Estelle: Well, it only took you a while to type this up.
Koji: Totally S-L-O-W!
Me: Shut up! I'm doing the best I can, what with having to finish up so many stories at once!
Estelle: Sure. You own NOTHING in them, anyway.
Koji: Yep, NOTHING at all.
Me: Except this plot, and a bunch of characters I created...
Chapter 4: A New Problem...
Arisa and Kureno had left a few days after the happy news that Estelle was to recover, and they headed back to their home. Estelle had recovered rather quickly from her bullet shot, but by time it was fully recovered, hunting season had come, and Koji and Estelle kept a close watch on their children.
They were sitting outside in the backyard when the second week came. Estelle stretched out, yawning, "I wish we hadn't got stuck like this."
Koji nodded, "Yes, but we had no say in it. If we're lucky, there may be some way to reverse this."
"But what if we can't? The price for coats like ours are high, so we'd be sitting ducks out there."
"Who knows? Maybe we can find a forest where there's a reservation for wolves."
"And that would be...where?"
"I don't know. I was just suggesting."
"Yes, I know. I'm just tired right now."
Kyo and Katsuya came outside a little while later, Kyo watching Katsuya as he played with the pups, adjusted to their presence of talking. Estelle noted, "You've gotten softer since you've had a son, Kyo."
Kyo raised an eyebrow, "What?"
"Nothing." Estelle chuckled.
"You'd better be glad your husband is right there, otherwise, I'd kick your butt right here and now."
"I highly doubt that. I can still beat you, wolf or not."
"Yeah, right."
Estelle jumped up and pounced on Kyo, pushing him down, and she pinned his arms down, "I'm sorry, what were you saying?"
Kyo recollected himself, and pushed her off, snarling, "Okay, so you caught me off guard."
"Sure. Whateeevvveeer you say."
Kyo leapt at Estelle from her left side, and she easily jumped out of the way, and landed on his back, forcing him down again. "Sure you don't wanna give up?" Estelle taunted.
Kyo threw her off, "Never."
"Cool. Now, guys!"
Kyo twitched as he heard laughing behind him. He turned and saw all the puppies behind him, standing in a row, preparing to pounce. He began to take off, but the pups ran faster than him, and all bounded on his back along with Estelle, pushing him hard to the ground for the third time. He growled, "Well...this is annoying."
"Daddy!"
Katsuya came and threw himself on his dad, the pups scrambling so they wouldn't get squished. Kyo grunted loudly as his son landed with full force on top of him. He groaned, "Katsuya...pain...get off...of me..."
"Oops! Sorry, Daddy!" Katsuya quickly leapt off his dad, Kyo pushing himself off the ground, and looked at his son. Katsuya looked back with his big blue eyes, and felt something coming.
He was right.
Kyo jumped up, chasing Katsuya around the yard, all the wolves laughing as Katsuya avoided him easily. Kyo, at last, caught up to him, and gently tackled him to the ground. Katsuya squealed as the former Cat lifted him off the ground, holding him high above him. Katsuya then began to laugh, holding his arms out, pretending he was flying. "Higher, Daddy!" he commanded.
Kyo then put him on his shoulders, and jumped on the trampoline they had, and began to jump after setting Katsuya down beside him. Katsuya cheered, "Daddy, on three, fall down! Ready? 1...2...3!"
Kyo and Katsuya matched their timing, and they fell to their knees. Katsuya went flying, and he bounced higher when Kyo swiftly jumped up again. Kyo chuckled, "That high enough for you, kid?"
Katsuya continued to laugh until he doubled over, giving in to his fun. Kyo came down and tickled him, making his lauging histaricle. Kyo's head then snapped up as he saw Tohru leaning in the doorway. He stopped tickling his son, and asked, "Is something wrong, Tohru?"
"No. It's just been a while...since you've been like this." Tohru smiled gently.
Kyo released Katsuya, and the child ran to mess around with Estelle and Koji.
Kyo walked to Tohru, putting a hand on her small shoulder, "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm...I'm sure. I was just thinking about all the others, and wondering what's become of them. When I think of posibilities, I just..." then she shivered.
"I'm sure they're all right. They're tough, and annoying." Kyo nodded, attempting to cheer her up.
Tohru looked deep in his eyes and found that he was right. "Yes...I shouldn't worry too much."
"There you go. C'mon, wanna mess around?" Kyo grinned.
"...Sure."
Tohru and Kyo walked back in the yard, and Katsuya was playing with Koji, tackling him down. Koji yelped quietly, and Katsuya positioned himself to act like he was riding a bull. "Waaaa-hhhhoooo!!!" Katsuya whooped when Koji started running around. (he's a pretty big wolf, isn't he?)
Tohru swept Katsuya off gracefully when Koji ran past her. Katsuya shreiked at first, thinking he was falling off, then saw his mother, and grinned like Kyo, "Hey, Mommy!"
"Hey, Katsuya." Tohru grinned back.
Kyo passed a soccer ball to Tohru, and she set him down on the ground. Tohru kicked the ball back to Kyo, who chased it, and sent it gently to Katsuya. Katsuya stopped the ball with his hands, and Tohru stated, "Katsuya. When you play soccer, you aren't allowed to use your hands."
Katsuya seemed freaked when he heard this, and removed his hands from the ball instantly. He tried to kick the ball at full power, but swung, and it went only a couple of feet. He appeared depressed, but Kyo nodded his head, "That was good, Katsuya. Most kids can't kick as good as you when they're this young."
Katsuya perked up, and ran after the ball, and kicked it again, this time, it reached Tohru.
Throughout the afternoon, everyone present got in on the little game, passing it around. Before anyone knew it, it was evening already. They were all sweaty, and Katsuya had improved dramatically in his kicking and halting without using his hands. Tohru was tucking Katsuya in bed, and she kissed him, "Did you have fun today?"
"Yeah! It was really fun!" Katsuya nodded his head excitedly.
"Good. Sweet dreams, Katsuya." Tohru turned out the light.
"Night, Mommy."
Katsuya laid down, rubbing his head against his pillow, found a comfortable place, and quickly fell asleep. When he was suond asleep, someone from outside creaked his unlocked window open. The person quietly landed on the floor, and let out a quiet sigh of relief. A feminine voice whispered, "Dang, I thought she'd never leave."
The girl walked over to the sleeping Katsuya, grinned, and held a hand over him. A gentle, gleaming orange light still didn't wake Katsuya as the girl finished her task. She grinned evilly, "Now I'll have my revenge." and she left swiftly.
The next morning, Katsuya ran downstairs, his stomach aching for food. He found Tohru, bright and early, fixing some pancakes. "Good morning, Katsuya. Sleep well?" she smiled.
"Yes, Mommy." Katsuya walked up to her, giving her a morning hug.
But it wasn't just a morning hug.
Orange smoke filled the room, and Tohru's eyes went wide and blank.
"KKKYYYYOOOO!!!"
Me: Sorry this is a short chapter.
Koji: You're not sorry! What happened to Katsuya? Or Tohru?
Estelle: I hate you, Sylphy.
Me: Hey, I created you, and I can do away with you.
Estelle: Oh? What did I just say? Sylphy is my most favorite person. Aside from my children and Koji.
Me: Oh, I feel SSSOOOO much better...
Koji: Weirdos. Read and review.