*A/N- characters may or may not be OOC, this is how I view them.*

Chapter 8: Strange and Unusual bond: This is okay?

When people think of things that go together they think black and white, peanut butter and jelly, or the sun and moon but when it comes to animals we usually pair them with their own species we don't usually think panther and moose or chimp and ferret. Perhaps we might think cat and mouse or cat and dog but usually they chase each other all day, we don't necessarily think they go together. What about a wolf and a frog?

It is the most unlikely of friendships, a hopping relative of the toad and the precursor to the modern dog, but somehow it was able to work out in the end. Deep in the swamps where the misty fog rolls in and the foliage hangs off the weeping willows creating a moody atmosphere, where the water bubbles and the mud is thick and deep, where the air is pungent and the fireflies come dancing through to set the place a glow, where the melody of ribbits and cricket chirps are common place and where one could hear the gentle splish splash of a motorized boat carrying the fishers with their high rise rubber boots is where such a friendship was.

Nestled in the middle of a lake of little lily pads was one huge lily pad that one might think belonged to a giant frog but it belonged to a young witchling instead who was on her way to her home right now with a bunch of groceries in hand, whistling to herself an old witch's song she knew. She was short and lanky with no real curves or feminine figure to speak of other than a firm round bottom if one were to see her in tights. Her hair was long, reaching her lower back and a shade of purple known as lilac, while her eyes were large, expressive and solid black. At the corners of her mouth were two black dots that made her seem like a mime or clown. Atop her head of lilac hair was an orange hat with an obvious face on it that seemed very frog-like but wasn't foreboding at all.

Her dress was black with white polka dots and flowed away from her body and her boots, caked with mud on the bottom, were long and black and almost covered her striped grey socks. Her name was Eruka Frog, a witch by blood but was banned from the witch world by the leader Babba Yaga herself for mixing herself up with Medusa and the immortal werewolf that stole the grand witch's eye. This did not stop Eruka from doing magic, they could not take that away from her, it was forbidden to do so. She didn't care, she was free to live her life and do what she pleased. She could go to the market and pick up fresh apples, she could try on new dresses and hats, she could shop for striped socks all day, and she could stock up on as much steak and beer as her ever hungry wolf friend might need. It almost seemed ironic how his name was Free, he named himself that as he did not recall his real name, and now she was the free one. They both were. After the fall of Medusa and the rise of Kid into the Lord Death throne Eruka and free had become close friends, so close in fact that Free and Eruka weren't sure what to do after they were both unbounded from that she-devil. Free had no home, no family, no friends….save for this one now. Where would he go?

"So now what do we do?" Eruka asked, awkwardly shuffling and pulling on the hem of her dress.

"Beats me," Free simply replied, scratching the back of his head and looking up at the sky. "I ain't got anywhere to go. Suppose I'll just run wild or maybe find myself a girl…I've always wanted to raise a family."

"You never told me that."

"You never asked. Even if I'm a criminal I can dream of happiness."

"Wow free," Eruka replied, stunned, "That's the deepest thing you've ever said." He really was a simpleton and when it came down to it, he was really stupid.

"Yeah? My minds clearing up I guess. Well…I guess I'll go on an adventure around the world and see what there is to see."

"Then this is…" Eruka couldn't say it. Her lip quivered and she looked away, tears threatening to spill. Dumb stupid emotions, how dare you betray me! A witch doesn't cry! A witch doesn't cry! But…I'm not a true witch anymore…Free I'm scared….don't leave me….

"Aw come on now, I'll call you or write you."

"You big liar," Eruka replied hastily, hiccupping in a way that came off as a croak, "You can't write."

"No I can't. I forgot how and never had time to learn again but I can read and I can learn to write again. Hey…are you crying?"

"Pft. Me? Cry over you? Yeah right!" Eruka proclaimed, biting down on her teeth and pulling her hat down over her eyes. It's not just you….it's everyone…I'm so alone in that house by the pond….the swamp is a desperate, lonesome, sad place.

"You big liar," Free mocked, turning her around to see the salty tears she was hurriedly trying to wipe away with her hand as if they were offending her, which they were and they kind of hurt her skin. "I've never seen you show your soft side before."

"I'm not soft! It's just that I haven't had a real friend before…that's all. Now get a move on, you've got the world to explore."

"You don't want me to go…"

"…No….I want you to stay…by my side," Eruka meekly stated, lowering her head and wanting to disappear because now she was blushing and crying. "Free I'm small, even by witch standards I'm not that strong. People hate frogs and try to kill us…I've lived my life in the safety of the arms of other witches but now I don't have that protection. I could…use someone large and tough who could…."

Protect me, her mind whispered, her soul fluttering. I have no one left…no one but you. You are my friend, my best friend. The mizunes know now what I've done and won't accept me back…but you could for who are you to judge, you who stole the eye of the witch and nearly rotted in jail, you have little morality. You so much taller than me, and more powerful. I'm jealous…

"I'll do it then, if that's okay with you. I'm not the best houseguest though and I'm liable to get drunk or leave a mess. I also have the appetite of a wolf so there's that."

"This is okay…" was all she said, smiling gently and then was caught off guard by him nearly crushing her bones in a tight embrace. This is Okay….with you by my side I'll never get thrown around or used again. If Medusa ever did come back you could fight her off. You can't die, but I can. I am small free…even now you tower over me.

"You're hurting me," Eruka whined, barely able to breathe.

"My bad!" Free cried in distress, letting her loose.

This is okay…

From then on they lived together in her little house in the lake, talking to each other, watching every movie especially crime movies, and barely-legal Eruka could drink with him. They had fun and they had their own adventures. Sure they got head turns, they were the odd couple, but Eruka was used to it and Free was so clueless he's miss his own head on fire. It was a pleasant life. As Eruka approached her house she did the incantation to reveal her cottage.

"Wamp Swamp bubble and broom, Lotus blossom open and bloom."

The petals of the citrus smelling bud opened up slowly to reveal a house made of stone with a white mushroom cap looking roof. The house was a pale periwinkle with white and pastel green accents with a front porch including rocking chairs and swings. From the murky water came five stepping stones leading up to the adorable little home she lived in. She skipped along them singing to herself,

"One two three four five stones, leading up to my dear home."

At last she got to the white door where there was a welcome mat telling all visitors to wipe their feet, which she promptly did and with a sea foam green key she opened the door. The interior was spacious, roomy, and humble yet charming and of course sprawled across her striped couch was Free with an assortment of junk foods around him and the television on making the unmistakable crackle of static. It was apparent that he was fast asleep even though it was mid-day and the sun was shining bright.

Sometimes, I swear, he is such a lazy bum.

Just when she was crossing her foyer to the kitchen, tip toing quietly as not to disturb him, his brown eye slowly opened as well as the white one with its pentagram marking in it. He had smelled her and her scent awoke him, it was a scent he was familiar with and it was enough to make his tail wag- if his tail was out.

"Oh hey Eruka, you're back already?"

"Sorry…did I wake you?"

"Nah I was about to wake up anyways. Watcha got there?"

"Food, of course, and a new pair of striped socks."

"Death woman, do you ever stop with the striped socks?"

"No! I love stripes!"

Free threw her a coy smile and raised his eyebrow. Free always wore a striped shirt because that's what he was given in jail plus he thought it was rather slimming on him. She noticed his look and looked away from him, pulling a sour face.

"What?"

"Do you like striped because of me?"

"No and I happen to love polka dots too! You're not special Free," was what Eruka said before she went into the kitchen to put the stuff away with the anger of an insulted woman, a curt frown on her face.

"I know that, I suppose as a man I got a little full of myself," Free called from the doorway of the kitchen, watching Eruka stuff orange juice in the fridge then turn to him.

"It's whatever. Now help me put this stuff away."

"Sure thing!"

He was glad to help her out and to take multiple things because he was strong enough to lift it all. With him around things got done fast and within a few minutes she was all prepped to make lunch. He liked to watch her cook because she stuck her tongue out when looking at a recipe and when she stirred it was slow and she hummed to herself a song that he became familiar with. It was almost like she was doing a spell and not making food at all. Tadpole Jackson rubbed up against her leg and she pat him gingerly, stroking over his head.

"Don't worry buddy, dinner is almost ready."

"Great I'm starved!" free replied excitably.

"I wasn't talking to you, ya big ignoramus!"

"Oh…black fishy thing?"

"It's a tadpole!" Eruka cried forlornly, her face going flat.

She sighed deeply. Truly, Free was an idiot but he did a good job as a protector and knew how to make her laugh so she kept him around. At last her food was done- beef stew with a side of salad or shredded paper with dressing as Free put it. He did not eat salad at all or really anything green. He was a meat and potatoes guy who liked his sports, crime shows, beer, and living in his boxers. All in all, he was a simpleton with simple desires and wants, not too terribly complex.

"How is it?" Eruka questioned, digging into her delicious salad, unlike him she loved green things- for obvious reasons, that and she was a health nut and did NOT want to become overweight like her father and two sisters whom she didn't talk much of. In fact, she didn't talk about her family at all but that was just fine with Free, he didn't need to know and didn't care to know.

"Great! You should become a chef! Trade in that ugly orange hat for a white one!" Free replied, mouth stuffed with stew so it dripped down his chin

"Free I swear you have the table manners and etiquette of a-"

"Wolf? Yeah, sorry… I was in prison for over 100 years, you can't blame me."

"I suppose not…as for me being a chef. Heh. No way! Ribbit! I'm not even that good, seriously."

"You try living off of cold gruel and slop that not even a pig would eat. Shit, this is cuisine in comparison."

"Is it really that good?" She sweetly questioned, her eyes brightening up and a cute U shaped smile placed on her face. Free gulped his food hard, she looked so adorable just then, it made him feel uncomfortable to look at her. He could tell his face was warm and his cheeks probably pink. He was a man goddamit! He would not blush like a woman!

"Yeah 'course. Still, I don't know how you can eat that dreck," Free responded, pointing his silverware at her salad.

"Hey I have my diet and you have yours. Besides, I love salad, especially with bits of mandarin orange and water chestnuts, mmmm!" She stuck her tongue out again and blushed happily.

Cute! Free's mind screamed and then tried to distract itself with thoughts of repetitions or touchdowns. Anything to get his mind off that! She stuffed a big lettuce leaf in her mouth and chewed on it, swinging her legs back and forth.

"Ugh…gross Eruka. I'd rather you eat flies."

"Hey watch it Free! I learned from that pigtailed girl a little thing called a chop and I'm not afraid to use it on you."

"You wouldn't…would you? I mean, it's not like it would even hur-OWCH!" Free wailed as she hit him on the back of his head with her pastel cook book. "goddamnit shit Eruka!"

"No more frog jokes!"

"Alright alright."

They finished off their night with him eating a huge slice of strawberry cheesecake and she had a small bite of his. Then they finished one of those CSI shows and yet again she commented how it was funny how he was a criminal and he loved watching how they get caught. He always said something about it fascinated him and that if he could be born again he'd like to be a cop or something which only made Eruka cry with tears of laughter. The very thought of him upholding the law and being as clumsy as he is as a police officer was too much for her to bear. After that Eruka sipped from her lite beer and he from his large can of god only knows what level of alcohol was even in there it must be toxic beer before they showered and went off to bed.

Well, she went off to bed, he was hooked on those damned shows so he stayed up but at least he took a nice long shower and smelled of glorious male shower gel and shampoo. He loved taking baths because going over 100 years without one was simply too long, even for a man, so he relished every moment and drop of water. It was soothing and thus he always ran up the water bill and used up all the hot water. Just because Eruka was a frog witch did not mean she loved cold water. She hated it! She would scream at him to stop spending three hours singing this weeks newest pop song in the shower with his horrid singing voice and stop shaking himself off like a dog and use the damn towel like a man.

"It's hard for me to be a man…I'm honestly ashamed of myself…I'm sorry, if I can't be a man how can I protect you?"

"Oh Free….a man isn't measured by using a towel...you idiot."

"Yeah I know but you'll still keep me won't you?"

"You bet your furry ass I will! I'm not living alone ever again. I hear strange noises throughout the floor boards when I'm alone. No thank you!"

It was then Eruka fully realized he was topless but she was sort of used to that, Free seemed to have no morals or concept of what was right or wrong so he would often walk around in just his boxers. At first it made her turn bright scarlet but after living with him for about a year she got over it and would often comment, in her mind, that he was by far one of the most muscular men she's ever seen, even compared to black star. He always made her feel incredibly tiny; she was so thin and fruitless in the feminine area with even smaller breasts than Maka. Some mistook her for a child and for him as her father. It was embarrassing! Yet the smaller she felt around him the more protected she knew she would be.

"Alright then! I'll try harder next time! It just feels sooooo nice!"

"Well don't you think I'd like a hot shower too, you dolt! It takes a while to shampoo this hair and get it like this, our hair has a tendency to want to get all poofed up!"

"Our hair?"

"My family line…the frogs."

"Ah I see…wonder if your mom likes salad too…"

"What the hell Free?!" Eruka responded with a laugh, high and witchy like. "Oh you are so stupid, it kills me!"

"That was funny? I was being serious, but whatever makes you laugh. I'd like to meet your family...if you want me to."

Eruka was quiet for a long time, looking down upon her feet and wishing she had put her slippers on for the floor was freezing and she despised the cold. Her family…Free had no idea what they did to her…no idea at all…how they felt about her…what they would think now…she just couldn't…couldn't return to them after how much they hurt her. When you are a frog salt hurts your skin and so Eruka tried not to cry so much because crying hurts, being sad hurts, and as redundant as it may sound pain hurts. Her sisters…her brothers…her mother…her father…they…they…

"I'm sorry…that won't ever happen…"

"Fine with me."

That made her smile, that he asked nothing else and that he was so accepting and didn't pry. He waited for her to be ready to tell him anything. Free was no gentleman but he was a gentle man and that was enough to make the frog and the wolf, though the most improbable of pairings, suddenly, seemingly as equally put together as day and night.