Chapter Nine: Werebears of London
It only took about fifteen minutes of running before Ritsu realized where exactly he was.
Lost as hell.
In fact, he was almost regretting the fact that he'd run as blindly as he had, with no provisions and no fucking idea where he was going. Even still, he wasn't about to try and find his way back to the castle of hell. No way, he'd stay out here and be eaten by the wolves before he let that…
Ritsu stopped cold, glancing nervously around the black canopy of the forest. He'd forgotten entirely about the wolves. In fact, he'd forgotten about a lot of things…like how dark and scary the woods were.
The brunette's steps became slower as he continued on, dead leaves crunching under his feet and branches creaking in the wind—
"Hey! You up there!"
The narrator glanced down from his place at the stupid heroine, who was looking at him with worried eyes.
"Oh greeeaaaat," He growled. "NOW what do you want!"
"Do you know how to get out of these woods?" Ritsu pleaded, glancing around nervously. "I'm a little lost."
"Hah, lost. Good one." The narrator sneered.
"I mean it! I really am lost!"
"Well I'm a Taurus." The narrator replied. "Glad to meet you. Now shoo, you're an eyesore."
"Please!" Ritsu called. "You're the narrator! You must know the way out."
"News flash Princess: you're the heroine. It's not my job to help you, it's your job to get bitch screwed while I narrate your misery. And speaking of misery, the plot is waiting. So I suggest you get your prissy butt moving before I kick it to yonder oak tree!"
"But—"
"No no NO!" The narrator finally screamed, pointing a harsh finger in the direction of a clearing. "STOP WHINNING and GET YOUR ASS OVER THERE!"
Ritsu dejectedly complied, walking away from the narrator and into the clearing at the end of the path. His green eyes went wide as he looked up and saw the blackening sky, and the gray clouds mingled with the dark tops of the trees. It was almost night, but what's more, a storm was pulling in.
Crack.
Ritsu whipped around as the sharp sound caught his ear, his eyes darting to and fro for the cause of it. But the only thing he could see was a breeze that caught the tree branches in its fingers. He heard it again. The sound of movement, of things unknown lurking.
And suddenly going back to the castle was starting to sound reaaaaaally good…
Ritsu swallowed hard, clenching his trembling hands into fists as he stepped further into the clearing.
"H—Hello?…" He called hesitantly.
Terror raced down his spine as a low growl sounded from behind him, and in his fright, he lost his footing, tripping over a stone and falling to the ground. The back of his head collided with a tree trunk as he landed, and his eyes briefly went blank from the pain. But they shot back open as more growing and rustling came from across the clearing, this time louder and closer. Ritsu gritted his teeth, and as a dark shadow pounced from the brush, he erupted into a scream.
"RARR!"
Ritsu's eyes widened as the figure came into the dim light. To his shock, it wasn't a wolf.
It was…a bear…in a pink dress…
"Raaaarr raaaarr!" The golden-haired bear growled again, waving her paws around with a toothy grin.
"Oh great roar honey!" A deeper, masculine voice cheered as two more figures emerged from the foliage. "Isn't she darling Mama bear?" A tall, golden haired bear grinned.
The other, a dark-haired bear with a scowl and an apron, didn't look as enthusiastic.
"Uhh…." Ritsu stuttered. "What…who are you?" He practically squeaked out in fright.
The tallest bear flashed his white teeth.
"I'm Kirishima, the papa bear."
"And I'm Hiyori!" The littlest squeed. "The baby bear!"
"…And I'm Yokozawa…" The dark one growled. "The…mama bear."
"And together," Kirishima grinned. "We are the fearsome wolves of the forest oh frightened and delicious trespasser."
"But you're…b—bears?" Ritsu said, extremely confused and wincing as pain shot through his head.
Kirishima shrugged.
"Yes well, we're filming Unsuspecting Uke and the Three Bears just one set over and we didn't have time to change into our wolf costumes."
His injured head still throbbing, Ritsu found it extremely difficult to process all this odd information, but he was still aware enough to know that bears were carnivores, and they outnumbered him. He experimentally tried to prop himself up, but his shaking arms gave out underneath the weight of his heavy head.
Yokozawa noticed his movement and gave a light smirk.
"Good luck with that." He chuckled, his dark eyes glinting. Kirishima noticed and grinned as well.
"And now," He announced. "We shall eat you and it will be in accordance with our story. So sweetie what does that mean?"
"Papa's meat will be too hot, Mama's meat will be too cold, and my meat will be just right!" Hiyori chirped proudly.
Kirishima beamed at her response and turned back to Ritsu, his tongue slicking along his lower lip.
"That's right." He grinned, walking towards their prey. He lowered his upper body down to the ground, crouching in preparation to strike. "No hard feelings Miss, but fish gotta swim, bears gotta eat, and I have a Mama to love as soon as we get back to the sweet ole cottage. Right Yoko?"
"Shut it Zen. Stop playing with your food and just to the point already!" Yokozawa growled, folding his muscled arms across his chest.
"Hmmhmm, if you say so." Kirishima grinned. "So long Princess."
Ritsu shut his eyes and covered his face with his hands as the bear raced forward, cries flying from his mouth as fear enveloped him.
And in that one quiet moment when his life flashed before his eyes, he found himself only thinking one, solitary word.
Takano…
"GRRAAAAAAHHHH!" Came a bellowing roar just before Kirishima reached Ritsu. The bear slid to a stop as a huge black beast raced forward and cut him off, putting himself between them and his princess. Takano bared his fangs and let loose another fiercesome roar, his clawed hand swiping forward and catching Kirishima on the chest. The golden bear howled back, baring his own teeth as Yokozawa scooped up Hiyori and crouched protectively.
Takano snarled threateningly, his wolf ears laid back and his tail whipping furiously.
"Get back." He spat, his bloody claws digging into the ground.
Kirishima's hackles rose and his fierce eyes locked on the black beast. He made no move to comply with Takano's orders, but instead flexed his broad shoulders, emitting a low growl.
"And what if I say no?"
Takano's amber eyes narrowed and slowly slid over to Yokozawa, who was holding Hiyori in his arms. Kirishima didn't have to glance back to know what Takano intended, and his growls grew even more primal. Yokozawa bared his teeth as well, beginning to back away with their daughter. Even if they did outnumber the beast, they couldn't dare stage a group attack with their vulnerable cub so close. The playing field was too even for Yokozawa's liking, and he knew it was high time to cut their loses.
"Zen." He said plainly, his eyes still fixed on the black wolf.
Kirishima let out another brutal growl, grinding his teeth together and glaring at Takano with fury.
The beast stared back with equal violence, his claws unconsciously clenching deeper into the ground.
"ZEN!" Yokozawa barked, this time with more force. A deep growl rose in his chest and he let out a snarling rumble in an attempt to gain his partner's attention.
Kirishima eyes flickered over his shoulder briefly, and his lips folded back over his teeth as he began to back away, making sure to keep Takano in his sights as he did.
Takano watched them go, his own jaw closing as they finally turned and headed back into the thicket with their cub. Once their scent had faded Takano whipped around and kneeled next to Ritsu, carefully placing his paw on the brunette's cheek.
"Ritsu," He whispered. "Are you okay?"
Green trembling eyes stared back at him and Ritsu was unable to respond as his skin paled and his body began to shake.
"Are you hurt?" Takano pressed, his worry rising.
But with a final shiver, Ritsu's eyes closed and his head rolled downward as he fainted, his body going limp.
Takano swallowed hard, and quickly gathered the brunette in his strong arms. He felt the lump on the back of Ritsu's head and involuntarily winced at the size. Carefully arranging him on his back, Takano stood up and began to carry him back to the castle as a few droplets of rain fell from the clouds.
Wow, two chappies in one day :) Ya'll are spoiled. See what happens when you review? It gets me all pumped to write! ^_^
Thanks again for reading!
Love,
TBF101