Black Field

Aki groaned, feeling a strange weight on her back. She didn't remember much, just a feeling as though she were spinning. Her head was pounding… wait… she remembered something else… her father yelling her name.

"Oh, you're awake," a male voice said from beside her.

Aki opened her eyes, looking around. She didn't see anyone, just… eyes. "Who… who's there?"

"My names Kuroda," a young male wolf stepped into the light created by the whole she fell through, "what's yours."

Aki studied Kuroda. His light grey fur with a black matted back was quite becoming, she thought. "I'm… Aki," she said, slowly.

"That's quite a fall you took, for a while I thought you weren't going to wake up," Kuroda laughed.

"Does your pack… live here?"

"Nope, it's just me. As it has been for a while… and I wouldn't say I live here, just… visit time to time. What about you, where's your pack?"

"Up there… or they were… I'm not sure if they left or not. How long have I been here?" Aki wondered.

"Three days… c'mon, you must be starved," Kuroda helped her up.

"Why don't you have a pack, Kuroda?" Aki asked, limping beside him.

"I decided that I didn't need one once I learned how to hunt. I thought it was a bit of a burden, having to fight for leadership… look after everyone… and some of the members were annoying. I just figured I was better off on my own," Kuroda explained.

"Weren't you lonely?" Aki was amazed that he lasted so long on his own.

"A little… but then I usually would find some way to amuse myself to take my mind off of it." Kuroda had now taken his human illusion. A young boy with black hair and bright, crystal blue eyes.

"Well, I'd hate to be a burden to you, so I'll continue on my way and try to find my pack. Just point me in the direction of the exit to this… cavern." Aki felt as though she were intruding by staying, when clearly this wolf did not want company.

"You… you don't have to. I'm actually excited to see another wolf… I mean I haven't seen one in a long time," Kuroda said, kindly.

Aki smiled at him. Although, not too long ago she looked 5 or 6, she now looked closer to 12 or 13. (A/U: remember, wolves and dogs age faster than we do :D) "You should run with us…"

"What?" Kuroda asked, alarmed.

"Leave here… and join me… my pack in Paradise," Aki continued.

"You don't believe that old story do you?" Kuroda snorted.

"I do… for I have run with the flower maiden," Aki stated, almost proudly. "Even now… I can smell her and hear her call."

"I think you may have hit your head too hard, once you eat you should get some rest," Kuroda asked, breaking into a light jog.

'She fell… she's gone… why? Why'd I let that happen…?'

"Tsume…?"

'I shouldn't have left her alone…'

"Tsume?"

'Damn it! I'm such an idiot!'

"Tsume!?"

"What!?" Tsume snapped at Toboe.

"You're going in the wrong direction," Toboe stated bluntly.

Tsume looked up, noticing how far away he had drifted from the pack.

Nago and Okoto blinked at the older wolf, not seeing, really, any similarities between Aki and him. Aki, for one, was much nicer.

"Kiba… perhaps we should rest… we've been walking for three days," Toboe reasoned.

Kiba simply nodded, looking at Cheza.

Toboe sat down next to Tsume, "I'm sure she's fine… she's a pretty tough kid."

"The hole… was deep… after a fall like that… it won't be long before she gets picked off…" Tsume said, grumpily, "if she survived."

Hige looked lightly over at Tsume, almost amazed by his tone. He would never have imagined Tsume to EVER act this way.

"I guess pups change people," Blue, who was beside him, said, noticing the amazed look on Higes' face.

"I guess…" Hige, subtly, agreed.

"Is it our fault… Aki fell… because we tried to hurry her to the pack?" Nago asked, looking up at Blue.

Okoto sniffed, as though he were going to cry at the thought.

"No… it wasn't your fault. The ground just… wasn't solid where she walked, it couldn't support her weight," Blue tried to explain.

"I still feel awful…" Nago whimpered.

"It's not easy… losing a pack mate… even an annoying one such as she," Hige sighed, in agreement.

"Aki wasn't annoying!" Nago growled, his hackles rising towards Hige, "she was nice… and caring…"

"To you guys maybe… she was a bit of a burden to us…" Hige growled.

"You're… just a mean old wolf!" Okoto barked, beside his brother.

"What!?" Hige snapped.

"Hige don't," Blue warned, "they're just in pain… let them take their anger out."

"They're even more annoying than Aki was," Hige huffed, lying down.

Aki lay down on the floor by the exit to the cavern.

"You thinking of running off in the night?" Kuroda asked, lying down beside her.

"No… but I like smelling the fresh air… and I may decide to leave in the morning to catch up to my pack," Aki sighed.

"I wish you wouldn't leave…" Kuroda mumbled.

"What?" Aki asked.

"Nothing… you should rest…" Kuroda laughed uneasily, "you need to take care of your injuries right?"

"Right… but I want you… to consider my offer… I'm sure the others would love to meet you," Aki pleaded.

"I'll… think about it…" Kuroda promised, "if you consider… coming back here… if I decide not to go, sometime."

"Of course I'll come back," Aki barked, excitedly, "I would love to see you again."

"And… stay?"

"I don't think I'd be able to stay but… well, maybe for a little while… but then I'd have to continue to Paradise." Aki's ears went back slightly.

"Oh right… I almost forgot about that." Kuroda chuckled, looking a little uncomfortable.

"I can't believe you don't believe in Paradise," Aki said.

"I just… don't see any reason to. To me it seems so… fictional, it doesn't make any sense," Kuroda said, thoughtfully.

Aki yawned, "well, that's one wolfs' opinion. If you come with me, I can prove it." She wagged her tail, a wicked smile playing on her lips.

"I'm not playing that game, Aki… I'll tell you my decision in the morning," Kuroda yawned also. "Besides, if you come back… you can always just tell me. I'll believe you then."

"Ah… you are one of those people who believe only what they see, aren't you?"

"Maybe… now rest… I can see your eyes drooping as we talk."

Aki rested her head on her paws, the moonlight streaming over her small body. Her eyes closed fully, her breathing turned steady. Soon, she was sound asleep, feeling relaxed and safe. Something she only felt in her fathers' presence.

Kuroda watched her sleep for a little while, before gently resting his head across hers. He closed his eyes, and allowed himself to drift into an easy sleep. Something, he had not had since he was with his old pack.

Awww how cute… YAY! No cliff hanger! Anywho, I bet you guys are wondering how I got the idea for the title… Black Field… well Kuroda is a Japanese name that means Black Field sooo… yeah. Kuroda is the actual title of this chapter… but Kuroda isn't that interesting of a word so I decided to put the meaning. And there we go… aha… I also just noticed that Kuroda is the first one to have a name which, once translated, is two words. YAY GO KURODA!! (waves pom-poms)

Kuroda: - -' is she always this hyper?

Aki: Not usually… R&R!!