Yo! How're all my favorite fanfic, Wolf's Rain, and Naruto fans doing? Yeah I know I haven't uploaded any chapter for this story in nearly a year, and haven't uploaded any chapters for any of my stories in almost two months but one: I haven't had much inspiration and two: I've been in my first semester of college and am taking 16 credits while being in the freshmen nursing program... -sweatdrops- Yeah I've been just a little stressed and overworked. But hey! I hope ya all enjoy the newest chapter of this Kiba x Sakura fanfic!

Disclaimer: I don't own the animes, Wolf's Rain and Naruto, or the characters I write about but I do own the storyline. If I did own Wolf's Rain then Toboe sure as HELL wouldn't have died, nor Tsume especially when their relationship was just becoming more open and Tsume was beginning to be more affectionate with the pup.


Chapter 3

It wasn't long after Sakura's abrupt departure before Kiba left the Hokage's office with a small nod of acknowledgement to Darcia and a bow to Lady Tsunade. The words that the village's alpha and beta had said about the jade eyed female assigned as his first partner, trying to reassure him in their own ways, circled like buzzards, over and over inside his head.

Females were temperamental, far more sensitive than males as his pack mate Hige, whom was paired with the famed Ino Yamanaka, could attest to that fact well enough. But something about the outburst, didn't seem like she was simply being temperamental, refusing him to spite her alpha's decision. No, she was being devoted to her partner.

Now wolves are notoriously loyal; Kiba knew that from his own behavior as well as the behavior of his pack mates. Humans on the other hand, were known for being selfish, greedy, self-serving creatures. Their kinds were complete opposites, and yet somehow they made the best partners. Sakura's outburst, her protectiveness and loyalty to her former partner (Kakashi was it?), and her outright refusal of him had Kiba thoroughly shocked. She had piqued his curiosity and he hated to admit it but he not only needed to know more about her, he wanted to.

He slipped his hands into the front pockets of his jeans but they unconsciously clenched into fists when a soft breeze blew over him, bringing the scent of flowers and a shocked inhale was all it took to dredge up unwanted memories. Soft pink hair and kind, pale red eyes flashed from behind the lids of his eyes he hadn't even noticed he'd closed. His own dark brown hair fell forward, partially covering his face, as his head hung and shoulders drooped. The corners of his eyes felt tight, refusing to let the aching in his chest manifest outwardly.

"Cheza…"

Her name left his lips in a whisper, sounding like something between a plea and a prayer. Kiba's jaw clenched as the sounds of her laughter floated around him, carried by the wind. He shook his head violently but couldn't stop the images of her that replayed in his mind.

...the way she would smile sweetly and made him feel like the center of her world

…the lilting, cheerful, uplifting sounds of her laughter

…her red eyes only a shade away from the crimson of blood but they only held kindness and love in them, making it impossible for anyone that met her to hate or fear her

…the trust those eyes held whenever she would gaze up into his own slate blue eyes

…the way her voice would turn to soft hums and words she would sing as a lullaby in the foreign words of her people

…how she would dance with him and the rest of his pack under the light of the full moon

…her infectious spirit

…her feather soft pink hair that was almost lilac…

A shade near that of another, so much so that it made him uncomfortable to even put Sakura and Cheza into the same category even if it was simply one trait that reminded him of the other. Their personalities (at least that he saw of Sakura in their brief meeting) were complete opposites.

Cheza had always been soft spoken, kind hearted, never wanting to hurt those around her whether it was physically or emotionally. She encompassed every trait of the lunar flowers her people shared genetics with. He'd never seen her eyes alight with the anger or hardened to stone-like spheres, as Sakura's had, in all the time he had known her.

In all the time that he had loved her…

Cheza had been the center of his world, his support, all he could have ever wanted and with her he was truly happy. That happiness however… didn't last long.

Her people shared many traits with the lunar flowers, including their short lifespan. They didn't live for decades like humans or wolves, lucky if they lived even one. It was obvious when the end of their life was near.

They would have less energy, become weakened and remain in that state even after bathing in the light of the full moon. They would wilt, just like a flower. Vine-like veins would appear on their bodies, bulging from their skin and covering it in sprawled patterns, tinged green from the poisonous blood flowing through them. Kiba would have mated Cheza had it not been for her poor health. Had it not been for her worry of what would become of him after her far too soon, yet expected, passing…

It was Kiba's fear of losing Cheza that prompted him to seek out the help of the village on the borders of his pack's territory, the Leaf Village. Kiba had seen the signs warning him that Cheza would not live for much longer and he was terrified. Even though he had his pack, his family, he wouldn't be with her. He would be alone without the woman he chose as his mate to stand at his side.

In his desperation he begged the alpha of the village, Lady Tsunade, to help Cheza, heal her. It didn't matter what it would cost, what he would give up in return. The only thing that mattered to him at the time was Cheza and her wellbeing.

To her credit, Lady Tsunade didn't even hesitate to agree to help Cheza, asking for nothing in exchange. The medics worked on Cheza for what seemed like forever to Kiba whom had watched over her through everything, not taking a moment to sleep, eat or even look away from his flower maiden. He knew that his pack mates had been beside him the whole time, at least one of them at his side or watching over him at all times. He knew it by their scents clinging to the air and glimpses of them from the corners of his eyes but his focus had been solely on Cheza.

Lady Tsunade had been at the head of the healers working on Cheza, working tirelessly and only ceasing her work when she was at the end of even her infinite supplies of chakra. For all their work, the endless hours and immeasurable amount of chakra used, Cheza's life was extended but not saved. Lady Tsunade had given Kiba months more left with his love, a precious gift that he could never hope to repay. In the end though, Cheza ended up dying…

It was inevitable and the treatments performed on her would only last for so long.

Kiba whimpered softly as the memory of her death made it to the forefront of his mind. Cheza had a soft, understanding, accepting smile on her face. Pale read eyes showing no pain or suffering, only exhaustion and worry for Kiba and the rest of the wolves that were standing around them, all weeping for her. Hige held Blue tightly in his arms, her cheek against his chest as she sobbed yet didn't look away from Cheza and Kiba.

Even Tsume had cried openly that day with Toboe pressing his face into Tsume's side.

Kiba had held onto her as tightly as he could, refusing to let her go as tears filled his eyes and ran down his cheek, knowing that if he let go he would lose her. It was only when she lifted her hands to his cheeks that he loosened his grip. Kiba was filled with warmth at her touch, feeling her lips brush his forehead in the lightest of kisses.

He pulled back, looking down at her and listening raptly as she spoke. "Please smile, for me? I want to see you smiling…just…one last time."

Cheza was fading fast, her words becoming softer as her eyelids fluttered, trying to hold them open for a bit longer. That knowledge alone made his sorrow tighten painfully around his heart like a lead chain. It felt impossible for him to even muster a grimace but the request was just like Cheza, always worrying about others before herself.

With a choked sob he smiled endearingly at her, with all the affection he held in his heart for her. The worry in her beautiful eyes faded and he knew it was worth it just to see the calm and peace in her beautiful red gaze. Cheza's eyes slowly shut as her head tilted back, lips parting with a long sigh as her arms fell to her sides and her back arched. Her body dissolved in Kiba's arms into round, dark brown seeds that would later produce lunar flowers if planted and cared for.

All that was left in Kiba's grasp was the clothing Cheza had been wearing. He clutched it to his chest, her scent held strongly by the scraps of cloth, the last thing that he had of her, as he broke down, sobs violently racking his frame until he collapsed on the ground amongst the lunar flower seeds. He vaguely remembered hearing the mournful howls of his pack mates, continuing long into the night and finally being the last thing he heard before he lost consciousness.

The next several weeks were blurry to him, not able to remember much other than the mumbled voices of his pack mates, the sounds of sobbing (of them or himself he couldn't tell) and muffled wails, the scent of lunar flowers and Cheza all around him, and the sight of round seeds just before his eyes. His first clear memory after her death was weeks later, lying on a quilt in what seemed like a field of lunar flowers. He slowly lifted his body to sit up and looked around, not knowing how much time had passed.

Kiba spotted Tsume just a few feet away, resting with his arms crossed over his chest, his chin against his collarbone and his back propped up on a tree trunk. Toboe was dozing with him, head in Tsume's lap, cheek resting against his thigh while a hand was placed protectively on Tsume's knee. Toboe's caramel colored hair was splayed out across Tsume's lap, reminiscent of a halo.

The thought sent throbbing pain through Kiba's chest and he had to look away. It would seem that in his absence from reality that his pack mates had taken care of him, taking turns watching over him while the others hunted. He was told a while later that Tsume had taken care of relaying Cheza's death to Lady Tsunade, something Kiba was immensely grateful to the gray wolf for.

Kiba knew that he wouldn't be able to even utter Cheza's name without falling apart, and he had no idea when that would change. The first time he had left the meadow of lunar flowers was to go down to a nearby spring, he scent finally bothering Blue enough that she reamed him out, reminding him of Cheza, asking him what she would say about his state of being, and guilting him into getting up to bathe. His gait was slow, feet dragging as he plodded to the river yet he froze as he got to the water's edge.

The water's rippling surface reflected like a mirror in the bright rays of the sun and in that reflection he was disgusted and horrified of what he saw.

Cheeks sullen, eyes rimmed with marks as black as coal, hair hanging limply, greasy, filthy and weak, and what was the worst was the way his eyes appeared haunted, dead inside. Cheza truly had been his soul and without her, Kiba was nothing but a husk of the alpha he was. A growl rumbled through his chest. His pack deserved better than this, a better leader and a better friend.

Kiba sprang off the riverbed and into the water, not caring for the clothes he wore. All he wanted to do was wash away what the water showed him, knowing that Cheza would want better for him and their pack.


When he returned to the meadow of lunar flowers, all of the wolves gathered there in their human forms looked up. Looks of shock and awe crossed their faces before smiles tugged at their lips at the sight of their alpha standing before them drenched and dripping wet. Tsume scoffed before smirking, but the look in his golden eyes showed nothing but relief and affection. Toboe was grinning widely before jumping up from his place beside Tsume to run to Kiba, standing before him talking and laughing, happy as a pup and all of them could imagine just how fast his tail would have been wagging had he been in his wolf form.

Things slowly got better for the pack from them, better for Kiba if only in increments. Being in the meadow amongst the lunar flowers helped, allowing him peace and comfort surrounded by his lost mate's scent. The pack took care of the meadow and the flowers within it, gathering the seeds as they came and planting them, weeding out those that had died before burying them so that the other flowers could benefit from their nutrients.

However, even with the peace and calm gathered in their meadow, Kiba knew that he would have to leave their small haven soon though and head into the Leaf Village, speak with Lady Tsunade to personally express his gratitude for what she had given him. The others noticed a change in Kiba, and knew that they would leave soon, following him wherever he went and supporting him in what he decided. And they did follow him, racing off through the forests to the Leaf Village where they all met with Lady Tsunade.

At seeing the pack, without Cheza, Lady Tsunade's face softened and the look in her normally hard eyes became sympathetic, knowing very well how it felt to lose one close enough to be called a mate by wolf standards. The first thing she had said the them after greeting them was that she gave them her sympathy, her condolences and offered that there be a memorial for Cheza held within the village. The next thing that she said was that they owed her nothing, already knowing that Kiba believed that he and his pack owed her a life debt for treating Cheza.

Kiba, however, refused to accept this, never one to be ungrateful. For what Lady Tsunade had done for Cheza, granting Kiba more time with her, something he believed with all his heart that he could never be able to repay, he offered her the loyalty of his pack. He knew of the Leaf Village's traditions and offered them, along with himself, to be partnered with any of the ninja under her protection as she saw fit. Tsunade knew that the alpha wouldn't step down or change his mind, looking to the faces of his pack mates only to see that their expressions mirrored his, readily supporting their leader and willing to do whatever he asked of them.

Sighing before regarding the wolves before her with an exasperated and slightly annoyed expression, she accepted their offer.

From the beginning of their arrangement Lady Tsunade had never ordered any of his pack mates or him into a partnership with her people. She would ask to have a meeting with Kiba and propose a likely match. Then it would go on to discussing it with his chosen pack mate and if they agreed then they would meet their partner. If things didn't go well then Lady Tsunade immediately let it go, she didn't push the partners together, never did.

The partners had to be mutually open to each other, either with similar personalities or having traits that the other lacked and needed. It was rare that the purposed matches ever went badly so he learned to put his trust in Lady Tsunade's judgement.

She never even broached the subject of partnering him with any of her people, female or male. He didn't know whether it was Lady Tsunade's way of respecting his need to grieve Cheza's death or that none so far could be his equal in intelligence or strength but it was yet another thing that earned her his gratitude.

The subject of him being partnered had long been forgotten until one day as they were in her office late at night Kiba noticed that Tsunade appeared thoughtful, considering something very hard as she bit the nail of her thumb and narrowed her eyes at her sake cup. Darcia had noticed the change in her as well; in his wolf form he nudged her thigh with his head. Her eyes widened, seeming to be startled out of her thoughts as she looked down at Darcia to see him tilt his head at her.

She sighed heavily before reaching her hand down to run her fingers through the fur on his cheek. Darcia let out a deep, content rumble as he closed his eyes and leaned his head into her hand. Kiba watched her, drinking sake from his own bottle, waiting for her to speak her mind as he knew she eventually would even without prompting.

Her voice was quiet, hesitant, as if she were uncertain which words to use as she carefully measured them. "I've… been considering, recently, a… well, a partner for you Kiba." He blinked slowly as his brows rose at Lady Tsunade's words.

Sakura had been the first person Lady Tsunade had ever suggested to him, much less brought up in terms of becoming his partner. That alone had caused him to be intrigued by her and was willing to be patient with the new female, not wanting to immediately disregard to as a partner, to wait and see how things would go as time passed, hoping she would open up.

Kiba shook his head violently as his heart clenched painfully in his chest. He had enough of memories of the past. Now all he wanted to do was escape, to run away. He was already sprinting when his form shifted into that of a white wolf, his speed increasing as he took no heed of where exactly he was headed. All he knew was that he had to evade his own thoughts.


Author's Note: Woah... Did any of those scenes hurt anyone else's heart? I remember crying my heart out when Cheza died mainly because of how Kiba took it, so I hope I was able to relay such emotional intensity through my chapter! Let me know what you guys think.