[Aki doesn't wait, more than to the stairs by the time he hears him say that and not thinking for a moment to turn around. He keeps walking, looking around briefly to see any sign of the thing, then finally spots the devil sniffing at the edge of the road. Aki hurries over to snag him, but Pochita spots him before he can and jumps out of the way, hurrying forward as Aki rushes after him.]

You stupid - Stay put, or I'll send you right to hell -

[He grabs for his handle but somehow his little jellybean body bends just enough to avoid it and when Aki finally does get a hand on something it's his pullcord tail. Pochita yelps like a kicked dog at that and Aki is able to snatch him, grabbing him around the stomach as his little legs shake and kick to free himself. He holds him like a sack of flour and stares at him from above, Pochita's thick neck unable to turn to look back at him effectively.]

Stay.

[He does, but he doesn't look thrilled with it. They made it about two blocks down the road in their little chase and as he heads back to the apartment, Aki spies the two hunters leaving it in the opposite direction and pushes himself behind the stone fence of their neighbors. It hides him from view and he stays there with Pochita still held in his hands like a yakisoba sandwich, waiting for them to be far enough gone.]

[Then, a minute later, he sees Denji hurrying down the sidewalk, running right past his hiding spot, and Pochita barks as Aki calls out,] Denji.