Nico's car. Miles away yet. But Maki could hear it, which is why she was on the porch, in wolf form. Should she change? Would Nico be freaked out? Would Nico think she was trying to avoid her again? Maki inhaled and her ribs didn't scream as her lungs expanded. Wolf form healing had done at least a little of its magic. Good. Nico had always liked Maki when she thought she was Princess, maybe wolf form would be an advantage? Pettable, puppy dog eyes, warm. Maki nodded her head and howled happily. This was a good idea. Maki bounced as Nico got closer.

Nico pulled up to the cabin. Really beautiful. Trees swept with snow; lake view. Two story wooden cabin looked snug. And there, on the porch, was a beautiful redhead, the version with four legs. Even from a distance, Nico could tell that this was a Maki she would recognize, her girlfriend was practically bouncing and Nico could hear the howls. They sounded almost gleeful. Nico laughed, her tension easing.

As soon as Nico opened the car door, Maki was all over her.

"Let Nico get out of the car, pretty girl." Maki pulled back, after Nico hugged her. "If Maki were a cute girl, she could help Nico…HEY!" Maki had dodged around Nico, found the cooler with food and was sniffing every inch of it. "Go change so you can help Nico bring things in." Maki glanced at Nico, eyes completely lovable lavender. "And Nico can kiss you." Maki licked Nico's cheek and then bounded back to the door, shoving it open.

Much better experience than the last time Maki was in wolf form, Nico thought to herself. This might actually work.

Maki came back out as Nico was pulling her makeup bag out of the back seat, dressed in a very unbuttoned gray, white and purple flannel shirt and tight jeans. Nico could see the swell of her breasts as the shirt shifted. Nico shook her head, squelching her initial impulses. First, she and Maki really needed to have a conversation. Then, maybe, maybe, she could see what her gorgeous girlfriend wore under her clothes. Maki bounded up to Nico, pulling her into a hug, snuffling her nose through Nico's hair with a happy laugh. Nico rested her head on Maki, so relieved to have Maki in her arms, unharmed, happy and human that she tightened her embrace. Then she heard Maki whimper and glanced up to see the redhead wince.

"What's wrong?" Nico pulled back without releasing the hug.

Maki shook her head, but her lips trembled, "Still a little sore from last night."

"What happened? Did you get hurt?" Nico let her hands rove, searching for sore points and watching Maki's reactions.

Maki shrugged and kissed Nico, biting into Nico's glistening lower lip, "My parents visited and patched me up this morning. And I stayed in werewolf form 'til you got here. We heal fast."

Maki's eyes were half closed and she moved in for another kiss, her nose darting playfully so Nico couldn't predict where her lips would land. Neck. Lingering. Nico shivered. Maki once again scooped Nico into her arms and carried her into the cabin. Maki fell slowly back into the couch, kicking a leg out, Nico jarred not at all.

"We need to talk." Nico was staying focused, darn it and then languid lavender eyes blinked at her innocently.

"Okay." Maki kissed Nico again, seeming to see no contradiction between the need for conversation and the urges that were driving her Nico-ward, the tantalizing mix of scents and glow and touch. Maki growled and surged into Nico, Nico's lips and full attention her only goal.

"Maki." Nico got the name out between kisses. Barely. Both Maki's hands were in Nico's hair, strands tangling around eager fingers, tips brushing ears. Nico tried again, her resolve softening. "Maki."

"Mmmmmm?" Maki pulled Nico backwards with her and suddenly Nico found herself on top of Maki, amethyst eyes staring deeply into hers, arms locked around Nico's neck, redpink lips swollen and parted, shirt falling open mid breast, Nico's legs trapped between hers. Maki was pressing up, against the full length of Nico's body, whispering Nico's name and as one of Maki's fingers dragged across her lips, Nico's eyes narrowed and she felt a switch flip, she wanted to see what Maki did when Nico pushed her a little further, hand suddenly slipping between Maki's shirt's open neckline and skin, fingers tracing a rough line up a very soft curve until they hit…

Maki yelped, eyes wider, the kiss following coarser, demanding and Nico's fingers pinched harder, while her other hand caressed the curve of Maki's hip, taking time to draw slow loops against the skin while the redhead threw her head back, a howl ending in a low, sexy whine. Maki convulsed, out of control, throwing them both back into a sitting position, panting, her eyes glowing, wild green sparking and Nico was practically breathless with the need to feel Maki under her again. She put everything she felt into a caressing series of kisses, starting well below Maki's throat, their pressure raising as Nico's head did, her hair brushing Maki's nose, her lips...Maki could feel the panic rising, the urge to change, to run. Something was different. Magic, musk, vanilla, magic, Nico yes, but there was that...feel that Maki had never quite identified, that urge that seemed to freeze her, Nico's eyes shimmered, feral, as Maki met their gaze and Maki saw a longing, a challenge there that shadowed everything. She whined, sounding lost.

"Maki?" But Nico's voice was still familiar, concerned, an antidote to the hackles Nico's eyes were raising. Maki knew she shouldn't look away, but she did, skittish, barely managing not to jump away as well. But her arms wouldn't let Nico go either. "Pretty girl?" A soft question from Nico again, a gentle touch on Maki's cheek relieving the pressure on her breast, and then Nico's voice thrummed, full of wonder, and the cocoon of sensation and sense around Maki tightened again, "You really are such a pretty girl." Ruby, sable and lightning crackle swirled through all of Maki's senses. Nico's kiss started out gentle and Maki pushed into it and then Nico pressed back, shattering Maki's control, driving her forward and back with equal force. Maki broke away, frantically crawling backwards, tingling, her entire body suddenly craving a Nico who was just as suddenly changed, sharper, an aggressive, driving edge under the glow. Nothing felt safe. Maki's ears lengthened, a whine in her throat, hands hitting the arm of the couch, her legs pulled up to make a barrier, frantic. Nico followed Maki down the couch, not breaking eye contact. Then Nico stopped, dropping her head for a moment, taking a deep breath, before sliding, from the couch to the floor, in front of Maki, her hands taking Maki's, her touch soft, her posture penitent, "Maki?"

There was the twisting again and the confusion, the dissonance, a more familiar kind of loss of control making Maki tremble and then Nico's arms claimed her, holding all the pieces together, Nico's hand in Maki's hair, pulling Maki's head down to Nico's shoulder, "Maki. Stay with me." It was a command, a request, gentle, firm, impassioned, calm. Maki turned her head to see ruby eyes full of kindness and warmth, the shadows and primal need that surprised and distressed her just moments ago kept at bay by concern. Maki pushed into Nico's shoulder again, still wanting to be closer, still confused, still thrilled, still frightened. Nico started talking, keeping her voice as calm as possible, no matter how much her heart was racing, as she ran her fingers slowly through Maki's hair, "It's all right, pretty girl. Nico knows we don't need to rush, there's no hurry." Maki was still shuddering, Nico could feel an ear shifting under her fingers, "Maki?"

Maki whiffled into Nico's shoulder, almost crying from the chaos of sensations. Nico hugged her tighter, hands still gently stroking, humming, eyes alert for any sign of change in the ear, which seemed a starting point.

"Maki, Nico's right here. Everything's fine. I'm right here. It's just me." Nico rested her head on Maki's, stray hairs teasing her nose, willing calming vibes into her girlfriend. "You're okay. Nico promises."

"Sorry." Maki mumbled into Nico's shoulder, as the tension lightened.

Nico laughed, but it was a gentle one, "Sorry for being cute and honest? You have nothing to be sorry for." Nico cleared her throat, nervous, "Nico is sorry if she scared you."

Maki shook her head, "Not scared. Not by you." Nico waited, Maki shifted a little, head still on Nico's shoulder, "It was...just too much." Lavender eyes met Nico's, so much vulnerability in their depths that Nico was breathless again. All new territory. So much trust to keep true to.

Nico nodded, her face serious, "Too much for Nico, too."

"Really?" Maki sat up, eagerness sneaking back.

Nico nodded, taking one of Maki's hands in both of hers, "Really. Nico is serious about Maki, about us. Not about speed." Nico winked, "Maki already knows how strongly Nico feels about fast food. It's the same for dating. No french fries. Nico is a connoisseur."

Maki snorted, "Of pretty girls."

Nico popped up on the couch next to Maki, "Only the prettiest. Which is you."

"Good." Maki laid her head against the couch, "N...Nico is the prettiest girl I've seen."

Nico's head was next to Maki, "Nico knows."

Maki giggled, turning to look at Nico, caught again by the chiseled angles of Nico's profile, the translucence of her skin, the smirky confidence of her upturned lip. "I love you, Nico."

Nico's hair was in front of her ruby eyes, but it couldn't hide the glow of warmth as Nico turned her head. "Everyone knows that."

"They do?" Maki yelped.

Nico poked her with a finger, "You're kind of obvious...Princess."

Maki flushed and glanced away, embarrassed.

"No, look at Nico, pretty girl. This is important." Nico sat up, facing Maki, "When you weren't yourself two nights ago, running all over campus after sandwiches..."

"Sandwiches?" Maki frowned.

Nico raised a finger to her lips, shushing, "Nico will tell you someday. Don't interrupt." Nico dropped the hand to Maki's thigh, "Nico kept hoping you would recognize her, that I would see that spark. And when I didn't…" Nico gulped, remembering the new nightmares since, "I was so worried. So I realized how much I care about you, tail or not. Big night for Nico."

Silence as they sat there, connected by the light touch of Nico's hand, eyes finding sympathies in each other's glances.

Maki sat up, leaning forward to kiss Nico, "Can we try again, soon?"

Nico held the kiss, but didn't linger. "Nico will be waiting for you."

Maki stretched back over the couch, her shirt riding up as she did. Nico watched the motion, imagining for just a second what rolling with those curves would feel like. Then she saw the bruise.

"Maki?!" Nico pointed to Maki's torso, horrified. "What happened?"

Maki looked down, pulled up her shirt and saw the bruise, "Oh."

"OH?" Nico was right in Maki's face. "What happened?"

Maki scratched her cheek, thoughtful, "I probably threw myself into the door a few times. Papa said I might have broken a rib. But it doesn't hurt much."

Nico grabbed Maki's shirt and yanked up, exposing the mottled discoloration that took up her left flank and muttering, "Yeah, you're going to have to heal a lot more before Nico even thinks about…"

Maki frowned, shoving her shirt back down, blushing, a growl starting. "I'm fine. Don't fuss. Stop worrying about me."

Nico glared at Maki for a few seconds, meeting an amethyst wall of stubborn, then shrugged, "If you're so fine, go get Nico's luggage. I'm going to see what's in the kitchen. We need lunch."

"My parents brought some takeout with them. There's not much else." Maki never really cooked. If her parents hadn't been worried, they probably would have just packed frozen meals made by the cook. But Maki had been spoiled this time, with deep dish pizza and pastas from her favorite restaurants.

"Nico took some baked ziti out of her freezer. Special recipe. We can heat it up."

"That sounds awesome. Let's do that. You don't need to look…" Maki sprang after a Nico who'd rushed for the kitchen, knocking against the opposite arm of the couch and suppressing a yelp of pain.

Nico already had the refrigerator open. She glanced back at Maki, hungrier after reading the names of the best of the North Shore's restaurants on the carrying bags, "Tell me at least one of these has a dessert."

Maki chuckled, "I know a place we can get donuts if they don't."

Hanayo settled her feet into her slippers, smiling at the cute cat faces staring up at her. Rin had brought them matching slippers for Christmas. Rin had been reluctant to get out of bed this morning and for once, Hanayo had indulged her, trading class for snuggling closer, affectionate kisses and playful pillow tugs of war leading to...Hanayo blushed. Even alone, after all these years, the depth of her connection with Rin was still a fiercely guarded private treasure. Indescribable. Irreplaceable. A morning full of warmth and love with the one person Hanayo would do anything to protect. A grim, determined mask fell over her features. That brought her to this. While Rin was heading to a scheduled study session with her track team appointed tutoring team, Hanayo reached into her bag, pulling out a nearly invisible, clear flash drive. She'd copied every file she could find marked "wolf" when she was working yesterday. She'd also video chatted Eli through disabling the transmitting feature of the metering device.

Hanayo slid the flashdrive into a laptop port and opened a video file. Then she stopped breathing. It was Rin. They were after Rin. They had Rin on video, changing. Rin and Maki didn't transform into anything resembling the same species. Rin's coat was coarser and her orange hairs blended in with the brown, unlike Maki's bifurcated red and cream fluffiness. So Kira probably wouldn't have connected Nico's presumed pet and protector to the person she'd been studying video of. Hanayo rewatched the video. Rin transforming was still one of the most stunning things that Hanayo had ever seen, muscles twisting and stretching, hair suddenly lush over radiant pale skin, pure joy in Rin's every movement as the motion and energy she had to contain as a human exploded into action. Rin's bright eyes and bright grin, they never altered. And Hanayo would never let anyone change that. She clicked on another file. If there was a plan, she would find it. And find a way to end it. Her purple eyes gleamed with fervor as she started reading.

Empty takeout containers were scattered all over the table in front of the couch. There had been several desserts, all shared. Maki peeked a look at Nico. She hadn't been sure how Nico would enjoy the movie Maki had chosen off the shelf. Topsy Turvy, sure it was a backstage story, like the one Nico had made her sit through, but it was three hours long, full of Gilbert and Sullivan music and set in the 1880's. And yet, Nico had been leaning forward the whole time, repeating lines under her breath, leaning back into Maki during the songs, curious about the details (Maki could smell her interest), tearing up at one scene. As the final credits rolled, Nico turned to Maki, her eyes bright with enthusiasm.

Maki used the arm she had on the back of the couch to pull Nico closer, "So you liked it? We could go see a Gilbert and Sullivan production sometime."

"That was great, Maki. Nico loved watching the actors work. Hasn't changed much." Nico slid into Maki's lap, hand reaching up to casually play with a twirl of red hair, ruby eyes teasing, "So is everything you like written by a werewolf?"

Maki jumped a little. "Huh?"

"Nico knows the signs now." Nico winked, opened her mouth and did an impressively accurate imitation of Shirley Henderson singing.

"Ah, pray make no mistake,

We are not shy.

We're very wide awake,

The moon and I.

Sounds werewolfy to Nico. Was…" Nico's face scrunched cutely as she tried to remember, "Gilbert…" Nico pauses, with a dramatic whisper, "a…"

Maki barked a laugh, guessing what Nico was going to say, "You mean Great Uncle Wills…"

Nico's eyes went wide, "Nico was right."

Maki nipped at Nico's earlobe, "Nico is tasty, not right."

Nico turned Maki's head, catching Maki's heart again with her mischievous flirting, "Nico is always right, Maki will find out soon."

Maki shook her head, laughing, "I'm a tough audience."

Nico tapped Maki's cheek and broke into

"Three little maids from school are we

Pert as a school-girl well can be

Filled to the brim with girlish glee

Three little maids from school"

Maki started nuzzling behind Nico's jaw, but Nico continued singing merrily, bouncing lightly in Maki's lap, hand still teasing Maki's hair. Maki could feel the vibrations from Nico's voice tickle.

"Everything is a source of fun

Nobody's safe, for we care for none

Life is a joke that's just begun

Three little maids from school"

Nico turned her head, whispering "You can applaud Nico being a quick study now, tough audience."

Maki walked her fingers down Nico's side and around her waist, "My hands are busy."

Nico leaned her head against Maki's shoulder, yawning, batting her eyelashes over the rubies Maki was lost in. "Nico has had a long week. Applause would lead to sweet dreams."

Maki's head was full of Nico again, each breath charged with magic and musk and vanilla and peach and...Nico. It was amazing, having her this close, being this calm.

"You feel good, pretty girl." Nico murmured, snuggling as close as she could, listening to Maki's heart. "Nico has an early drive tomorrow."

"I'll take you." Maki offered.

"Nico needs her car. Doesn't Maki?" Nico sounded more asleep every minute and Maki's heart expanded at the thought that Nico could be this relaxed around her after Monday night. "Maki's so warm...are you going to…?" Hints of worry crept into Nico's drowsy mumble.

Maki whispered into Nico's hair, softly blowing strands to watch them dance, "I'm going to stay with you."

"Good." Another yawn, "Nico likes cute, cozy girls best."

So did Maki. What was surprising was that she especially liked cute, cozy Nico when she snored. Love seemed to be full of the odd and unexpected. What would be the next discovery, Maki wondered as she gently lifted Nico. Tonight, nobody was sleeping on the couch, in any form.

A/N Realized as I was finishing this that two different werewolf stories are going on...Rin and Nozomi are stuck in a thriller and Maki's bounding through a screwball romantic comedy. It will be interesting to see what happens when they collide.

Hope your November is starting off well. Hit the polls to VOTE next Tuesday if you're in the US and wherever you are, have some fun, darn it.

Have been reading Dracula. Stoker's language is lovely and he describes scenes and people with such power - just got through the storm at Dracula's arrival in England. You can smell the sea in the air.

Also, metaphorical rain has ended, at least for now. Take care!