Disclaimer: I do not own Wolf's Rain, nor stand to make a profit from writing this.

Endings are wonderful inspiration, especially when they leave you wanting more.

What a mystery, to be alive,

and I wonder

if I'll ever leap inward to the root of this flesh

and know myself as I once was.

The root is there. Whether any act

can find it, remains tangled

in the future.

Everything was a blur to Kiba. He passed tall buildings and parked cars as people on the crowded streets became random shapes of impressionist color. His senses seemed dull. Why couldn't he remember?

How long had he been running? It seemed like forever. Or was it an instant? So many questions, so little time. He had to stop, needed to think, but his feet kept moving. A need to flee possessed him, or was it to find something? He ran into the random shapes. A woman yelled as he knocked a brown paper bag out of her arms. He could smell the oranges that broke as soon as they hit the pavement, and the rain, the rain he should have been able to hear as every drop it the earth. Why couldn't he hear? There was noise, but so mixed together it came to his ears only as the clatter of traffic.

Heavy air filled his aching lungs. This seemed so familiar, moving with no sense of where…but then he knew the why and the how. What happened to the smell of oranges? He was too far away from them now. The rain soaked his jacket and his brown hair, nearly blinding him as he ran the city blocks in a sprint. But, he was nearly blind anyway. His vision was so unclear he could barely see the traffic as he dodged cars in the street.

Another block down. Where was he going? This would have to stop soon; Kiba's lung's were burning, an unfamiliar sensation. How strange, since he assumed he had been running all his life. But his life was short; he could only remember the instant he started to run, which was…when?

Time was unimportant. He had to keep moving and find her. Find who? Why couldn't he hear the rain? Why couldn't he smell the oranges or the flowers that blossomed under the moon? Why didn't he know where he was?

Questions gnawed at him and he couldn't sense the danger as he ran straight into a street once again. Kiba couldn't process the motorcycle headed straight for him, the golden-eyed man cursing at him to get out of the way. The man seemed so familiar, Kiba was preoccupied with the questions again. The man came closer, deafening noise, so many words, so many eyes watching him now. Kiba's new insufficient human brain didn't know what to do. All it understood was the pain.

Toboe had seen Kiba run past him. He barely took notice of the strange, unknown man, since he was too busy picking out his new kitten. Tsume would be so pleased. Toboe thought his brother could use a new friend, and the little ball of fluff would be the perfect addition to their cozy household. Besides, how could he have left the poor thing in the street, all alone with no one to care of it? Toboe related to the parentless kitten.

Ever since their parents had died ten years ago, Tsume had taken care of Toboe. He had been so young then, barely able to remember the faces of his mother and father, and Tsume rarely talked about them. Toboe thought that bringing up the memories was too much for his cynical brother. He didn't mind not knowing about his lost family, he just wanted to keep Tsume happy and close to him.

Now, this little guy would need a name. He stared into sky blue eyes and saw his upside down reflection.

"I'll call you Moon," he told the kitten, holding it over his head. "because you're white and round like the moon." He twirled Moon around and then hugged him close. "We can call you Moony, too. You know, like Remus Lupin from Harry Potter? Do you like werewolves?"

Toboe unhappily got up and abandoned the rest of the kittens in the discarded fed-ex box to their fate. Tsume wouldn't want to start a zoo, and Toboe's brother would be getting home soon. Toboe trotted quickly in the direction of his apartment, avoiding the people who crowded the city street. When Moon distracted him with a sudden claw in the arm, however, he jerked and accidentally knocked someone's shoulder.

"Sorry!" He turned, to see the person he had bumped into. A guy in a baggy, yellow hoody looked back at him as he finished the rest of his hot dog. The two looked at each other, unable to turn away. Toboe felt a strange sense of knowing this person. Had he seen before? He tried to move closer. Toboe did know him, he had to.

Then, a beautiful black haired woman stepped out of the bookstore they stood in front of. She took the man's arm, placing her head on his shoulder, and led him down the street, away from Toboe. The man turned his head to look back, and Toboe stood frozen until the crowd pushed him to move.

Why couldn't he remember that man's name? Moon gave an annoyed meow.

"Sorry," Toboe now apologized to the cat. "You must be hungry."

He continued down the street, keeping better control of his movement. Sometimes he was so clumsy. At the cross light, he idly looked into the traffic, and saw Tsume, in his black ensemble, on his motorcycle barreling down the street.

"Hey Tsume!" Toboe waved to his brother, but the sound of Tsume's engine drowned any attempt at communication as he flew by. Oh well, Toboe thought, I'll see him in a couple minutes. Toboe picked up his pace to try and beat Tsume home. He wanted to surprise him with Moon.

As Toboe trotted over concrete, he didn't hear Tsume yell at the crazy person who ran into the street or the screech of tires as Tsume tried to stop in time. He only saw the commotion a block away, dozens of people flocking into a circle on the next corner. Toboe's stomach dropped, and he ran. Accidents happened all the time in the bustling city traffic, but he felt something. Tsume couldn't be hurt, the boy told himself.

After standing on the outskirts of the throng for a second, he slid his tiny form through the group of people. He pushed his way into the center, with Moon still in his arms yeoling unhappily.

Moon landed on his feet when Toboe dropped him.

Toboe was the next to fall. He slid to his knees as he saw his brother's body a few feet away from his motorcycle. The motorcycle pinned the body of another young man underneath it. That person…

The paramedics came and Toboe snapped back to reality before he could think about the safety of anyone other than his brother.

Kiba woke up and he felt numb. He turned his head slightly to take in surroundings. Unsurprisingly, he didn't know where he was. This, for some reason, didn't worry him much. He was strangely calm. He took in the stark white room, the steady beep of a machine, an open window with pink curtains that gently danced in the breeze. The light started to hurt his eyes.

The tranquil feeling was slipping away. He couldn't stay here; he needed to keep moving. He tried the simplest movement, to flex his hand, and met a stab of pain. There were things stuck in him, needles and tubes. Slowly, he began to hurt.

"I see you're awake."

Kiba started and became wary as he turned his head to the sound of a voice…a familiar voice. He closed his eyes at the pain that movement caused. When he opened them, a lovely blonde looked down at him. Her hair was messily tied into a bun at the back of her head, the strands hung around her face. As she spoke again, she took the glasses off her nose, and placed them on her head.

"You were in an accident. You ran into the street and into the path of a motorcycle." She took a flashlight out of her white coat pocket and shined it into his pupils. He flinched. "You're lucky because the driver noticed you in time and swerved out of the way. You only got hit with the sliding vehicle instead of head on." She turned the flashlight off and put it back in her pocket, taking out a pad of paper from another. "You only have a broken collar bone, and an array of cuts and bruises…" She put the note she wrote onto a clipboard at the end of the bed. "but, no brain damage or internal bleeding. You got lucky in this one. Do you understand where you are?"

"…yes. I'm in a hospital, recovering from an accident. " Kiba pushed all the questions away. He knew enough to know that hospitals were dangerous, especially if he couldn't remember his past. They could keep him here, when he had to move, needed to leave.

"Very good. I'll be back in a little bit to check how you are. If you have any problems, just press this button. It'll call a nurse."

Kiba watched the woman leave his little hospital room. He didn't know her name, but knew her voice, and gunfire, and flowers. And another voice. It called to him. He heard his name in a plaintive whisper.

"Kiba."

He responded by trying to wrench himself from the tubes that held him down. All of a sudden he knew he was looking for someone. He had to get up.

Kiba.

He successfully pulled the drip from his hand and was working on the heart monitors.

Kiba.

Almost free. He had to find her. It was a her, a perfect her with a voice like moonbeams passing through silver clouds.

"You have to stay calm!" The new voice hurt his head, rough, loud.

Hands pushed him down, and the pain came back. He yelled. More came. Straps encircled his body and his arms were pinned to his sides.

Kiba, please help me.

All his strength couldn't break them. He should be able to break them, why couldn't he?

"I have to find her!" he yelled, again.

The blonde woman rushed into the room in a flurry of white.

"Please, help me find her!"

"Shhhhh." She soothed and ran a hand through his hair before a stinging pain jabbed his right arm.

Everything became blurry again, but he wasn't running.

He was falling.

Kiba, I'm sorry. Sleep now,the quiet voice said.

So, he slept.

Tsume looked down at the schmuk who had run into the street like an idiot. The prick on the hospital bed was pretty like a girl, with longish hair and delicate features. Why anyone would choose to look like that, he didn't know. But, people can't really choose how they look he thought idly…

Anyway, he wanted to beat some sense into him. This person had caused too much trouble for his emotional little brother. He tightened his grip on Toboe's hand. Toboe hadn't left Tsume's side, since he had been put in the ambulance. Luckily, he hadn't required any surgery with only a fractured left wrist. (He didn't count the numerous cuts he had from rolling on the concrete.) Tsume had a mind to sue the bastard.

But, Toboe would never permit that. He had been the one to make Tsume see him. Sometimes Tsume wondered were the boy got his soft streak. But, Toboe had said he wanted to see this bastard. (Though, he hadn't used that kind of language.) Something in his little brother's eyes had told Tsume this was very important to him, so he had relented.

And the sleeping form covered in scrapes softened his anger… a little. You couldn't be totally mad at the crazy ones. But, Toboe probably wouldn't let Tsume ride his motorcycle for a while. The squirt had been on his back about it for a long time. And now, thanks to that idiot on the bed, Tsume had to listen to his little brother. (His motorcycle had been badly damaged, anyway.)

"He looks so peaceful."

Tsume looked down at his brother, who pulled them closer to the bed.

"That's what happens when they fill you with painkillers."

Toboe cast Tsume a worried look.

"I'm fine," he stated matter of factly.

Toboe resumed his examination. "I wonder why he did that."

"What?"

"Ran into the street, like nothing mattered."

Tsume bit back a response involving some people's wish to kill themselves. He didn't think the situation needed it. He kept silent instead and adjusted his sling.

"I saw him before he did it. He was just running." Toboe leaned over the edge of the bed, inches away from the pale face, as if trying to sense an answer.

Instead, dark blue eyes flicked open and Toboe jumped two feet backward. Tsume rushed to his side, defensively shielding his brother with his good arm.

"Nurse," he yelled. A plump old woman came in. "He's awake, again."

"Oh, I'll get the doctor."

The two stared at each other. Golden eyes glared at hazy blue. The boy on the bed made no effort to move, just kept looking. What was he doing? Tsume finally averted his gaze from the invalid's chilling stare and asked his brother if he was alright.

"I'm fine," Toboe said shakily.

"Who are you?"

Tsume jumped at the quiet question. He pushed Toboe towards the door and stepped toward the bed.

With a perfect snarl, he said, "The person who almost killed you, moron."

Toboe was at the bedside in a second. "I'm sorry, he didn't mean it like that."

The pretty boy looked uncomprehendingly at Tsume's little brother, then gave him that deep look he had given Tsume. Tsume placed a protective hand on Toboe's shoulder and leaned down.

"Don't try any creepy shit on my brother."

"He's your brother?" The question made it seem as if the two had known each other forever, and the boy was trying to hide his surprise at a newly revealed secret.

"Yeah, he is. Runt, let's get out of here."

"We can't just leave him here by himself."

"Fine. Where the hell is the doctor?!" Tsume yelled into the hall.

"Right here, sorry for the delay." A beautiful blonde woman came in and Tsume sucked in his breath. He hated making bad impressions with pretty women. (It happened a lot.)

"Now, are you feeling better?" She ignored the two brothers. "You had a bad reaction with the drugs we gave you to help your blood clot. Your painkillers also weren't strong enough, so we had to sedate you for your own well being." She glanced at Tsume. "You can leave now. We don't need a detrimental presence to a patient."

"Hey, he's the one…"

Toboe cut Tsume off. "I'm sorry, we were just worried for him. I don't like anyone getting hurt."

The doctor smiled warmly at Toboe. "That's a very nice sentiment, but this boy…" she turned to the patient, "I'm sorry, we don't even know your name."

He looked at the group standing next to him with wide, unknowing eyes.

"Kiba," he said finally.

"As I was saying, Kiba needs to rest and then go home…"

"I don't have a home."

Everyone turned to him. Tsume snorted, what a prick, making people feel worse for him.

"What do you mean?" Toboe sounded like he might cry. God, this was going to get ugly.

"I…moved here today, and was just looking for an apartment. I move around a lot." Kiba shifted.

"I'm sorry," said the doctor, "But you can't stay here. You're well enough to be released tonight." She got the clipboard from the end of the bed again. "In fact, here are your release papers for you to look over."

Kiba grabbed them and read them.

"Can I leave now?"

"You'll need to sign a waver…"

"Just tell me where."

Now, he could leave. He could move.

Kiba put on his brown jacket, which was torn and dirty, his clothes had gotten a beating in the accident. He combed his hair out of his face and flinched. He used his other arm to finish the job.

As he stepped out from behind the privacy curtain, the doctor was there again.

"You should really keep your movement to a minimum, while you heal. Pain is your body's way of telling you to keep still while it repairs itself." She seemed genuinely worried for him. She blocked the door.

This didn't seem to worry the doctor, as she hesitated. Finally, she spoke again. "I'm the resident psychologist on staff, and though we can't hold you here for your actions…if you ever need some help, feel free to ask. Just ask for Chere." With that she stepped out of his way.

Kiba needed more help than he knew she could give. How did he know her? Chere. Her perfume smelled like roses, but he associated her with a different scent. What were those flowers?

He stepped through the door, and found the two brothers waiting for him in the hall. The tall white haired one was frowning, as if he had just lost an argument.

"Hi, again! I'm Toboe and this is my older brother Tsume." The child's smile was so endearing as he hopped over to introduce himself. For the first time in his memory, Kiba felt protective over someone he didn't know. But, didn't he know the young boy? And the older one too? Were they even brothers?

But, the questions stopped as soon as he could hear the voice again. She was calling him. It was louder now that he was out of the fog of drugs. Where was it coming from?

"Are you okay?"

Kiba looked down at Toboe. "I'm fine. I'm sorry to have caused you trouble."

Kiba tried to follow the voice, and the group started walking. Tsume kept a distance, like he was avoiding a disease. "Oh, it's okay. It wasn't totally your fault," Toboe replied. Tsume snorted.

"Well…I have to get going. Sorry again." He was outside now. The trees on the hospital lawn cast dancing shadows on the pavement. He could run and find her, but the voice had gone silent again. Why couldn't he hear? It had been so loud before, like she was next to him. Who was she?

And these people seemed so familiar. Who were they? They were being so kind, at least the little one was. And that seemed normal too.

Suddenly, Kiba saw flashes. A large cross scar, caused by betrayal. Golden earrings, a knife. A silver bracelet. It jangled every time they ran. Where were they running? Why were they together? Memories flickered like a candle and went out.

He snapped out of his reverie and looked at the two again. Tsume wore his regular look of disdain and Toboe had that usual look of quiet compassion. How did he know their faces?

"Kiba, would you like to stay with us for awhile?" The question, so simple, was added to the list that kept running through Kiba's head. Stay with them? Keep moving? Where was she? Who was she?

"Just for a couple days, until you find your own place." Why couldn't he smell the flowers that lined the sidewalk?

"What do you think?" Why couldn't he remember?

Kiba looked at the two brothers unable to decide between the urge to run or the need to stay and remember who these people were. Toboe, so hopeful, and Tsume so resentful.

"That would be…great," Kiba said at last.

The quiet voice began to sing to him, again. Her tune soothed Kiba, as he followed his new companions.

Why couldn't they hear her too?

To be continued…

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