works. If Kira was willing to walk into any art gallery with Ursu and sponsor him his art to the gallery.....they would eat up Ursu's work.

Jigoku remained relaxed. "But if your art is anything like how you skate.....then you shouldn't have a problem at all, Kira sponsoring you will just make them push up the value of your art instead of pushing down." Jigoku mused as he laid there with him. His ears twitched as he thought about what he said earlier about people not giving him a chance after he collided with them. "How could I not give you a chance Ursa? It wasn't about being patient....I like being around you...."

He sighed as he closed his eyes and his ears turned back. "Honestly....I'm more used to people pushing me away then allowing me to be near them....for a long time....I was hurt and sick...but someone in my family found a way to help me and heal the damage done...." He laid there admitting it.."This is....the closest I've been to anyone outside of my brothers and those in the castle no one else has ever wanted to be near me....I just happy to be able to near you..." Jigoku said lowly even if he wanted so much more with Ursu....he was afraid of never having it of pushing to fast to far and making Ursu hate him.