Disclaimer: Though I am a HUGE Kiba fangirl, I do not own him..Sadly..

Chapter 2

I can't help but stare at origin of my nightmares. He's different than what I remember, and yet also achingly familiar all at once. The same clothes, the same silver bracelets on his arm. However, the easy innocence in his startling eyes has vanished, replaced by a world-weary shadow that haunted them. He reaches out a hand, stepping over Dyue's body in careless disregard, though a puzzled expression unfolds on his features when he hears me say his name.

"I'm sorry, but have we met before, Miss?"

He doesn't remember me! I think to myself. I force myself to meet his gaze, and for a moment, I see his true form. My eyes widen appreciatively. No longer is he a gangly, long-limbed pup. Toboe has grown into a sleek and handsome wolf, with a dark brown coat and a lighter tan fur around his eyes and muzzle. His silver bracelets, slightly tarnished from age and being through God knew what, flash in the faint light of the sickle moon. However, there's something hazy about him; like I'm looking at him through a fog, blurring my vision and softening his shape to a distant streak of fur. My concentration wavers, and I see the youth projection before me.

"Let me help you up." He says gently. "Then we'll go get you cleaned up. They cut your arm, but it only looks like a scratch. How did you get them so angry?"

My eyes wander pass him, and I see the already cooling body of Dyue. I see the blood on his lips, and I shudder. "Stay back," I hiss. "Murderer."

Toboe's eyes harden. "I'm not a murderer. I was protecting you."

The truth of his words hits me and stiffly, I reach out and accept his outstretched hand. With my all-seeing eyes, I caught a glimpse of the real Toboe—though still unnaturally blurry--- supporting me by gently clasping the sleeve of my shirt in his strong jaws and tugging me slowly backwards. I manage to get to my feet, clutching my sliced arm weakly. My ribs ache dully, and I sigh in relief. No broken bones.

I find myself staring at the wolf Toboe, questions burning in my mind. Why had he come back now, after so many years? He obviously didn't remember who I was, so why had he helped me? And if I were to remind him, would he even recall our meeting?

Toboe looks at me strangely. "You smell familiar."

My crooked grin widens, and I shake my head slowly. I'm surprised when my voice resurfaces. "…I'm fine…just…"

What words could I use to describe the emotional maelstrom I was currently fighting?

Instead, I point to Dyue's corpse. "How are you going to explain that to the Noble's men?"

Toboe's true form lifts his lips in a slight growl. "Self-defense. They would have killed you, if I hadn't shown up."

I feel grateful to the wolf before me, yet the sight of a human corpse makes me tremble. "Katsuye won't let you get away with killing him." I say. "She'll hunt you down with her own gang."

Toboe shrugs nonchalantly. "Who's Katsuye?"

"The girl that ran away from you."

He laughs darkly. "Let's see her try anything. I won't lay a hand on me." He appraises me with distant eyes. "Not like you, however."

The dun-colored wolf before me frowns in concern. "Let me take you to a healer."

I laugh, a harsh mocking sound. "There hasn't been a healer in this city in years. No need for one. Most people don't usually come off as easily as I did tonight."

He takes in my answer, but I can tell it doesn't surprise him. He tries conversation again.

"Where can you get some medical help, then?"

"And by the way, I haven't caught your name."

Such a simple question catches me off guard, and I blanche. "Erm… Lyssa."

My mother's name rolls off my tongue before I can stop it, and it hovers in the air like a broken thing. I can see that Toboe senses I'm lying---what half-wit couldn't? --- But he accepts it without questions.

"Well then, Lyssa, what do you suppose we do? I can't just leave you in this condition."

I look down at myself. Blood streaks the front of my shirt, and I can already feel the bruises blooming on my face. Black and blue are not my colors.

"I know somewhere I can go," I say, suddenly thinking of my own secret place. "A little ways from here. I know I'll be safe there, for the night."

Toboe flicks a strand of red hair from his eyes, and then nods resolutely. "Might as well follow you there to make sure I don't have to save you again."

"Thanks, Mr. Chivalrous, but I'll be fine." I snap back. This certainly isn't the Toboe I remember. I suddenly didn't want him following me around. Wolves meant trouble. "I can take care of myself. Maybe you should stay here and take care of a few things. Say, I don't know--- that dead guy right there?"

He snorts. "That guy got what was coming to him."

"And you're going to get what's coming to you when I say get lost."

I turn my back to him and begin walking toward my hideout, thinking I'd lost my tagalong, but soon enough I hear the echoes of footsteps (paw steps?) behind me. We walk quietly for a minute or two, though I'm more limping along than walking. I don't know why I can't stand to send him away. After all, he'd just killed a man. Albeit a crazy, drunken one, intent on killing me, but a man still.

You welcome the danger he brings, Something inside me whispers. Wolves are your destiny.

We walk until I call for a stop before a closed bakery in a horrible state. Glass reflects the surrounding light and glitters with the promise of danger, like a fanged beast. The door to the bakery has been nailed shut, the nails rusted and weak. The sign above the door once read, 'Rise'n'Shine Bakery,' though now several of the letters are missing. To the left is an alleyway, which I take without a second thought. Halfway down the alley, a large metal grate covers what was once the basement of the bakery. I find the pair of pliers that I usually use to pull out the screws on the hinges, but as I try to clamp them on the screw, my arm protests in pain.

"Here, let me." Toboe takes over without even bothering to take the pliers. His projection flickers, and I see the sleek wolf biting the hinges with his powerful jaws. Quick as a flash, he rips them open. I shiver at the sight, and it makes me rethink what I'm doing taking a wolf into my sanctuary without telling anyone. I didn't think I was this suicidal.

"Ladies first." Toboe says with his smiling human face. I sit on the ground before hopping into the back void that is the basement, Toboe at my heels. He secures the grate back in its original spot, while I rummage in the dark and find my spare supply of candles. The flickering light engulfs the shadows of the basement. Over the years, I've brought some furniture to my place; a three legged chair, a creaky table and a holey mattress I scavenged from a junk pile. Wooden crates lay strewn about, marked 'Bagels' or 'Bread', from a time when the bakery was busy. I hobble over to the crates and pull out a loaf of bread encased in a vacuum-sealed bag that was made to last decades. I toss it to Toboe, who catches it with easy, unnatural grace before making himself comfortable on my chair.

"Thanks." He says, though he doesn't open it. Instead, he watches me as I find the old first aid kit hidden behind a fallen shelf and grab the antiseptic. I pour half of the bottle on the cut on my arm and hiss at the expected sting.

"You know, you never answered my question," Toboe says unexpectedly.

"What question?" I absentmindedly ask, rubbing the antiseptic into my cut with my good hand.

"The one where you know my name."

I stop what I'm doing, dumbfounded. Great. How could I get away with this one? Do I tell him? Or continue my charade of ignorance? The antiseptic cream burns, and I continue to rub it in.

"I met you once," I find myself saying in a near whisper. "A few years ago."

He stiffens, and looks at me with wide eyes.

"How long ago?" He asks, deathly quiet.

"Six years."

"What was I doing here?"

I blink, amazed by his lack of recollection skills. "How am I supposed to know what a wo—you were doing here?" I recover quickly. "Shouldn't you tell me that?"

He lowers his head, and behind his projection, his true form lowers his tail in a defeated manner. "The thing is… I can't remember."

I stare at him uncomprehendingly. "What do you mean, can't remember?"

"What do you think I mean?" He growls. "I have amnesia."

At that moment, I wouldn't be shocked if the moon were turn purple and dance across the night sky.

"Amnesia?" The word feels like poison on my tongue.

Toboe nods. "I woke up about a week ago, and I can't remember anything before that. Well, actually," He corrects himself. "I faintly remember looking for something called…paradise."

I carefully put down the medical supplies, my mind reeling. Was this some kind of sick joke?

"So you don't remember what you are?" I blurt out. Toboe frowns.

"What do you mean, 'what I am?'"

I stare into his eyes, weighing my options. Lie for the hundredth time that night, or tell him what is rightfully his birthright?

The answer lies within his expression; one of unnecessary torment and fierce curiosity.

"Don't you find that you're… different… from the other people you've met?" I ask cautiously. I hope I'm doing the right thing.

His frown deepens. "In what way?"

"Normal people don't have the sense of smell that you do," I begin. "They can't tear a metal grate off its hinges, or move as… gracefully as you do." I take a deep breath before continuing, and look at the blood on Toboe's mouth. "Most don't…kill… as indifferently you did tonight."

The line of his mouth tightens. "I told you already, it was self defense."

"A man's still dead."

He jumps up in a rage. "Are you saying you wanted me to let those men kill you?"

The wolf is snarling, his fangs bared and his eyes murderous.

"You're a wolf, for god's sake!"

My outburst shocks both of us, and silence ensues.

He stares, dumbfounded. "A…wolf?"

"Yes."

"They don't exist." He says, but his words are strangled. "They're just legends."

"You're wrong," I argue. "The wolves hide in plain sight of humans. They can twist my kind's minds, so that they see another person instead of a wolf."

"So? That doesn't prove that I'm one."

God, he's stubborn. I glare at him. "You want to know how I really know you?" I ask viciously. "It's because six years ago, you came to this city. I fed you sausages because I thought you were a stray dog." My voice flares in anger. "But then I met a boy, my age or so, who said he was the owner of the dog I took care of. He said he wanted to be my friend, but then I saw him for what he really was. A wolf; a wolf pup. His illusion fell away before my very eyes, and I went screaming."

"That wolf was you, Toboe."

Recognition lights in his eyes. "The girl…that girl who I liked…"

I smile grimly. "Her name---my real name--- is Leara."

Before my eyes, Toboe's human disguise completely melts away, and I'm left with the strong wolf. The haze that had been surrounding him vanishes, leaving a strong, clear image in its wake. Toboe blinks in surprise and looks at himself in amazement.

Leara… It's his voice I hear, though the wolf's lips make no movement. I remember now. I remember everything that happened to me, and the others; Hige, Tsume and Kiba. Cheza and Blue. Our quest to be the wolves to find itHis ears flatten. My death…

There's no time for me to take in his words before he pushes on

"But why are you back, Toboe?" My voice is lower than a whisper.

His amber eyes stare into my own, the fierce and wise gaze of a predator. Because my pack and I were expelled from Paradise..

A/N:

Ah, I love cliffhangers! -smiles evilly-
But anyway, I'd love some feedback. I was a bit worried that this chapter moved kinda fast, or that Toboe was way out of character. But, given the fact that it's been a while, I'd like to think that he toughened up a bit.

Reviews Equal Love!
Reviewers Equal My Best Friends!
:)

Till next time!
-Madison