to have and to hold

Hattori waited, patient and silent, till Venom beckoned him in. With a flick of his tail he gestured for Anko to follow, then wait back at a respectful distance as Hattori went to greet Venom properly. He bent down a little, tracing the line of her muzzle with his nose before he stood up straight and proper. She looked well, beautiful as always, but sleepiness lingered in her voice and eyes and now that he knew to look he noticed the roundness in her belly. He couldn't exactly put a name to the emotion it made him feel but it was good, he was glad. That being said he wouldn't keep her too long, the matter at paw wasn't overly complicated so she could go back to resting once he was done.

All the same he asked the question she'd no doubt anticipated.

"Are you well?"

Behind him Anko stood prim and proper, head held high but gaze averted, unchallenging. Try as she might Hattori noticed that the dog was sneaking glances at Venom, her nose twitching as she took in the sight and scents of her new mistress. But curiosity aside she knew better than to step forward before it was time, back in Nippon going through the routines and rituals was a part of daily life. If anything the hound felt as though Ashen was a watered down version of it, with the worst parts cast aside.

And finally Hattori turned his attention to the akita.

"This is Anko. She used to serve my cousin, Takemikazuchi." He left the rest unsaid, Venom knew his cousin's fate.