Pinkshuchan: LALIHO! Hey everyone! Pinkshuchan here! Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I've been busy. In the last chapter, Master died of Colon Cancer, causing Yuki and Shuichi to leave the cottage and start living in the forest. How will that turn out? We'll find out here. Enjoy!
Chapter 3
The Wolf and the Hound
Night fell over the forest with peace in the air. All you can hear is the sound of the wind blowing against the tree branches, owls hooting in the darkness, and the sound of wolves howling at the moon in the distance. The wolfdog and the kitten walked through the night; looking for a place to sleep without making a single sound towards each other. Shuichi usually didn't like silences, but this time he prefered it than talking at that moment. Master had died in front of him and Yuki. Master, the man who's kind heart took the young feline in from the bitter cold. Master, who wouldn't let anything bad happen to him. Master, the one who didn't need to die the way he did. But it happened, and he wished it didn't.
They kept walking until they found a small cave that was big enough for them to fit. It wouldn't be able to fit anything bigger than them. Shuichi crawled in while Yuki stayed outside.
"Yuki?" the kitten meowed "Aren't you coming in? It can fit the both of us."
"I need to do something for a while." Yuki said quietly and left, leaving Shuichi alone in the cave. Said kitten knew that the wolfdog would be back as soon as he finished what he would do and decided to go to sleep. However, with everything that had happened, he couldn't bring himself to sleep. He was worried that something would happen to Yuki out there. Shuichi didn't want to lose both Master and Yuki on the same day. Thoughts of the wolfdog filled the kitten's head until he heard footsteps; footsteps of a four legged creature. Shuichi hoped that it was Yuki, but closed his eyes. If it was Yuki, he didn't want to worry him with staying awake. The steps got louder and louder which meant that Yuki or whatever it was was getting closer. Then, all was quiet.
"Hey Cat." Yuki's voice echoed in the cave "You awake?" Shuichi didn't want to make the wolfdog assume that he was waiting for him and kept quiet. "Damn. That damn cat can sleep through anything except for thunderstorms." Yuki's footsteps started getting farther and farther away. Shuichi opened his eyes in curiousity of where Yuki was going. The wolfdog was no longer in front of the cave. The kitten took a few steps near the entrance until he heard howling from very close by. It startled Shuichi so much he jumped as high as the cave's ceiling and landed with his hair sticking up. The howling never stopped. Shuichi peeked his head out of the cave and looked up to see Yuki on a flat surface on top of the cave. He was the one howling. But the feline knew why. Yuki also missed Master. He tried acting tough with Master's death, but really he was the one who missed Master the most. His howls was his way of crying and mourning. Shuichi went back into the cave and laid down on the ground; listening and crying with Yuki's howls until the sun finally rised. When the sun rised, the wolfdog stopped and climbed down the cave. He peeked his head into the cave to the kitten waking up, or at least pretending to wake up.
"I know you weren't ever asleep, you damn cat." said Yuki.
Shuichi looked up at him. "How did you know?"
"When you're asleep, you snore. Loudly I might add. For a kitten, you are too loud and noisy."
"Do I really snore?"
They walked out of the cave with Shuichi continuing to ask about his snoring. If he had hands instead of paws, Yuki would either cover his ears or cover Shuichi's mouth as they walked. Suddenly, they heard a branch break on the ground. They both kept quiet and stood very still to find out where the sound came from. It wasn't long until they heard barking. Yuki recognized that barking and pushed Shuichi into some long grass.
"Stay hidden and keep quiet." he said.
"Why?" the kitten asked.
"Just do what I tell you." Shuichi did what he told him and hid as quietly as he could in the grass. Yuki stood there with his legs slightly apart; ready to attack what was coming. When he saw what it was, he still kept his guard.
"It's you." he growled.
"Hello to you too Yuki." said whatever it was. Shuichi looked up for a small peek to see something that looked like Yuki but smaller. It had long auburn colored ears hanging on the sides of its head and grey eyes. It had some black and auburn colored marks on its back and the rest is white. Its tail was not as fluffy was Yuki's and on its neck is a pouch. It looked like it was sniffing the air for something.
"What the hell are you sniffing at, beagle mutt? Finally smelling your own stink?" asked the wolfdog.
"No, I smell something that doesn't belong." said the beagle as Yuki called him "I recognize this scent from town, but I didn't think I'd expect it here."
"Maybe it's that furball you keep with you. Keeps messing up your senses."
"I RESENT THAT!" said a voice in the pouch. The pouch opened up to reveal a grey fluffy creature as small as a mouse. It's ears were not as big as a mouse and it didn't have a tail. It's brown eyes glared at the wolfdog at it climbed out of the pouch and onto a stump. "I am not a furball. I'm a hamster, dumbass! I believe he's sensing something else. What does it smell like?"
The beagle was sniffing around the ground. He ended up sniffing at Shuichi's direction. Closer and closer he got and Shuichi was afraid. Although he wasn't as big as Yuki, he was still very big. Of course since Yuki was right there, it would seem like he would make sure nothing happened to the kitten. However, the wolfdog was not very fond of him since day one and figured that he would let the beagle eat him or something. Shuichi hoped that he wouldn't find him and hid as low as possible in the grass, however the grass was rubbing against his nose and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't prevent himself from sneezing. At the sound of the sneeze, the beagle and the hamster noticed that there was something there. And the beagle knew what it was. He moved away some of the grass with his paw revealing the kitten.
"I knew I recognized the smell." said the beagle "It's a cat!"
Shuichi ran as fast as he could and hid behind Yuki's front legs. He peeked a bit at the beagle and when he looked his way, the feline hid again. Yuki moved a bit to the side to show Shuichi, but when Shuichi realized it, he quickly hid behind Yuki again.
"Hey, Hiro." said the hamster "I think this little kitten is shy, don't you think?"
"You might be right, Suguru." said the beagle "But how come he's not shy around Yuki?"
"Master took the damn cat in." said Yuki "Personally, I would've wanted to eat him, but you know my master. He's kind to every living thing."
The beagle moved closer to Shuichi. "Don't be frightened, little kitten." he said "We won't hurt you."
The kitten looked up at the beagle with his violet eyes. He could tell that the beagle was friendly and walked closer to him. The hamster got off the stump he was sitting on and looked up at Shuichi.
"It's nice to meet you." said the hamster "My name is Suguru and my friend is Hiro. What's your name?"
"Shuichi." the feline meowed.
The beagle Hiro placed his paw on top of Shuichi's head. "It's okay. I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm a really friendly dog so you have nothing to fear."
Shuichi started sniffing Hiro to make sure that he was telling the truth. Then he started sniffing Suguru for the same reason. When he was sure that they were safe, he felt more confident.
"Why are you here anyways?" growled Yuki.
"I recognized your howling and went to see what's wrong." said Hiro "What about you? Why are you here? Isn't your master here with you?"
The wolfdog turned his head away from the beagle. "He left. He left everything."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"No. It's fine."
"What about Shuichi?"
"Master's last wish was that we took care of each other." Shuichi butt into the conversation "That's why we're here!"
"If there's anything you guys need, I'll have my master get something for you."
"No need." said Yuki "I can survive without any of that stuff. As for the damn cat, I don't give a damn of what he eats." And with that, he walked away.
"Yuki!" the kitten meowed "Yuki! Wait for me!" He turned towards the beagle and the hamster. "It's nice meeting you guys. I hope we meet again." And so he followed Yuki. Hiro and Suguru stayed there looking at the duo until they vanished from sight.
"Do you think they'll be okay in the forest?" Suguru asked.
"Yuki's a very strong, pigheaded wolfdog. He can take care of himself. As for Shuichi, it would be a miracle if he survives. Hopefully, Yuki would help him out. If he doesn't get pissed off at him or ends up eating him before then." Hiro lowered his head so Suguru could jump into the pouch and the two of them went back to their own master.
Meanwhile, Shuichi had finally caught up to Yuki. "Yuki?" he asked "How do you Hiro and Suguru? Are they friends of yours?"
"Friends? Ha, yeah right!" huffed Yuki "Their master was a friend of Master's. I see them more than I really want to. Eventually, you get tired of seeing their ugly faces."
The kitten didn't know why Yuki wouldn't get along with anyone. But he didn't want to get the wolfdog more angry at him so he just kept quiet. That was until his stomach started growling.
"Getting hungry, Cat?" Yuki asked. Shuichi nodded. "I'm getting a little hungry too. Time to get some grub." So the two of them went off to look for food.
Pinkshuchan: Well, I'm glad that Shuichi made some new friends. I would've written more this chapter, but I didn't know what else to write about and I'm sure you guys were anxious for this chapter. In the next chapter, Yuki and Shuichi will meet the residents of the forest. Read and Review everyone!
