The forest breathed. In and out. In and out. Tsume could feel the life of the forest. Like the rain falling softly to the ground, creating small pits in the snow cover, his own breath created small white clouds of condensation that punctuated the gray atmosphere. He sat in the snow, no longer feeling the chill of his surroundings. He exhaled with the forest, and placed his face in his hands.
Toboe. His Toboe. Had he scared the boy away? Had he been too careless? His careful stoic mask had turned into a desperate act to disguise himself.
"I don't love him." He lied to the trees, growling at his own tenacity. "He is just a pack member, of course I'm concerned about him."
Pulling his hands from his face, he stared at them. He had never realized it. They looked so empty.
A memory played before him, his hands remembering the warmth of the small wolf. Tsume reached out in front of him, reached out to the Toboe of his memory, wrapping his arms around the air. Tightening his grip he found himself holding his own chest, tightening his grip with frightening force. Holding himself together, if only for the moment, willing the Toboe before him to disappear.
A strangled sob broke in his heart, leaking out, until tears joined the rain, falling to the snowy ground. To think that all this time he could have held the boy, instead of discarding him with false anger, and self-frustration.
"No," Tsume choked out. "He wouldn't accept it. He wouldn't." He shook his head slowly, side to side. The lump in his throat threatened to suffocate him, and his head flung back as he howled.
Toboe ran through the forest, paws falling into the larger prints of his pack mate. His eyes locked with determination, he pushed forward through the rain. Without realizing it he sped up, fueled by the sound of a howl. Toboe's heart ached as the echoing pain penetrated his being. He knew it was Tsume. It was his voice, his desperation, and his soul in that cry of pain. He slowed as he saw the older man sitting on the forest floor, back against the trunk of a tree, head in his hands. He looked up at Toboe as the young wolf padded toward him, until he was in front of him. Strong arms reached out, taking hold of the young boy and bringing him into the warm of the older wolf's embrace.
"Tsume." The young wolf whispered closing his eyes, and breathing out in relief. Tsume did not respond, only held the young boy closer, as if in disbelief.
"Why did you come here?" Tsume whispered into the boy's ear. His voice was thick with grief, and Toboe's voice caught in his throat.
"I came for you, Tsume. I didn't want you to think I was afraid. I wasn't trying to hurt you, or anyone else. I was trying to be tougher, trying not to be a burden."
"You're not a burden, Toboe." The older wolf sighed. "You keep the pack together, and give us something to care for. If you weren't the clumsy cub we began our journey with, we would have been hardened by pride long ago."
Toboe stiffened in the silence that followed Tsume's words. There was more, he could tell. What was Tsume trying to say?
"So…I'm not a burden?"
"No, chibi. We…I…" Tsume placed his hand on the young boy's head and pulled him closer to his chest.
"Love you."
"Tsume…" The boy sighed. "Why didn't you tell me?" Tsume pulled the boy away to look him in the eyes. He searched the boy's face and found nothing but tenderness. This hadn't been what he thought would happen. No. Could the boy possibly?
"I love you too, Tsume. You didn't have to hide it all this time."
The tears came again, dissolving the cage he had built for his heart years ago. He pulled the boy back to his chest. He felt the boy's face break into a smile.
From now on he would listen to the younger wolf, and not just when he whimpered. He would listen to the silent signs, the actions, and, most of all, his smile. That goofy smile. It was the loudest thing Tsume had ever heard. For so long he had been deaf to hear it. But it screamed for him to hear,
"I love you."
AN: Well that is the end of this lovely fic. I'm sorry my updates took ages so often, but I change favorite animes like socks. However, these true classics always come back to me. I hope you liked it, and I would write more, but I fear my anime wandering would only bring you long waits. If you really do want more, I might write a few chapters about afterwards. Please review as always, and thanks for reading. Oh, and I don't own Wolf's Rain.