(A/N) So, Phoenix Comic Con is coming up… and I'm going in Toboe cosplay. :D Figured it deserved a fanfic to honor the occasion.

I shouldn't be starting another multi-chapter fic. I already have… four? But to heck with it; it's summer. :D

To the actual story: pairings are HigexBlue, cannon KibaxCheza. This first chapter is heavy on the HigexBlue, but the whole story won't focus on it. I just figured that they would be a good place to start. ^^ Toboe and Tsume come next. :D

Also, to show that the characters are speaking as wolves, I use 'italics with single quotes.' Just to be clear.

I'm aiming for this to be ten or so chapters, just so everyone knows. It will update every Thursday. :D

I do not own Wolf's Rain or any of the characters.

The young teen sunk his teeth into the hot dog, swiping his tongue with relish around his jaws. And, in that moment, he was convinced that life couldn't get any better.

"What do you think?" he asked the birds aloud, smiling up at the sparrows perched upon the street sign. One ruffled its feathers, grooming its shoulder briefly as it replied.

'I think the wolf has forgotten what he is,' it chuckled, although not unkindly. The wolf laughed.

"Perhaps," he admitted, stuffing the rest of his meal into his mouth. "Humfan cuwlfer hafs swome affataes (Human culture has some advantages)."

The birds twittered with laughed, and the wolf smiled, scuffing his feet on the pavement. Then, for a moment, he paused and raised his head, nose twitching. It was almost as though… What? he asked himself forcefully, shaking his head. It's almost as though I can smell paradise? He scoffed at the thought, the origin of which he couldn't place. I'm just smelling that hot dog on my own breath. Without another though, he continued down the road, chatting with the birds as he went.

… … …

"…!"

The girl looked up, her spine suddenly tingling with energy. Climbing to her feet on some unknown impulse, she made for the door of the café, leaving behind both her purse and her coffee. Before she was out on the street, however, sense caught up with her, and she pulled up short.

"Everything alright, Miss?" the man behind the counter asked politely, and the girl shook her head briefly.

"Everything's… fine…" she said, although she remained unconvinced herself. Returning to her seat, with frequent glances back at the door, she picked up her coffee once more. "Just… an odd feeling."

… … …

"Can you believe the nerve of that cat?" the wolf exclaimed, making a helpless motion.

'I certainly can't,' chirped one of the sparrows, flapping its wings. 'Thinks she owns the world!'

"Well, don't pay any attention," the teen said, waving his hand. "Cats can't fly, thank God!"

'If they could, we'd all go insane!' another bird chirped, and the whole party chuckled.

"That'll be the day; flying cats!" the wolf sniffed, shuttering at the mere thought. He pulled up short, however, just outside the corner coffee shop, stiffening with unknown tension. Raising his head once again, he gave the air a tentative sniff.

It smells… like…

'What's the matter, bud?' one of the sparrows asked, backtracking to retrieve the wolf, who had fallen behind. 'Hey, you alright?'

"I'm fine," the teen answered, giving himself a forceful shake. What's gotten into me today?

'Want some coffee?' guessed another bird, but he shook his head.

"Don't like coffee," he muttered, jamming his hands into his pockets. "Come on, let's head back to my place."

But… it smells… like…

… … …

'Hige! Yo, Hige's back!'

The wolf greeted the pigeon who had called with a quick rising of one hand. "Yo, George." With that he pushed inside, emerging into his small apartment. It wasn't his, really; it belonged to the bank, technically, and when they finally decided to move on the property he'd be the one to move. However, in his experience, that could take months if not a year, and so he made himself comfortable for the time being. Propping his feet up on the filthy stool, he flicked on the scavenged TV.

However, despite a good hour of channel surfing, nothing seemed to catch his attention. His mind, inexplicably, was back at the corner with that coffee shop, although he couldn't quite place what about it had caught his fancy. Glancing up, he saw the trio of sparrows sitting outside his window.

"Hey… could one of you guys do me a huge favor?"

… … …

'I don't know, Chief,' the sparrow said, when he returned from recon. 'Doesn't seem to be anything unusual about that place. Just coffee, the coffee boy, and a really smokin' hot babe. Maybe she's what you're smellin'?'

Hige shook his head dejectedly. "I don't know what it is. That place just seems… to call to me." Maybe it's a specific person? Maybe that chick?

'You won't know until you try, my friend,' George the pigeon piped up, and Hige smiled.

"Sure thing," he muttered, heading for the door. "It's just that this action thing isn't my style." He started out walking, of course, but soon found himself running, his feet pounding over the pavement in a very un-Hige like rush. However, when he skidded to a half in front of the coffee shop, he felt no desire to stop. Gone… it's not here. I've got… to keep going. And with that he took off, although he didn't know what he was chasing.

… … …

The girl looked up, her whole body stiffening. He's here. Her muscles reacted without her consent, heels clacking over the concrete and scarf billowing out behind her in a violet streak. He's here…!

… … …

Hige skidded on four paws, scrabbling over the slippery floor of the alley desperately, his muzzle stretched up as he strained to catch just one hint of the scent that seemed to be dragging him across the city. Then, springing onto two feet, he tore out onto the street, ignoring honking cars and the furious shout of, "Watch out, idiot!" from a motorcyclist.

There! Some part of him- his heart, perhaps, or his soul –shouted, pointing to the girl rushing down the road. She wore a stylish, dark blue coat and skirt with boots, and a purple ascot that flared out behind her like the tail of a comet. Upon her face was a huge smile, her large blue eyes shining. Without a split second's though, the Mexican wolf bounded towards her, arms outstretched.

"Blue!"

"Hige!"

The two met, colliding as much as embracing, falling to the ground with their momentum, each covering the other in adoring kisses and nuzzles. The girl- Blue –laughed breathlessly, burying her face in the other's neck.

"Hige…" she whispered. "Hige… Hige…"

"Blue…" he said, by way of reply, holding her tightly to him.

Then, in unison, the two stiffened and sprang back, each somehow realizing how incredibly illogical the situation was.

"How do you know me?" the girl demanded distrustfully, and Hige blinked.

"Well… how do you know me?" he asked, and the girl pulled up short.

"Well… I…" she began, but then shook her head. "I don't know!" Her voice was still angry, but it was no longer directed at the object of her overwhelming adoration. Instead it was directed at herself; she was furious that she had forgotten something she was sure she should never have forgotten.

"It doesn't matter," Hige said, something in his voice imploring her to agree. "Blue… I need to be with you. I love you."

"I… love you, too," she relied, bewildered. Then, blinking, she opened her arms. Again the two embraced, gentler, this time, and when they parted they still held hands. Blue followed, uncomplaining, as she was led away, back toward Hige's temporary place of residence. As they grew nearer to the apartment, birds began to flutter down around them, and she looked up nervously.

'Look at the babe!' squawked one, flapping its wings raucously. Hige smiled.

'So it was her, pup!' the sparrow exclaimed. 'Didn't I tell ya she was a looker?'

"The birds can talk!" Blue blurted out, clinging to the other wolf in sudden fright. The birds broke into twitters of laughter, and Hige looked down in surprise.

"Well… yeah," he said, somewhat helplessly. "Of course they do."

"'Of course?'" Blue asked angrily. "Hige, birds don't talk!"

"Of course they do!" the other repeated, concerned, now. "We're wolves, Blue! Of course they talk to us!"

"…" The girl blinked, helplessly, and then stammered, "'We're… wolves…?'" Yet she wasn't able to inject the question with all the disbelief she had intended to, for she found herself staring at a handsome Mexican wolf over a sleek blue muzzle, and when she looked down she found two sets of large, soft paws, one navy blue and the other tan.

'Blue, we're wolves,' Hige repeated softly. 'Don't you remember at least that?'

'Apparently not,' the other replied, lowering her head. 'How much have I forgotten, Hige?'

The tan wolf smiled, rubbing his muzzle lovingly against hers. 'You haven't forgotten our love. That's enough for me.'

And Blue smiled back, returning his caresses. 'I suppose so. Hige… always stay with me.'

'Forever.'

(A/N) There you go. First chapter off the drawing board. Next chapter… Tsume! And Toboe! You should defiantly keep reading. ^^