A/N: i don't own Wolf's Rain; Nikki belongs to me.
[key: 'wolf speech'/ "human speech"]
The Sharpest Lives - Pt. II
"Oh what is this world coming to…?"
She glanced over at the two women gossiping and snorted under her breath, fastening her arms already crossed over her chest. If you only knew, lady. At noting the hackles arisen on the white wolf, she followed his line of sight to see he was striking fear into the heart of the more-bourgeois woman's small pug.
"Oi, heel. You're only making that dog ever closer to pissing on his master's shoes." She nudged his ribs, catching his mild glare with a cheeky smile.
He snuffed and slid his hands into the pockets of his weather-beaten jacket. "That dog's been cowed and tamed enough; besides, I saw you eavesdropping." He remarked, elbowing her.
She felt her ears burn and she slugged his shoulder, huffing. "Bite me." She grumbled, shuffling ahead of him after the tan wolf in the lead, noting he was sniffing (and pilfering) a fresh round of hot dogs at a nearby kiosk.
"You're lucky I don't," Kiba muttered as he followed at a calmer pace, momentarily catching the small curves on her hips, though not entirely nonexistent but just present enough to state that she was female. Even though her attitude and shoulder-length black hair could've said elsewise. Still, she was strange.
Strange and oddly interesting… But mostly strange.
"See, what'd I tell you? Noone notices us." Hige said nonchalantly as they stepped into an alley, plonking down on an ascending stairwell and tossing two hotdogs to his companions.
Catching hers expertly, Nikki bit into her pilfered dog and then blinked once when seeing the more-dubious wolf sniffing at his food; she swallowed, an amused smirk playing at her lips as she couldn't fight the giggle that arose.
He made a face at her amusement regarding his hesitation, taking a bite of the dog and minutely grimacing. "This is awful." He muttered.
"S' the best you can get around here. If I see a deer loping by, I'll be sure to catch it for you." He said sardonically, stuffing the last of his dog into his mouth.
"Can't complain when it's free," she agreed around another mouthful of hotdog.
He bit into his own dog, "you mean pilfered."
She pouted at him. "Oi, don't knock it; if you're fast enough to pull a job, then more power to you." Not all of us are nomads, she silently added.
Kiba began to spout a snarky comment in rebuttal were it not for the shrill cry of police cars that sounded in the distance, his ears twitching; he looked in the direction of the noise.
"Nobles are at it again; seems like they're picking up one idiot after another." Hige commented, also having tuned in to the noise, looking in the same direction mildly.
Nikki followed their line of sight, frowning slightly as she thought back to her brother and she dusted her hands of crumbs. I hope Onii-san's doing okay; if he got caught by those bastards…
"Where do the troops take them once they're caught?" Kiba asked, stirring her from her thoughts.
Hige shrugged, "Prolly the same place they took you, I guess."
He looked thoughtful, "That's perfect. I'll blend in, and sneak inside."
"Come again?" She blinked once, tilting her head slightly to look at him, not entirely believing he was actually contemplating going back there. "Kiba, you're not serious…"
"It was hard enough getting out of there, and now you want to go back? That hotdog fried your brain!" He added quickly, as disbelieving as she was.
"I'm going back in." He stated, looking to both of his friends.
Hige snorted, "Hang on a second, what the hell happened to goin' to Paradise?"
"Look, the scent is coming from somewhere inside that building. And as far as we can tell, the only way in is to get captured. You know what's there, don't you? What they're hiding behind those walls? The beacon that'll lead us to Paradise." Kiba said seriously, mainly looking at his fellow wolf.
"Well you'll never get close to Cheza." Nikki countered calmly, perking his ears.
At seeing the question rising to the surface, Hige contributed, "The girl that was made from Lunar Flowers, at least that's what they say, anywho. Listen, it's pointless to go back; they've got the place locked down. Even we couldn't get so far as to the lab."
"Then why'd you escape with me?" Kiba asked blandly.
Hige shrugged, "For a little excitement, I guess."
"Hige, don't you believe in Paradise, too?" He quirked a brow.
"I'm not goin'." He scoffed.
Rolling his eyes, he shrugged, "All right, see you around." He turned and took off in the direction of the noise.
"Oi, Kiba!" He yelped, looking at his back in disbelief.
Nikki pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed, "Geez…"
"He's your boyfriend, ain't he? Why didja let him go?" Hige looked at her knowingly.
She ignored the burning sensation in her cheeks and ears, shoulders squaring. "He is not my boyfriend." She stared at where he had been standing for a few seconds longer before groaning, shaking her head. "I must be out of my mind..."
::::::l oOo l::::::
She jogged after his leave and she rounded another corner before she came across his familiar head of shaggy brown hair. "Hey, hold on." She declared.
Kiba paused and glanced over his shoulder at her, stopping to let her catch up. "So why did you escape with me from that place?" He asked squarely when she regained her bearings, seeing her straighten from having stooped a little to grip her knees.
Nikki blinked once before she scowled stubbornly, huffing. "You were in trouble, and if you didn't escape, only God knows what those people would've done to you. Besides, even if Hige won't join you, I will. I want to help." She stated, placing a hand on her hip and slightly shifting her weight from foot to foot.
Momentarily taking note of the determination sparkling in her blue stare, he scowled slightly and looked away, huffing as he started walking. "You're a human, if you recall. Humans don't believe in Paradise. And besides, it's too dangerous for anyone other than a wolf to make this journey." He countered, hearing her scurry after him.
She glared after him and grabbed a fistful of his jacket in her left hand, yanking him to a halt and pulling him to stand against the alley wall, a growl in her throat as she glared stubbornly up into his green stare. "I'm not a weak little human like you think I am. At least get that straightened out before I rearrange your face. I don't care what you say, or what anyone says; I do what I please. Got it?" She released his shirt collar to stiffly back away and then walk ahead of him. "Come on, you wanted to catch a bus, right?" She added, the irritation left her voice and replaced with her usual laid-back façade.
He blinked a second time at the strange whirlwind that had taken place with the human girl, the image of her glare showcasing the blazing determination in her blue eyes lingering longest in his mind. He followed at a calmer pace, still soaking in what she had said, the somewhat threat she had thrown in...
'Oddly interesting' just traded places with 'highly interesting'.
::::::l oOo l::::::
"C'mon, baby, what's the long face for?"
THWACK.
She rubbed her knuckles absently, glowering at the man she'd just broken the nose of, huffing at his half-balled-up form on the floor. "Sorry, baby, but you're so not my type." She glared at the rest of the cell's occupants. "You assholes got anything else to say?" She demanded boldly.
He watched the room clam up quickly and he looked at the reigning champ as she spat at the unfortunate man before stiffly retreating to sit next to his right. "Makes me glad you didn't 'rearrange my face' like you did him." He muttered.
She ran a hand through her hair absently. "Told you I can handle myself." She huffed.
He surveyed her lithe frame and noted she was indeed petite, smirking privately and looking away. "Tough spitfire." He murmured in appreciation.
She pretended she didn't blush at his words, squeezing her knees drawn to her chest. "Bite me." She snuffed.
Kiba chuckled, smirking cheekily. "And you don't think I won't?" He asked.
"You won't because I'll bite back." Nikki scoffed, giving him a challenging look, tipping her chin upward a little.
Given she was raised by a wolf, he had the distinct impression that she really would bite back… and as strange as it was, he wouldn't mind it in the slightest.
Oi what was wrong with him…?
He only smiled amusedly and relaxed against the wall. "I'm surprised you're so calm around me now that you've seen this face. You seem more at home with the real face." He noted quietly, thinking on the truth of his findings.
She had indeed been more open while he was in fur; but when she first saw his human mask, he could swear she was an awkward teenager that hardly made eye contact with him, and would blush if meeting his gaze.
She ignored the blush creeping into her cheeks and instead she released her knees to punch his shoulder hard. "It helps for me to punch you, y'know, since you're such a tough puppy." She stated serenely, closing her eyes.
Kiba rubbed his bruised arm gingerly, "Ow… Cripes, what the hell did you learn to hit on? A boulder?" He grumbled, shooting her a look.
Sliding an eye open at hearing the imminent whine coming from the almighty wolf, her cool façade melted and she giggled, failing to fight off an amused grin. "A tree." Nikki answered innocently.
His scowl shifted to a pout at seeing he amused her –at the expense of a few bruises; he breathed out air that lifted the fringe of brown on his left temple. "You're so strange sometimes…" He mused.
"Pfft, right, like you're perfect." Even though you sure as hell look it, she rolled her eyes and pretended he didn't look perfect for one moment. Part of her wondered why he took her punches and sarcasm; she wasn't pretty, at least she didn't see herself as that, and he was a wolf!
Surely he would've said something by now, or told her to leave him alone… so why didn't he?
Even though they were out of that stupid holding pen, she couldn't fight the sinking feeling that something was wrong, like if someone had set off an atom bomb and it was right next to her ears.
So when the sight of a tall dark figure carrying a pale figure crossing an overhead walkway merely yards ahead of them, her sinking feeling had just plummeted deeper into the abyss beneath her boots.
All three of them skidded to a halt at the sight, and even though it was nearly pitch black in the narrow alley they were in, she could still make out the white masquerade-esque mask on the figure's face. It didn't take a rocket-scientist to figure this weirdo was a man; but there was something about him that threw her off, and if she had fur, she would be bristling on end just staring up at him.
She narrowed her eyes and an instinctive hand lowered to lift a dagger from the back of her belt.
"Wolves." The white and tan wolves flinched when the man recognized their true forms; she could swear the former was growling death threats at the man. "…And a weak little girl." She gritted her teeth slightly and growled at his insult. "You have my gratitude, for it was you who awoke her." He drawled.
Nikki bared her teeth on reflex as both of her friends balked. "Tch, I figured as such." Of course. How could she not see it?
Only they would collect what was stolen from them, even if they had to do it in the dead of night.
"The Flower Maiden is mine." The noble added conclusively.
Hige gaped, "'The Maiden'?"
"Cheza." Nikki murmured.
The sound of an airship powering up cut into the tension-filled alley, and an even brighter light than that of the dim alley lamp shone down on the man. He gripped the back of the girl's head of hair as he raised her up to force her to awaken.
"Damn you…" She began to swear when an inhuman scream came from the girl, threatening to burst her eardrums. A sharp tremor jolted up her spine; she cried out and ducked her head down, toughness lost as she covered her ears and screwed her eyes shut tight.
'Mama!' The girl child ran through the dark alleys half-blinded by tears, desperate to find her lost mother, her mother that she prayed to God was waiting for her at home, in that smelly apartment…
Loud barking sounded from her right and the child barely turned to see a hulking hound rushing towards her at full-throttle; it was pitch black but she could still feel this dog wasn't going to lick her face like she so wished.
The girl screamed as she covered her head, but the dog's sharp teeth didn't bite down on her or draw blood; she opened an eye slowly before gasping, both eyes flying open to stare at her savior.
The dog cried out in agony as a larger dog with pointed ears snarled and silenced its crying with a quick break of the neck bone, a muffled 'crack' sounding when teeth broke bone.
She sniffled, watching the larger dog snort at the dead mongrel, stiffening as it turned to face her; she gaped when meeting the victor's deep gold stare, now realizing that this wasn't just a stray, that it was a wolf.
A real wolf!
'Nikki…'
"Now look what happened, because of that jerk she fainted." A familiar voice groused near her.
She didn't need to be a wolf to know the ground beneath her had left; the right side of her head lightly bumped against something warm and beating, and she remembered her surroundings.
"We need to get out of here before someone sees." The quiet collected voice of her carrier deduced, his chest rising and falling slightly with his breathing.
Shuffling of feet and she swallowed a yelp when he started walking shortly after her friend.
She wasn't a damsel, she didn't need anyone to save her, or pick her up off her feet… But damn it all he was so warm.
A/N: okay i did promise sexual tension, and there was fluff in this one, so forgive me this chap yeah?
but hey, we get a glimpse into Nikki's past and how she and Tsume met. now before any of you ask, no this is strictly a KibaOC pairing, none others. if you've been reading my WR stories you know i'm a stickler with Kiba.. besides, i kinda like Tsume being the loner. makes him sexier in a way...
agh god i need help. and re-familiarizing myself with Naruto Shippuden *cough*Itachi*cough* the last few days DOESN'T help.
on the Naruto subject, a small shoutout to InOneEfficientGulp for your hilarious romance-comedy fic, "Fishing for Mr. Right". i spent most of last night reading up to chapter six and it's an amazing read. those of you reading this go check out InOneEfficientGulp's writing.
until next time, later!