Well, this got updated later than I intended, but school's a real pain and Halloween is coming up soon. Plus, I have now have a job! Life is now catching up with me, I wish I was a kid again, being a teen sucks sometimes. Oh, this is a off note, but I HATE Sasuke, with a passion and you don't know how hard it is NOT to bash that boy, so I'm trying to stay neutral with him, but its hard espescially with this type of story. Anyway, thank you all who reviewed and/or favored my story. Yup, I gave Toboe a backbone for this story, and that will come in handy. If you had yet to vote on my poll, on my profile please do that. Because, I'm gonna be posting a new one soon, on who Cheza should be paired with. I forgot to mention that Sakura's leaf headband is back in Konoha, it didn't travel with her. I have tons of new ideas for this story, so I thank you all for your support and helpful crictism is always wanted. Anyway, this is the chapter you all have been waiting for. Kiba and Sakura finally meet, but there will be a twist. Enough, with my rant here's chapter 4!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Wolf's Rain, they belong to their rightful owners!
Chapter 4: Flower Maiden?
Sakura was running. She was running as if her life depended on it, and at that moment it did. She was being chased, and she didn't know why. She glanced back and saw a large black wolf with mismatched eyes chasing her. Its left eye was a icy blue and its right eye was a bright golden color that glowed malevolently at Sakura. Sakura looked back in front of her and her heart nearly exploded in her chest, when she saw a smaller yet equally dangerous white wolf in front of her. It stared at her with hard golden eyes and Sakura glanced behind her, before looking back at the white wolf. The black wolf continued running after her and it began to gain speed. The white wolf continued to stare at Sakura and she closed her eyes focusing on the blurred image of the man, who helped her before. The black wolf leapt up at Sakura and her eyes snapped open, as one word escaped from her mouth.
"KIBA!!" she screamed and the white wolf leapt at the black wolf, before everything around Sakura went dark.
Sakura eyes shot open and she sat up quickly, and sweat covered her body making her clothes stick her like a second skin. Her breathing was labored and her head felt like it was ready to explode. She glanced at the clock on Quent's dresser, where he kept all his cigarettes and she she groaned. It was 3 in the morning, she was suppose to be peaceful asleep, but Sakura dared not fall back asleep for she feared that the black wolf would hunt her down in her dreams, again. Sakura slowly got out of bed and pulled on her robe, before leaving the room.
She walked into the living room and saw Quent softly snoring, with the TV remote in his hand. She smiled and gently removed the remote from his hand before heading into the kitchen. A few days ago, Sakura noticed that strange markings had begun to appear on her arms all the way up to her collar bone. Now, the erotic designs reached her waist, and somehow she knew that her changes wouldn't end there. The vine-like designs swirled down her back and across her chest, spiraling around her navel before stopping at her waist. Sakura turned on the dim light in the kitchen and pulled a small water bottle out of the refrigerator, before sitting at the table and taking a sip of the cool water.
She leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes. Some part of Sakura's mind told her that her changes were normal, and that she was blossoming into something amazing. The logical part of Sakura's mind was screaming at her that these changes were not normal and she was changing into something close to inhuman. Sakura ignored both of the reasonings and just kept on going through the days like she had been before. Sakura knew that she was different, and she just learned to accept that.
Sakura took another sip of water, before thinking about her dream again.
'Kiba', she thought and two images flashed in her mind.
The first image was of her young friend, Kiba Inuzuka, or 'dog-boy' as she so fondly called him. Back in Konoha, she and Kiba weren't that close, but they both had one thing in common. Their love for animals, espescially wolves and dogs. The second image was of the blurred man and the white wolf, which confused Sakura. Evidently the two were the same person, but what caused Sakura's confusion was, how? She knew that there were some justus out there that could help a person take on animal characteristics, 'dog-boy' was a living example of that, but being able to turn into the complete animal itself was unheard of. Sakura didn't dwell on the thought too long, when she heard someone clear their throat behind her. Sakura opened her eyes and leaned back even further in the chair to see a upside down Quent.
"Good morning", she said innocently and he sighed, before looking at the clock on the wall.
"What are you doing up so early?" he asked and took a seat across from her at the kitchen table. She leaned forward so she was facing him, and took a long drink from her water bottle.
"I couldn't sleep", she said and he looked at her concerned, but she just smiled at him.
"Its no big deal, just a little nightmare. Why aren't you sleeping?" she asked putting emphais on the 'you' and Quent crossed his arms over his chest.
"Well, I'll have you know that its exetremely hard to sleep, when she have teenager rummaging around in the kitchen at 3 in the morning", he said and Sakura scowled, before laughing.
"You must have been listening pretty hard, because I made sure not to make much noise", she said and Quent smiled, before standing up.
"No, actually I'm just used to listening in for you. So what you want for breakfast?" he asked and Sakura smiled happily, before saying one word, "Pancakes!"
Kiba and the pack stood outside the wall that signaled they had reached Freeze City, and Tsume looked at Kiba, shocked.
"How could we not know, we were heading back to this hell hole?" he asked incredulously and Kiba shrugged before stepping forward, and looking for a way to get inside without being noticed.
"Kiba, do you think its a good idea to go back?" asked Toboe after a while and Kiba looked at him, briefly before finding a hole in the wall that they could crawl through.
"Cheza's here somewhere and I will find her", he said and crawled through the hole with the pack following after him, closely.
Once inside, Kiba told the pack to slip up to look for Cheza. Naturally, Hige and Blue went together and Toboe stuck with Tsume, which meant Kiba could reign free alone, looking for the Flower Maiden. He caught a strong scent, and followed his nose, unaware of the fact that he was in for a huge surprise.
Quent pulled on his jacket and clicked off the TV, before heading to the door.
"Sakura, I'm going grocery shopping! Do you want something!?" he shouted and he heard the sound of running water in the kitchen, telling him that Sakura was washing dishes.
"Green Tea and Sweet Dumplings!" she replied from the kitchen and Quent laughed, before shaking his head.
"I should've guessed", he mused and left, closing the door behind him quietly.
Ever since Sakura had tasted Green Tea, at the Diner she had become addicted, the same goes with the Sweet Dumplings. He breathed in the frosty air, and quickly made his way down the street. It was hard to believe that a few weeks ago, he had found Sakura in alleay and he had lost the last member of his family to the wolves. But, looking back on that now, everything seemed like a disatnt memory, a memory that he knew would vanish over time. He made his way to the store and quickly purchased the food items, getting extra Sweet Dumplings so Sakura would be happy. Its funny, his whole life had somehow managed to just shift to revole around the happiness of one teenage girl.
As Quent exited the store, he was hit with a blast from the past. His old partner Blue, stood facing him with wide eyes and Hige stood next to her equally shocked.
"Pops", she whispered and Quent dropped the grocery bag on the ground and stared at Blue, taking a hestitant step back.
"No", he whispered and Blue tried to approach him, but he turned and ran, forgetting all about the food and Sakura.
Naruto stared at the Hokage, then back at the ANBU.
"Naruto, all they found was Sakura's headband on top of the hospital roof, nothing else", said the Hokage and Naruto balled up his fists. Kakashi and Sasuke looked at the distressed Jinchuuriki, but didn't move to comfort him, they all were feeling the pain of losing Sakura. Kakashi took Sakura's headband from the Hokage, and thanked him for his effort on trying to locate his student.
"Kakashi, if I may give you a suggestion. I think, while we still remain on the search for Sakura Haruno, you should think about finding a replacement genin for Team 7", said the Hokage, unaware that he had just said the one thing that Team 7, didn't want to hear. Kakashi gripped Sakura's headband tightly and forced a smile at the Hokage, well aware of the fact that Naruto and Sasuke were close to their breaking points.
"Thank you for the suggestion, Hokage-sama, but Sakura is irreplaceable", said Kakashi and he motioned for the two boys to follow him, as he left the Hokage Tower.
Sasuke followed silently behind Naruto and Kakashi, not feeling or caring.
'Why do I even care, she was just some stupid, annoying fangirl', he thought bitterly and he glared at the back of Naruto's head.
'I'm happy she's gone! That's one less person to hold me back', he thought angrily and Kakashi glanced at Sasuke out of the corner of his eye. Kakashi knew that Sasuke was going through a emotional turmoil, but he didn't have the slightest clue on how to help him.
He sighed and told the genin that he had important matters to attend to, which was basically train until he couldn't think straight or he collapsed, which ever happened first. Naruto sighed and he stared at his hands, he felt gulity about the whole thing, but he couldn't stop his attack. He balled up his fists and looked up at the sky. It was mocking him, the sky was bright and sunny without a single cloud and for some unknown reason that pissed Naruto off. It should be raining, dark and gloomy much like the way he was feeling. Naruto didn't know why, but he wanted the Heavens to cry for Sakura.
Sakura glanced at the clock, for the tenth time and sighed. It did not take someone three hours to go grocery shopping and she was starting to get worried. She stood up and pulled on a pair of black boots that Quent had brought for her, a few days ago. Sakura glanced down at her black jeans and sighed, before straightening the dark red spaghetti strap shirt she was wearing. Early that day, Sakura realized that her markings had finally finished traveling down her waist, coiling around her legs and backside, before stopping at her toes. She pulled on her jacket and put the spare key that Quent had given her in her pocket, before leaving and locking the door behind her.
Quent eventually stopped running, taking in huge gulps of air. He glanced behind himself, only to see no one had followed him. He realized that he had been gone for a long time, too long. He remembered when had been at a bar, and the time had gotten away from him. Sakura had walked in the bar, practically dragging him home. And, when they got there she looked at him with tear stained eyes, which added to his gulit.
"I thought you had left me", she had cried and he hugged her, telling her that he would never abandon her. Quent noticed that the sun was setting and he swore loudly, he knew that Sakura would come looking for him. He wouldn't risk her to the wolves, and even if that meant facing Blue, he wouldn't let anyone harm her.
Sakura shivered as a breeze blew toward her, and she pulled her jacket tigther around her. Something didn't feel right tonight, but Sakura decided that she was just being paranoid.
"Tsume!" shouted a voice from behind her and Sakura turned around only to see a tan wolf, with three metal ring bracelets on its left leg. It stared at her with golden eyes, but Sakura didn't care, she was scared. Sakura turned and ran, well aware of the fact that the wolf was chasing her and that another wolf, this one black with a gray "X" on its chest, had joined in the chase, as well.
Something inside Sakura told her that there was nothing to fear, but the rational part of her brain, was urging her to run faster. Sakura ran passed another pair off wolves, ignoring the fact that they had shocked expressions on their faces. Sakura ran into a alley, hoping to find a shortcut, but much to her dismay, she was now faced with a dead end. The four wolves stood in front of Sakura, blocking her only exit. The other two that had joined were looking at her with curious eyes, but she didn't care, she was terrified.
Sakura noticed that one of them was female, she was a pure black wolf, with shining blue eyes and a larger tannish-brown wolf was next to her, she also noticed that it was wearing a collar. Sakura could have laughed at herself for noticing minor details, with her life could very well be over. The wolf with the the scar took a step forward, and Sakura backed herself up against the alley's wall. Sakura felt cornered and trapped, and she screamed.
Tsume had took a step toward the strange girl, confused at her scent. She was a Flower Maiden? Kiba hadn't told them that their were more than Cheza, but he suspected that Kiba hadn't known, either. Tsume and the pack could clearly smell the fear radiating off the girl, and that confused them greatly. Cheza hadn't been afraid when she met them, so why was this girl. Tsume didn't have time to dwell on the thought, when the girl opened her mouth and screamed.
Tsume and pack fell to their knees, according to them they were still in their human disguise, they were unaware of the fact that Sakura could see them as they truly were. Tsume covered his eyes and glanced back at the pack, who were also in pain. Toboe had fall to the ground completely and had his mouth open in a silent scream. Blue had tears in her eyes, and Hige looked ready to die at any given moment. If the pack had any doubts before, they were instantly washed away, by the girl's scream. Only a Flower Maiden's scream had the power to make a wolf howl out in pain and sorrow.
Kiba had never heard a scream so terrible in his life, not even Cheza's was that tragic and scared. He willed his body to find the source of the scream. His nose told him that whoever was screaming was a Flower Maiden, and the only Flower Maiden he knew of was Cheza. Kiba found himself, along with pack in a alley with a girl screaming at the top of her lungs. Kiba's eyes widened and Tsume looked at him. That wasn't Cheza, actaully Kiba didn't know, who the girl was but she somehow seemed familiar. Kiba didn't have time to dwell on the thought, when he heard the faint 'click' sound of a gun being loaded. The girl had stopped screaming and Kiba turned around, to see Blue's old owner, Quent Yaiden, aiming a shotgun at him. He growled and the girl gasped, but Quent didn't lower his gun.
"Sakura, I want you to close your eyes and cover your ears", said Quent and the girl just stood at him, in shock. Kiba didn't give her time to reply, before he jumped up at Quent and tried to bite down on his arm, but something was stopping him.
Green vines wrapped around him, restricting him, and he turned to look at the girl, only to see that the green vine-like designs on her body were glowing faintly and she looked just as shocked as he was. Everything was deathly quiet, until she coughed into her hand and green liquid came up, that was when Sakura knew. Nothing would ever be okay, again.
