Finally, Raijin had made it to the border. His fur was still slightly damp from his dip in the hot springs, but at least he no longer smelled like sweat and dirt. He needed to be presentable to meet his alphas, after all. The man felt excitement at meeting them again, at getting back into the swing of things, and at getting to know his honorary nieces and nephews. Even if Tori didn’t exactly acknowledge it. So, the Genji man lifted his thick muzzle and called out to Venom and Hattori, because even though he knew he was welcome back, he always liked to make a grand entrance.

"Speech"

Things had changed in Raijin's absence and it was getting harder and harder for the Shogun to insist it was for the better. That this was all he wanted, nothing more and certainly nothing less. A subject he would do well not to linger on, for now at least. And so, by the time the Genji wolf's call reached Hattori's ears, he'd been expecting him for quite some time. It was so obtrusively fitting of him to be late that Hattori had a hard time drumming up any sense of annoyance and instead settled with his usual, distance aloofness. He was already done, and the conversation hadn't even started yet.

Better get it over and done with, to learn what he needed to know.

Emerging from between the pallid trees, Hattori's pale brows furrowed a nudge as he took in the sight of his cousin. He looked no worse for wear, though unless Hattori's senses were deceiving him, he seemed taller than before. As if he'd gained a couple of inches in height, enough to start rivalling the Shogun. He blinked slowly, as though that would change what he saw.

"Cousin." He said, calling it a greeting would be a little too generous. Like saying a monsoon storm was just a drizzle, it'll clear up soon.

His cousin showed up promptly, ever the prim and proper Shogun, though his expression belied his wish to be anywhere else but there. Raijin grinned. Ah, some things never changed he supposed, and Hattori’s stick up the butt seemed to be one of those. He wondered if he had trouble with bowel movement, seeing as it was firmly wedged. He uttered the word ‘cousin’ with the same affection he might to a tick on his ear, and the Genji man bowed, because he did have manners, of course. But, he soiled it by sweeping forward and giving Hattori a good, firm clap on the shoulder.

“Cousin, it’s good to see you. I’m glad to see your face hasn’t changed, I was worried I’d come back and you’d have a…a…” he gasped dramatically, placing a paw over his heart, ”A smile on your face.” He had to annoy him at least a little, after all. “How is Ashen, Venom and my nieces and nephews?” he asked, taking a step back to finally get to business.

"Speech"