Alright, chapter seven is finally complete! So, this story will be coming to a close soon, and I just wanted to thank all of you who have been avidly reading my story, as it really encourages me to continue.
Disclaimer: I do not own Wolf's Rain
Enjoy!
"Kiba, you've seemed trouble. Please tell me if something's wrong."
The brunette settled his hands in his pockets, mulling over how much he could tell Cheza. The girl waited quietly, head tilted to the side and a soft smile on her face. Kiba had to admit she was a trustworthy person, and over the course of his month-long partnership with Cheza, he had found her to be unlike anybody he'd ever met.
"My friends and I are in danger."
The sentence was vague, but enough for Cheza. She nodded, her cropped pink hair bouncing as she did so. Stepping forward, Cheza pulled one of Kiba's hands out of his pocket and took it in both of her own.
"I will protect you," the pinkette promised, scarlet eyes sparkling.
Something sparked in Kiba's chest, but right after the image of a smiling Hige came to mind. Kiba swallowed, that warmth turning to a plummeting guilt as he pulled his hand from Cheza, a tight nod being all he could manage.
Toboe pushed his way through the crowd, sickly butterflies fluttering in his stomach. Hige was close on his heels, the man's hand brushing his shoulder or upper back occasionally as he tried to stay close behind the younger brunette.
Graffiti covered the walls, with paint splattered in the grass. The windows were nothing more than shattered glass now. The daycare looked as though it had been run down for years, although it had been up-and-running just fine the day before. Cher stood off to one side in the yard, crying silently. A man in a crisp white suit stood beside her, his eyes narrowed coldly as he surveyed the daycare.
Toboe opened his mouth to call out for Cher, but suddenly a hand was covering his lips. Surprised, the younger brunette grabbed at the wrist of whoever was restricting his voice, but he wasn't nearly as strong as the person holding him. Being dragged backwards, Toboe kicked at the ground, pleading with his eyes for people to look his way. It was when everybody stayed focused on the daycare that the reality sunk in for Toboe: he was on his own.
Twisting harshly in the man's grip, Toboe bit the hand pressed against his mouth. He heard a familiar voice swear before being pushed away. Not able to catch his balance, the brunette hit the pavement hard. He couldn't find it in himself to shout, eyes wide as he stared at the person standing before him. The familiar mop of brown hair, the lips usually twisted into a lazy grin now pointed downwards in a soft frown.
"I didn't think you'd actually fight back, Chibi."
The sound of Hige's voicemail sent a chill through Tsume. He had already tried Toboe's cell, but it had gone straight to voicemail, which is exactly what Hige's had done too. Stuffing his phone back in his pocket, the white-haired man turned to face his brother.
Kiba was standing by the kitchen window, eyes searching the outside street. "No answer."
Tsume nodded, his arms crossed. "We wait for them until sunset."
"And then what?" the brown-haired male asked, his icy gaze settling on Tsume.
"We find a way to contact Darcia."
Kiba blinked, unable to think of a response. The kitchen suddenly seemed too small, like a cage. Dashing past Tsume, he ran out of the room and down the stairs. He heard Quent call his name, but he didn't stop as he sprinted through the lobby. Finally, fresh air greeted him, working to calm his rapid heartbeat. Taking a deep breath, Kiba took a seat on the motel steps, head in his hands.
"You ready to buck up now?"
Sighing, Kiba lifted his head. "You don't understand what happened to me after you left. What will happen once we go back."
Tsume stood at the top of the steps, thumbs tucked into his jacket pockets. "We have to protect them."
"Last time I checked, you weren't a team player," the brown-haired man said bitterly, lips pursed as his fear turned to anger.
"I wasn't," Tsume ground out, "But then I met Toboe."
Greasy brown hair hung down over his face. He was slumped against the floor, a metal collar keeping him chained to the wall. Clothes tattered from rough treatment, a few bruises played peak-a-boo through the holes in his clothes. He kept one hand clutching the bangles around his wrist, as if they were some form of a lifeline. The only sounds in his cell were the scuttling of rats and his own shallow breathing.
"You're looking well."
Eyes snapping open, he raised his head to look at the woman leaning against the cell bars. "Blue?"
A soft smile presented itself on her face. "You remember me."
"How could I forget?" the boy shook his head slowly, "You and Hige were engaged."
The smile disappeared, Blue's gaze darting down the hall as she heard footsteps. Her short, black hair framed the metal collar around her neck, proof that she was just as trapped as he was. A tight black dress hugged her figure, a red ribbon tied around her right wrist. She looked more matured now, but with that maturity came a blooming sadness that overshadowed the light in her eyes.
"Blue," the reprimanding voice rang loud and clear, "You know what could happen if they find you down here."
"The same goes for you," the woman retorted, arms crossed.
A sigh was breathed out. "I came down here per Darcia's orders."
As the young man stepped into view, the prisoner's gaze dropped to the ground. He already knew who it was. A loose, faded yellow sweatshirt and a loose, faded pair of jeans. A slouched form, hands curled around the bars of the cell.
"Toboe, look at me."
The boy lifted his head, eyes shimmering with tears. "Why'd you do this?"
Hige shook his head, a grim smile on his face. "It's better that you don't know."
"Does it have to do with Blue? Tell me you're being forced!" Toboe cried out, straining so much against his collar that he started to cough.
The cell door opened, and Hige slipped the key back in his pocket. Unhitching Toboe from the wall, Hige led him with the younger brunette's chain in hand. Toboe walked beside Hige willingly, although his head hung low. The silence was enough of an answer for the younger brunette. Blue trailed behind the men, darkened eyes giving away nothing. A set of stairs and a couple of twisting hallways later had the three people entering a small, concrete-walled room.
"Good. You brought him."
Toboe shrunk back as he recognized the man clad in a black suit with a purple button-up shirt underneath. Wisps of ebony hair fell over the man's mismatch-colored eyes. He was seated in a chair, set before a video camera. The man patted his lap, as if he expected Toboe to sit there.
"Well?" the man said, eyes narrowing in impatience.
Not looking at the younger brunette, Hige gave him a small push towards the chair. Toboe's face paled as he was pulled into the man's lap, an arm looping itself around his waist. The young male clenched his fists, forcing himself to not shake in fear.
"Relax Toboe," the man said, "You want to look good for Tsume, don't you?"
Hige walked over to the camera, and pressed a button to begin recording.
