Author's Note: Yah, I've started a new story cause I'm a dork. Lately I've become addicted to Ragnarok Online, so this story here is about my character Tobias Inuke and her pet Baby Desert Wolf Sabaku. Umm... Yeah. Not entirely sure. Rated T for mild language.

Chapter One

The Desert Rose

"Well done, it looks like you have the makings of a gunslinger in your future Tobias."

"Hai! Thank you Nii-san!"

"Now, show me once more. I want to make sure you can handle a revolver."

"Alright!"

When I was young ... I looked up to my brother. Ashi-nii-san was a gunslinger, a natural born quick shot. I adored him for his skill, his talent with a gun. He always amazed me, and when he began to train me in the arts, I wanted to make him proud. I wanted to show him I could be just as good as him, maybe even better. He was my everything, that's all we had was each other, and I didn't want it any other way.

But one day ... my brother left me. All I found was a note on my bed, it saying that Ashi was leaving, and to not follow or find him. I was devastated. My brother was gone, and I didn't know the first place to look. Ever since that day, I trained myself, hoping that I could become good enough to pass the test and become a full fledged gunslinger. Maybe this way ... I could find Nii-san ... and bring him home again.

The church bells rung in the background of Morroc town, birds chirping as they flew overhead and past the window of the inn. A soft groan was heard from the lump buried under pillows and blankets on the bed. The bells still chimed, coming to a halt once the ring was to be finished. Birds perched outside on the railing of the balcony, chirping happily at the new day, but their rejoice was interrupted by the sound of barking.

They flew away in distress as a small wolf puppy jumped at the railing, barking at them as they escaped. Wrinkling his nose, the pup gave a small sneeze before looking to the groaning lump on the bed. His tail wagged and with that made a running start before jumping onto the bed, pouncing on the lump.

"Nee-chan! Nee-chan! Time to get up! Arf Arf!" The Baby Desert Wolf barked before he was thrown to the side with the blankets as the girl under them turned, moaning in her sleep. Silver hair hid her closed eyes as drool hung from the side of her mouth. Obviously she was in a very deep sleep.

"Neeeeeeeee-chan! Get Up! Today is the day we're leaving!" The puppy barked again as he jumped onto the bed.

"Nummm... not now Sabaku... five more minutes..." The girl sighed, pulling the covers back over her. Sabaku looked before nudging her with his nose, trying to jar her awake. First he had used his nose, then his whole body as he tried pushing her off the bed. He gritted his teeth, pushing with all his might before a thump was heard as she hit the floor.

Looking down at her Sabaku began to pant and wag his tail as she sat up, her hair a mess and a groggy look to her face. Her silver hair was all out of place as her eyes remained half closed, then glanced at the floor like she didn't know where she was. Yawning, she stuck her arms in the air, stretching them while she tried to become awake.

"You're a jerk, you know that?" She said as she stared at Sabaku.

"I know Tobias-nee-san." The puppy said with a smirk, his tail wagging as he laid on the bed, his front paws hanging off the side. Tobias slowly stood, looking out the window at the desert town of Morroc. Today was the day she would start of to Einbroch and seek out to become a gunslinger, just like her brother.

"Nehhh, why does Einbroch have to be so far away?" She sighed as she knelt, touching her toes as she began to clean up her bedding. Tobias was not one to travel. Most of her life she used Warp Portals or the Kafra service to get around, but she had to actually travel this time. She didn't have hardly enough money to use transportation.

A sigh escaped her lips as she plopped the blankets onto the bed the scratched her head, walking to the balcony as she looked out and leaned against the railing. She stared up at the sky, her eyes closing half way as her small smile turned to a frown.

Nii-san ... where are you? It's been almost 15 years ... and there still has been no news of your return. What happened? She thought to herself, her eyes then lowering as she looked down, seeing that same cat with the red bow running along the streets. Her leaning turned into her now crossing her arms and resting her chin on the railing as she watched the Wild Rose. I'll find you, even if I have to to take on the world...

"Nee-chan... I'm hungry..." Sabaku whined as he looked up at her, pulling on her night shirt.

"What, again? Man don't you ever stop eating?" Tobias said as she looked at him from the corner of her eyes. He simply sat there, looking up at her with huge puppy eyes. "Alright alright, I'll feed you. What to feed you I don't know... you ate all the pet food that Bob gave us..."

She yawned again and pulled away from the view, shutting the balcony doors as she prepared to get dressed and ready for the day. Sabaku barked happily as he ran, wagging his tail while moving out of the way of her walk.

---

"Are we really gonna leave this time? I mean ... really?" Sabaku looked up at his master as he chewed on the remains of his breakfast. Tobias sat at the bar of the pub, looking down at her small portion of food that she could afford.

"We're gonna have to. Can't stay here much longer on the money we have left."

"How much do we have anyway?"

"567 Zeny." She sighed as she looked at the pouch which contained the last of their funds. Sabaku lowered his ears as he looked up at her, then continued to eat what was left of his food. Tobias watched him before looking down at her plate with a sigh. This was hardly enough to travel on. She was going to have to resort to eating some wild desert animal.

Far off in the corner of the bar however, four men watched her from the shadows, three of them seated at the sides while an extremely muscular man sat at the head of the table, smirking as he eyed the money pouch that Tobias had pushed aside in shame. He then glanced to the other men as he placed his hand on the table in front of him. The men nodded, smirking and chuckling to themselves before one stood, the rest following and walking towards Tobias.

Eating what was left of her small meal, she grabbed her money pouch and placed it at her side, but stopped short as she felt a presence behind her. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she blinked, then Sabaku's growling could be heard before she whipped around, becoming face to face with the men.

"Hey there babe, what's a girl like you doing in a bar like this?" One spoke, leaning on the bar at one side of her as another man did the same on her other side, leaving her no way of escape. However, this comment made by him suddenly seemed to snap something, as Tobias' eyes were hidden behind her hair in a shadow.

"Babe?" She questioned.

"Yeah, or would you rather be called sweet cheeks? Doesn't matter to us..." The other man at her side said. She lowered her head as another snap came, an anger mark forming on her head.

"Why don't you come with us? We'll get all hot and steamy ... heh heh..." The man in front of her spoke now. "What do you say, Toots?"

Tobias' grip on the bar stool suddenly became harder as she gritted her teeth.

"I'll take your silence as a ye-eeeEEEEAAAAHHH!!" The man in front suddenly screamed out as her foot rocketed out from in front of her, making direct contact with his groin. He fell to the ground, howling in pain as he held his crotch before Tobias stood, glaring at them from the corner of her eye.

"DON'T call me Babe, Sweet Cheeks, or Toots." She scowled. The two men looked at each other with disbelief as she began to walk away.

"Y-You ... you little ... b-bitch..." The man on the floor whimpered before his hand snatch her leg. Her eyes widened as she looked back at him before her arms were grabbed from eaither side by the two other men.

"H-Hey! Let go of me you damn jerks!" She shouted as she began to struggle, then as she looked up she was confronted by the large muscular man. Her eyes widened as he reached out, taking her chin into his hand, but then she scowled as she tried turning away.

"What have we here? A little pistol eh?" The man laughed in a rough voice, causing her to flinch as she closed an eye.

"Let her go you big bullies!" Sabaku growled before he chomped down on the big man's leg. The man flinch before glaring down at him, then with a swift kick he sent him flying, slamming into the wall with a yelp.

"SABAKU!" Tobias cried out before she struggled more, trying to pull away. "LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

"Heh heh, that's your little pet huh? Tomas, get rid of it." The large man said with a smirk, and the one writhing on the floor before now stood, smirking as he began to walk towards Sabaku.

"SABAKU! SABAKU!! GET UP!! GET UP AND RUN!!" She continued to scream at him before she was slapped hard across the face. The puppy's eyes widened as he looked up before he stood and began to run between their legs to escape. He ran out the door, looking to the sides before running off to the town square.

Blood ran from the corner of Tobias' mouth as she growled, a red mark in the shape of a hand on her cheek. She couldn't help but wonder where everyone else was in the bar, or the bar keeper at that matter, maybe these thugs did something to him too? By now Tobias as tied up, her arms and legs bound as she sat on the floor, glaring coldly at her captors.

"Any sign of the mutt?" The leader asked.

"No, looks like it got away." Tomas responded. Tobias gave a light sigh of relief.

"Whatever, it's probably abandoned it's master by now. Ha." He smirked, looking to her before reaching down. Her eyes widened before she began to try to move away, whimpering before her money pouch was snatched from her side.

"Hey! That's my money!" She growled trying to bite his hand as he took it.

"Huh... this is just chump change..." He sneered, holding the pouch in the air. "A whole 567 Zeny huh?"

"Well it's not like I go out and steal money like you stupid bastards!" She spat, and suddenly cried out as she was slapped hard across the face again.

"You should watch your mouth young lady." He smirked before pocketing the money himself. "Now keep your trap shut or I'll hurt more then your face."

Whining a little, Tobias closed her eyes, more blood dripping from the side of her mouth. Why today? Why did it have to be today? Now she couldn't even leave. She was going to end up either dead or this ugly oaf's sex toy.

Nii-san ... at this rate ... I don't know if I can find you now. I never even got to leave Morroc. I'm sorry, I failed you already and I never even set foot out of this town. Her head hung lower before the faint sound of gunshots were heard. At first, she didn't think anything of it. It was more then likely just another gunslinger practicing outside the gates, but another shot was heard, and this time it soared through the bar, shattering bottles as it hit the back wall.

Gasping, her head shot up, cringing at the shattering glass as it hit the floor. The boss growled before he stood, pointing to the door as he ordered his men to find out who was responsible for the interruption. The thugs nodded and opened the door before hitting the ground the avoid a barrage of bullets as a voice called out "Rapid Fire" before hand.

"N-Nii-san!?" Tobias's eyes lit up as a shadowed figure stood in the doorway, the gleam of their gun reflecting into the darkness of the bar. That was her first reaction. The only other gunslinger she knew was her brother, and ... it sounded like him. Her eyes wide and sparkling, Tobias looked to the doorway. A foggy haze seemed to form in her vision as she slunk across the ground like a inch worm.

"Nii-san! Nii-san! Nii-- Uh?" She looked up, looking up into the man's eyes. They weren't Ashi's eyes ... that wasn't even Ashi! An embarrassed blush formed on her face as she sat back, looking up at the man before her. He had black hair that looked just as messed as hers, and he wore a gunslinger uniform of black. He looked down at her with a blank expression, a small sweatdrop had formed at the side of his head.

"Nii-san?" He asked. Tobias blushed more before she suddenly inched backwards and away, trying to avoid broken glass till she sat back in the place she had been before.

"Hey! Who the hell are you to come in shooting your guns!" The leader boasted as he stood, drawing his sword. The man blinked before looking down as Sabaku stood behind him, his ears lowered.

"This little guy told me his master was in trouble."

"SABAKU!" Her eyes widened with a watering look as tear streams flowed down her cheeks.

"Nee-chan! I'm sorry... I didn't mean to leave you..." Sabaku whined.

"That's alright ... I'm just glad your safe." Tobias said with a small smile.

"What a touching reunion, I'm sorry it has to end now. Get rid of him!" The boss yelled out, pointing to the man in the doorway. Surrounding him, they each pulled out a dagger before rushing in to attack. He stood there a moment before pushing Sabaku into the bar with his foot, moving the pup from danger before thrusting both guns out at his sides.

"DESPERADO!" Bullets flew in both directions, causing the thugs to scream out before falling to the ground, never having a chance to attack. Tobias' eyes widened as she watched. This man was almost as good as her brother. The man then glared in the direction of the boss, he blinking before a large sweatdrop formed. He dropped the bag of money in front of Tobias, holding his hands up in surrender.

"H-Here! Take the money back! Just don't shoot!" He then threw more bags at her, almost burying her in small amounts of change and pouches before rushing to the door. The gunslinger stepped aside, letting him through before he looked in on her.

"Nee-chan! Nee-chan look! We got more money! Look at it all!" Sabaku barked as he jumped up and down around her, his tail wagging like crazy.

"I'M BURIED UNDER IT! I THINK I CAN SEE IT!" She yelled, struggling in her ropes. The little puppy stopped before jumping in and starting to chew on the ropes. Once she broke free she tossed the broken rope off to the side and stood, looking down as the piles of Zeny at her feet.

It was almost like a miracle! There had to be at least 4k worth of Zeny there! It would be sure to help on their travels to Einbroch. She began to quickly gather the money into one of the larger pouches before he stopped, looking up to the door frame with a smile.

"Ah! Thank you so much for-- Wuh? He's gone?" Indeed the man was no where to be found, the only thing left behind were the bullet shells left from the fight. Her head lowered a little as a frown formed and she stood, rushing to the door and looking out it. Even on the street he was no where to be found.

"I didn't even get to thank him... I wonder where he went..."

---

The sun was starting to set on Morroc as Tobias and Sabaku stood at the gate, waving to a man who wore an eye patch and had a few scars on his face. She smiled, her hand high in the air as she waved while Sabaku jumped up and down.

"Thanks for the supplies Bob!" She yelled out.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay till tomorrow? It's getting dark, it gets dangerous at night." Bob replied, his hands in his pockets.

"I'll be okay, I've already wasted a day getting kidnapped and stuff." She sighed. Bob chuckled before shaking his head.

"Alright, whatever you say."

"Next time you see me I won't be a novice anymore! I'll be a gunslinger!" Tobias grinned, making a thumbs up before turning, heading off into the sunset and into the desert with Sabaku in tow. For now, they could live off the funds and extra food they bought, but who knew what hazards the desert would bring.