Koinu: Hi everybody! I'm back, and I still don't own Naruto or Wolf's Rain... darn. Oh well, my plans for world domination can wait.

Yourie: The purple space penguins are attaking!

Koinu: Um, what purple space penguins Yourie?

Yourie: The ones from pluto!

Koinu: Okay, someone has had way too my sugar today...


She took one powerful bound, and was airborne. In a split second, she nimbly landed on the boy's shoulder, all four paws balanced and in position for another leap. And that's what she did. She pushed off of him, and took off at a full run. She could tell he was confused by what he had just witnessed.

"What the hell was that?" Sasuke mumbled as the unnaturally large, midnight black dog ran down the alleyway. "That… was no ordinary dog…"

"Stupid, stupid, stupid… stupid!" Takai cursed her clumsiness as she leap from rooftop to rooftop towards the school. She had abandoned the street after running into that boy.

"Damnit, I'm so stupid! How could I have not noticed him! It's not like he was being stealthy or anything. He was just walking – and I ran right into him!" She let out one last angry growl before she landed in front of the school.

Takai switched to her human form, and shoved open the doors to the academy, in her anger using much more force then was needed. Silently, she stalked down the hallways, following Iruka's scent to the source.

Slowly though, her anger dissipated, and was replace by ecstasy. Her exhilaration from before returned, and with a vengeance. She shivered slightly, but with happiness; she was finally going to graduate. She had been so sad when she had been the only one who hadn't received a headband, two weeks ago.

Now it was only her, and the few other hopeless kid that hadn't been able to become ninjas. They were either the slackers that skipped class, or the ones that just didn't have what it took to be a shinobi.

Takai suddenly snapped out of her thoughts; she had heard voices! Who would be at the school on a weekend? Curious, she slid open the door to Iruka's classroom.

"So, I was wondering if we could go get some Ramon, you know, for lunch."

"I'm sorry Naruto, but I'm busy right now, maybe later?" Iruka turned to look at Takai, "Oh, hello Takai!"

Takai blushed slightly, but it was forced; a front so she could look innocent. "I'm sorry Sensei, am I interrupting something?"

Iruka smiled. "No, we were just talking… I'm sure you've met Naruto, right Takai?

"Actually, I can't say I have." She stuck out her hand to the orange clad boy. "Hi, I'm Takai." She introduced herself. The blond took her hand and shook it.

"Uzamaki Naruto." He said happily. It was then that his scent hit Takai.

:That scent… What is this boy? Surely not human, at least, not fully: Takai smiled. :Interesting:

"So, Takai," Iruka interrupted their introductions, "What brings you here?"

She smiled again. "Actually, there's something I need to show you." Takai gave Iruka a look that said "Privately, please".

Iruka narrowed his eyes ever so slightly, and then nodded. "Okay then, It was nice talking to you Naruto, but I need to speak with Takai."

"Awe," Naruto complained, "but what about our Ramon?"

Takai sympathized with the blond. "Hey, meet me outside and I'll take you out for Ramon. What do you think?"

Naruto's face lit up. "Really?" It was obvious that he wasn't used to this kind of behavior towards him.

"Sure, I'll even pay." :Good, now I have a reason to leave if things get out of hand:

"Okay, meet you outside!" Naruto yelled as he ran out of the classroom. The remaining human and the wolf watched as he left, and then turned towards each other as soon as the sound of his footsteps ceased to meet their ears.

"So, Takai, you wished to show me something?" Iruka asked her calmly.

"Well, you see Iruka-" He gave her a look, and Takai quickly corrected herself, "-sensei, I have a jutsu-"

Iruka looked at her skeptically. "You, a jutsu? When did this come about?"

"Well, I heard you and the Hokage-" Takai's eyes became large when she realized what she had said.

Iruka stood up. "Takai," His voice was tinged with anger, "have you been spying on me?"

Takai became uneasy. "Yes, I mean no, I mean…" She let her head drop, and she looked at the floor, "I'm sorry sensei, but I just got so exited when I heard what you two where talking about. I've been working all day…" Her stomach growled. "And I didn't eat breakfast... or lunch."

Iruka's expression softened, and the anger left his voice. "Well, since you've been working so hard… I guess I could see what you have to show me." He sighed. "So, what does this jutsu of yours do, exactly?"

Takai smiled. "Well, it allows me to magnify my vision, see through things, and I think I can read peoples minds."

"Well, that sounds interesting…" Iruka paused, "Tell me what's in that drawer." He pointed to his desk.

"Um… okay…" She took a step back. "Tomo-kenzan no Jutsu!"

Suddenly, the desk appeared to be transparent, at least it was for Takai. She concentrated, telescoping her vision so that she could see what the drawer contained. What she found were the corrected tests from last week. Hers was on top, and she could see that, once again, she had received an A.

"What do you see?" Iruka asked her.

"I see… our tests from last week… mines on top… I got an A," She couldn't resist, "as always."

She dropped the jutsu, and looked at Iruka. She found him staring wide-eyed at her. Unexpectedly, he rushed over to his desk and pulled the drawer open. If possible, his eyes widened even more.

"I, I have to go speak with the Hokage." He stuttered. "You should go, Naruto's probably still waiting for you."

"Um… okay sensei. See you later." Takai flinched slightly as the expected pain rushed through her body.

"Yes, later…" Iruka mumbled under his breath.

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"Thanks again for buying me Ramon!" Naruto exclaimed as he started on his second bowl.

Takai laughed. "Don't you have any friends that you could scam food off of?"

Naruto's mood suddenly dropped. "No… everyone hates me for some reason…"

:Is it because you're different: Takai pondered. "What about your parents?"

Naruto's mood dropped even lower. "I don't have any…" He said sadly.

"Well, then there's one thing we have in common." :Two, actually: "I lost my parents when I was young."

"Wow, really?"

Takai nodded her head. "Yep, but that was years ago, it doesn't hurt as much now."

They were silent for a while, just sitting there, quietly eating their Ramon. Finally, Naruto broke the silence.

"So, Takai," Naruto made to ask a question, "do you have a dream?"

Takai looked up, surprised. "A dream…? I guess I have a dream."

"Well, what is it!"

"You first." She said laughing.

"My dream, is to become the greatest Hokage ever!"

Takai smiled. "Well, I hope you get what you want."

"You still haven't told me what your dream is." Naruto protested.

"My dream… is to one day-"

"Takai!"

Takai turned at the sound of Cheza's voice. The Flower Maiden stood in the doorway of the Ramon shop; her red, sightless eyes stared towards her. Quickly, and with confidence, she made her way towards Takai, her lips parted in a slight smile.

"There you are Takai." Cheza giggled slightly. "This one has been searching everywhere for you! Iruka and the Hokage wish to speak with you."

"Okay… Wait, why are you here? Iruka could of just come to get me."

Cheza giggled again. "He and the Hokage where still talking, and he said that he would get me another plant if I found you!"

Takai sighed. "You and your friends…" She was interrupted as Cheza grabbed her hand.

"Come on, this way!" She exclaimed as she pulled Takai out of the Ramon shop.

"What, wait, BYE NARUTO!" Takai called as she was pulled away.

"Um… bye…?" He responded as he watched the pink-haired maiden pull Takai away.

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"Well Takai, it seems that you are telling the truth." The Hokage commented.

Takai stood before him and Iruka. She was slightly out of breath, and in a small bit of pain from using her jutsu again. The Hokage had wished to witness it himself and had her complete an array of tasks that required her skill.

"It seems," He began again, "that you should now be allowed to graduate."

Takai's heart skipped a beat. "Really?" She questioned. Her hope was evident in her voice, and her eyes sparkled with it.

The Hokage nodded, and then motioned to Iruka. Iruka took the signal and stepped up to Takai.

"Congratulations, Takai," He said as he handed her a Konoha Leaf headband, "you graduate!"

Takai's eyes brimmed with tears, and she could hear Cheza giggle from where she stood in the corner of the room.

"Oh, thank you!" She leaped on Iruka and hugged him. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She abandoned Iruka and pounced on Lord Hokage. "Thank you both so much!"

Takai got off of the Hokage. She stood up and took her headband, tying it around her neck. She looked down at it, and the metal shown despite the darkness of the night outside. Happiness flooded her.

She let her true form show, and she lifted her face to where the moon should be. She was so happy that all she could do was howl. She didn't care if no one cared why she was howling, or if no one even heard her voice; she just howled. It felt so good, just howling. She couldn't remember the last time she had howled out of pleasure.


Koinu: So, thanks for reading and please review.

Yourie: Dude...

Koinu: What?

Yourie: Where's my car?

Koinu: Oh no!