A/N: This story has been written for the 30kisses community on Livejournal. There will ultimately be five chapters. It's written in rotating first person, switching between Tasuki, Kouji, and Chichiri (who else do I ever write about?). Enjoy!

Return of the Wolf

Chapter 1: Give and Taken

Tasuki

I fired the tessen over my shoulder as Kouji and I dashed away from the tavern. We raced into the safety of the woods and hid in the dense trees.

Peeking through the leaves and branches, I saw a few drunks stumble after us. After a minute, they gave up and went back inside.

Kouji sighed in relief beside me. "Lost 'em."

"Looks like it," I agreed cautiously. "We should lie low for a little longer before we head home." I rubbed a bruise forming on my cheek and was irritated to see blood on my fingers. "So, what the fuck happened back there? It's not like you to just haul off and hit someone. Those guys didn't even say anything to us."

Kouji went quiet for a minute. I stared at a small patch of wildflowers growing at the base of a large tree across from us.

"Those two guys . . . I overheard them talking. They're slave traders."

A growl involuntarily sounded in the back of my throat. "Bastards. Picking on helpless girls."

Kouji shook his head. "Not this time. They . . . they were after you, Genrou. They were gonna jump you when you left."

I blinked in surprise but quickly shrugged it off. "Would've liked to see 'em try."

"I didn't want to give them that chance."

I felt my breath catch and my cheeks burn. I was suddenly afraid to meet his eyes. But . . . maybe he didn't mean anything weird by it.

I looked over at Kouji. His eyes were fixed on the ground, and his face was as red as mine felt. I cleared my throat and laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Thanks for looking out for me," I told him quietly.

He smiled but didn't meet my eyes. "Somebody has to, ne?" He sighed in frustration. "I'm sorry. I should've just told you, and we coulda snuck out the back or something."

"Don't worry about it," I said, holding out the tessen. "As long as we've got this, they don't stand a chance." I grinned and kissed the metal fan triumphantly.

An arrow whizzed by my ear and knocked the tessen out of my hands.

"Get them!" male voices behind us shouted.

"RUN!" Kouji yelled. We both jumped to our feet and started to run deeper into the forest. But I couldn't leave my weapon behind. I started frantically searching for it in the underbrush. Damn it, where is it! I can't let them have it!

I could hear Kouji shouting at me to hurry up. I could also hear the slave traders getting closer.

I'm not gonna leave it behind! It's the only thing I have left from being a Seishi!

"GENROU! RUN!"

I looked up. The traders had made it to the clearing. And they'd brought friends with them. I swore and drew my sword. I hoped Kouji would get out while I held them off.

I engaged two of them at once. The other three surrounded me.

Damn, I am fucked.

I fought them as best I could until I heard pounding footsteps behind me. I turned to look, only to see Kouji running towards us with his sword drawn.

"NO! Kouji, run!" I yelled.

While I was distracted, one of the traders nailed me between the shoulders with his staff.

I dropped my sword and hit the ground hard.

I could hear swords clashing. Kouji had jumped into the fray, despite my warning. Before I could get back to my feet, a large meaty hand closed around my throat and lifted me clear off the ground.

I kicked uselessly, trying to find a hold or injure my captor. I couldn't take in any air.

"Drop your weapon, or your friend dies!" the guy holding me barked.

I tried to talk, tried to tell Kouji to leave me and run. Not that I thought he would, but I tried to say it anyway. I couldn't make a sound; I started to feel dizzy.

Kouji must have done what they asked, because I was back on the ground a second later. I coughed and gasped for breath, rubbing my sore neck. The trader tilted my chin up with the toe of his boot and gazed down at me with lust in his eyes.

"Yes. You'll fetch a nice price once you're properly broken," he growled.

He was their obvious leader. If I could just take him out, I might be able to get Kouji out of danger.

I jumped to my feet, but the trader nailed me in the stomach with a solid punch. I collapsed back to my knees.

So much for that idea, I thought.

Hands grabbed at my arms, pulling me back to my feet and binding my wrists behind me. I looked over at Kouji. He was being held by two more traders. The leader fingered the scar on his cheek. Kouji shivered away from the touch.

"This one, on the other hand, would never sell. He's damaged goods."

Anger surged through me as I fought against the ropes and the men holding me. "YOU SONUVA BITCH!" I roared. "Don't you fucking talk to him like that!"

The leader smirked and turned back to me. "Touchy subject? Let me guess. He probably got it saving your pretty face."

I stopped fighting but glared steadily at him. "Don't talk about things you can't understand."

The leader looked from me to Kouji and back again. "Aw, what a sweet pair of love birds."

I glanced up at Kouji, waiting for him to deny it, so I could follow suit. But . . . he didn't. He didn't say anything. And that's when I realized, I didn't want to either.

Matching blushes covered our faces as we looked away.

Damn. What a way and time for that to come out! I thought.

The lead trader turned back to Kouji. "Any last words to your lover before we take him with us?"

Kouji fought against the men holding him. "You can't do this! He's a Suzaku Seishi!"

The leader raised an eyebrow. "Excellent. Even if you're lying, you've just tripled his value."

As the slave traders started to pull me away, I heard Kouji start to scream. I fought as hard as I could, but I couldn't get loose. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw them knock Kouji out.

As a blindfold was pulled over my eyes, I thanked Suzaku for keeping Kouji safe. I'd probably never see him again. But I was glad he was out of their hands.

Don't forget me, Aniki.

Kouji

When I woke hours later, dawn was beginning to filter through the trees. I had a pounding headache, radiating from a lump on the back of my skull.

All too quickly, the events of the last night pieced together in the cold morning.

"Genrou!" My throat was raw and hoarse. I struggled to my feet and looked around frantically. My mind tried to deny what my eyes were telling me. "GENROU!"

Genrou and the traders were long gone.

My mind raced, looking for tracks, trying to think of where they might have gone. But I wasn't aware of any slave rings operating in the area. I started to run towards the town and tripped over something in the tall grass.

I reached out and picked up the tessen, the one thing that could have preserved Genrou's freedom.

I jumped back to my feet and raced into town, even though my was heart was beginning to sink.

To be continued ...