Running Away
Wolf's Rain chapter 29 –
Cheza –
" Would you like a sugared bun, sweetie?"
A tall woman with long black hair asked Cheza. She dug around in a satchel that hung on her hip. She was sitting in a white tent decorated with black and red ribbons.
" Yes," Cheza replied softly. Her thoughts still distracting her, saddening her. She nodded and smiled back anyway.
Cheza had left Hanabito a while ago. Those events were literally in the past, however, they were a part of her now. As much as Cheza wanted to be happy, she had to acknowledge that there were very troubling things going on in her life. She wanted to run away somewhere, to hide in the overwhelmingly large place that was Black City, but she wouldn't allow herself too.
There were too many who needed Cheza to be happy. The wolves who'd put their trust in her. They stood on the side of the street, watched Cheza. Kiba didn't take his eyes off her. And Cher who stood by Cheza's side. The scientist seemed to be growing more and more overprotective and weary of the events going on around them by the second.
Cheza needed to be strong for all of them.
The merchant woman's smile grew. " Take some for all your friends." She nodded at Kiba and the others. "Today's a day for celebrating!"
" Oh, what holiday is it?" Cher asked impassively.
Cheza was sure Cher wanted the information for her own purposes. But Cheza also wanted to know what holiday it was. Humanly created holidays were always filled with joy and celebration.
The merchant woman shoved a patch of unbaked rolls onto a small makeshift stove. Then she answered loudly.
" Oh, you don't know?" The woman's eyes widened. She chuckled, " you must be travelers from far away! Well, I'll tell you…. Lady Jaguara is holding a festival! You see, Lord Orkham, Lord Darcia, and Lady Jaguara were fighting."
The woman looked long and hard at Cheza's face. Cheza blushed and averted her eyes She must have looked confused, which she was. Cheza hadn't had a clue of the bloodshed and war that'd been going on now. She knew of past grievances and long-forgotten war. News of a recent war was a shock to her. She looked at Cher quizzically but the scientist said nothing.
Yet another piece of information Cher hadn't told her about. She was sure Cher had her reasons, Cheza had to admit, Cher keeping secrets from her made her feel sad.
The merchant shook her head and sighed. She looked into Cheza's eyes and frowned as well as if sensing the Flower Maiden's sadness.
" But it's alright now." She smiled reassuringly.
"Lady Jaguara put an end to all of it! They signed a peace treaty and that's why we're celebrating today."
The woman grabbed a paper bag and clapped her hands.
" Now, she asked, " how many do you need?"
Cheza blinked. She quickly continued the number of sugar roll eaters in her head.
" S-six, please. Six is fine."
" Alright then," the woman nodded as she placed six sugared rolls into a small paper bag.
" Thank you," Cheza said again as she reached out to grab the bag.
" Of course." The merchant smiled as Cheza and Cher walked away. " Enjoy the festival!"
Cheza could hear the merchant and many other people yelling in the background. The sounds of the festival were deafening.
Cheza smiled at the wolves as she grew closer to their hiding spot. " Hello," she said. "We've acquired food for everyone!"
The cheer and bustle of the crowd was a welcome change from the death and misery of the recent past. Of course, Cheza still thought of Hanabito.
But it was hard not to get swept up in the festival fun. People were practically singing and dancing in the streets. Merchants were giving away food and drink for free. It warmed Cheza's heart to see people laugh and celebrating instead of crying and hurting each other. Maybe Hanabito was wrong. This world wasn't doomed after all. Cheza wouldn't have to save anyone. They'd already saved themselves. The Flower Maiden held on tight to that hope. It had and would always be her wish that everyone could find peace.
" Well that was easier then I thought it would be," Cher admitted.
She stared at the roll for a long time and then sat down on the curb.
Tsume shook his head. " I don't like this," he muttered.
Kiba's eyes darted to a group of people talking too loud.
" I don't like it either." Kiba agreed. He stood up and stared down the road they'd used to enter the town.
"The way everyone is acting, it can't be safe."
Cheza shook her head. " Right now," she said quietly. "Leaving is not an option." She conveyed all that the merchant had told her.
Kiba and the others weren't nearly as thrilled as Cheza had been but they listened patiently anyway. Cheza waited for someone to say something. After a while, when no one spoke, she took a deep breath and continued.
" You are all tired. It would be better to rest now… while you have the chance."
Kiba and the others seemed unconvinced but they sat down and ate their sugar buns all the same.
Cheza didn't feel tired, she rarely did. Her mouth was dry and her skin felt brittle. She licked her lips and sighed. Surely the desert trip had given her more than enough sun. Hanabito had given her water but she'd quickly become thirsty again.
Cher stood up abruptly. " I'm going to find us some water," she said as if reading Cheza's thoughts.
She walked over to Cheza. "Don't go anywhere and don't attract attention to yourself." Chers even tone was suddenly laced with emotion.
" And you." Cher pointed at Kiba. " Keep her safe." She disappeared into the jubilant crowd.
Toboe stared laughing loudly.
" What is so funny, Toboe?" Cheza responded. She was glad someone was enjoying themselves.
He answered in-betweens giggles, "She told us not to draw any attention to ourselves… But how are we supposed to do that? We're three wolves and a foreign flower person."
Cheza started laughing too.
" I still don't like that woman ordering us around," Tsume grumbled.
" Is there anything that you do like?" Kiba chuckled.
" I'd like to bite your-"
" Hey," Toboe interjected nervously. " S-someone should see if Hige and Blue are alright."
Cheza nodded. " Yes, but this one is supposed to stay here." Though maybe it wouldn't be so bad if she just went back to the hillside. As long as the wolves were with her she'd be fine. Still, she knew Cher would probably be angry.
" I can't go," Kiba said quickly. " Someone has to stay with Cheza."
Cheza smiled at Kiba's words. " We could all go," she suggested.
Kiba shook his head. " That would be too dangerous,"
" If it is just over there… this one thinks it will be fine."
Tsume grumbled and slowly stood up. Cheza wasn't sure why he was always so angry. She felt the urge to ask him about why but she thought the better of it. Who knew what sort of personal trauma he'd endured.
" I'll go… I don't like being around all these humans anyway."
Before anyone could protest he started walking away.
" Well I'm coming too," Toboe shouted as he ran after Tsume.
The sun peaked through the clouds. A beam of light shone down on Kiba's face. He moved closer to Cheza. A serious expression played over his face as he scanned the crowd, presumably looking for danger.
" It appears that it is only the two of us now, Kiba." Cheza smiled and closed her eyes. Despite everything, she felt really happy. It was hard to say they were alone at a time like this. She'd found Cher and the wolves and all the people around her were filled with joy.
Kiba rarely smiled. Obviously, Cheza wanted him to but she believed that he was happy in his own way.
"It's nice being around you Cheza. I'm sure I've said it before but…. I'm glad I found you."
Cheza's smile grew. " You have said it before." She laughed. "But this one never tires of hearing it. Kiba, this one is glad to have found you in this huge strange world. It is truly a miracle."
Cheza stood up and twirled in the wind. She was so excited she had to move around.
" Kiba," she shouted. " Let's enjoy the festival together!"
Toboe –
" Tsume," Toboe shouted. " Wait up," he panted. " Slow down, at least. You're going too fast."
This went on for a while. Toboe didn't think he could keep up for much longer. Tsume stopped abruptly. Toboe's eyes widened he stopped and nearly crashed into the grey wolf.
Tsume sighed and glared into the ground. " If you're going to follow me around like some stupid puppy then you could at least be quiet about it."
Toboe frowned. He was so out of breath that he could barely say anything.
" You're the one... running after Hige like your tails caught on fire." Toboe regretted what he'd said. He was trying to make Tsume angry.
It worked.
" Why do you have to be so stupid?! I don't care about him… I just can't stay being around humans anymore."
"Oh," Toboe's ears flattened. Before he knew any better he was saying something else stupid. " Well, maybe you just hate them because they know how to be happy and you don't!"
" Then I guess you should go and run back to your owner in Freeze City. I'm sure she'll give you a bunch of nice pats before she turns you into a coat."
" Granny would never do that!"
" How in the hell would you know what humans will and won't do Toboe!? Has a human ever shot one of your friends through the head? Or slaughtered your family over some stupid fairy tail? Or made you feel like you'd be better off not existing?"
Tsume was shaking. He voice sounded raw and his growl had turned into a low gurgling sound.
Toboe didn't think Tsume cared if he answers or not, yet for some reason, he spoke anyway.
" No." He said weakly."
" Then shut the hell up," Tsume growled softly.
The grey wolf turned and started walking away.
Toboe wasn't sure what to do. He just stood there in the middle of the dirt until something snapped inside of him and he broke down crying.
_Cher –
Cher weaved through the surprisingly busy Black City streets as fast as she could. Her quest for food and water taking her to a tavern. She was relieved by the distraction. With everyone laughing and dancing around it was easy to avoid Cheza's questions and pretend the world wasn't quickly coming to an end. But this was good news if it was true. The war was over. Not that it meant anything to Cher really. She was sure they'd start another war just as quickly as the last one ended. At least, for now, she didn't have to keep a low profile anymore. This was almost funny to Cher. Sure she'd crossed Darcia and countless others but it wasn't like anyone cared about a lone scientist scuttling around in the dirt.
Cher stopped at well and filled up her canteens. She started walking back when she heard someone scream
" Stop, thief," they shouted.
Cher froze. They hadn't figured her out, had they? Well, it was better to keep walking anyway then stand there giving herself away.
And then it happened. At first, she thought she must be hallucinating but she saw Hubb running straight towards her. She didn't know what to feel. Happiness, sadness, regret? It was all there but she really didn't have time to process any of it.
Hubb stopped running. His eyes widened and he opened his mouth to say something. Then all he did was stand in the middle of the street with a stupid smile on his face.
Two angry looking guys tackled him to the ground.
Cher winced as he hit the pavement.
They pulled him off the ground and we're dragging him away with them.
" Wait," Cher yelled. Before he could stop herself she was lunching forward and grabbing into Hubb's arm. " He's with me."
One of the guys turned around and snickered, "then it looks like you picked the wrong one miss."
He was being stupid and now so was she.
" Yes, I guess so," Cher answered under her breath.
" Still," she said more loudly. " Whatever he took, I'll pay for it." Cher walked closer to the men and dug into her money purse. " How much?"
"$60," the man answered.
Cher glared at Hubb. Then she glared at the man and shoved the money into his hand. He shoved Hubb towards her.
" I'm tellan' yah lass," he said. " Fine, a better man."
" Yes," Cher said, practically feeling her anger bubbling out of her. " Perhaps I should."
She turned and started to walk away.
" Wait, Cher," Hubb called. He was out of breath.
" Don't follow me." She felt like crying. It wasn't like her to be so out of control of her emotions.
" No. Seriously. I don't ever want to see you again." She didn't turn around.
" Cher seriously just wait. Please talk to me," He shouted. "I haven't seen you in so long and-"
People were starting to stare.
Cher turned around and pulled him into the nearest alleyway.
" What are you even doing here?" She was so angry. She really needed to calm down.
" Well… here specifically…? I came to find you and-"
" Hubb I told you not to try and find me, ever. I didn't think I had to be more clear than that."
Cher crossed her arms and took a breath. She sighed. He'd come to find her. Something besides anger stirred in Cher but she pushed it down quickly. Still, tears welled up on the sides of her eyes. She needed to calm down
" If you didn't want to see me then why did you pay for my stuff? Does being a royal scientist pay that well?" Cher couldn't help but notice Hubb's anger when he'd said, royal scientist.
The coins were forgeries. Of course, she wasn't going to tell Hubb that. Cher stared at him for a moment, long and hard. His hair was a mess. He had bags under his eyes. But he still had that stupid grin on her face. He hadn't stopped looking for her and he was so happy to see her. A part of that was a little creepy a little irritating. But deep down it made Cher happy. She was happy to see him, though she wouldn't fully admit that to herself. There was someone out there who cared about her. Someone who'd missed her. Someone who'd spent actual time trying to be with her. She bit her lip. What was wrong with her? Cher didn't need people to miss her or worry about her or anything. Still, thoughts lingered in the back of her mind.
Cheza had her wolves and when this was all over she'd forgot about Cher and go off and be in Paradise. Hubb was right here, right now. He was in front of her.
But she didn't have time for this right now.
" I didn't think stealing things was part of being a detective," She'd waited so long to say something but Hubb replied immediately.
He frowned. " Well… no, but we ran out of money but I really needed the stuff."
" We," Cher thought. Feeling uneasy all of a sudden.
Cher rolled her eyes. " You really needed vodka and cigarettes?"
Hubb shrugged. "Since I didn't have you around, sure."
Cher rolled her eyes again.
" Sorry about all of that. This wasn't exactly how I wanted us to meet back up… but I'm glad I found you, Cher."
Cher didn't say anything. She didn't really know what to say anymore...
" You look beautiful you know," Hubb said breathlessly.
" No, I don't," Cher thought. " I'm covered in dirt." But she kept listening all the same.
" Thank you," Cher said looking at the ground. " But I really have to get going…"
Hubb frowned. "Back to Cheza?"
" Yes," Cher answered with a nod.
" What if I could help with that? What if I could help you, Cher?"
" I doubt you can, Hubb." Still, despite everything, she wanted to believe.
Hello and thank you for reading my Wolf's Rain Fanfiction! Please support the original authors!
Geez, this chapter was originally a lot more happy... It's not now and I'm not completely sure how but it took a dark turn. And it'll only get worse from here 0: I stopped early because I've been really really crappy and I had a lot of work to do.
Anyway comments, follows and shares are very much appreciated! Thanks for reading!
