It was a rainy day. Tsumeato looked out at the rainstorm from beneath the precinct awning. He'd never liked rainy days. They allways reminded him of his mom's death.

Until…

"Tusmeato!" Chiru ran form the precinct.

Until she came along. And brightened his darkest days.

He scowled. D*mn. When had he gone soft?

"Yo. Took your time."

"Sorry! The chief wouldn't let me go."

"He wasn't gropin' you again was he?" Tsumeato growled.

Chiru giggled. "Nope!" She blinked as rain splashed in her green eyes.

"Baka. Don't you have an umbrella?" Tsumeato growle.d

"No. I didn't know it was raining." Chiru smiled. "Besides, I love the rain. I hope, one day, you will to Tsumeato-kun."

Tsumeato's heart raced. He didn't know how to tell her. He already did.

"Here. Use mine." He opened his black umbrella and held it over her.

"B-but, Tsumeato-kun, won't you get wet?" Chiru blushed.

Tsumeato smiled. "That's fine. The rain…its not so bad."

Chiru's eyes widened.

Tsumeato-kun…I never thought I'd hear him say that…

They walked away together.

But a figure watched from a nearby bush. Blue and yellow eyes followed them, then widened when he saw Tsumeato smile.

This girl must be someone special to you, boy… Let's see…Just how far your willing to go for her… Lets test that new found happiness. Tsumeato…

Tsumeato was hanging out in the bar with his pack. Chiru would be here any minute.

"Tsumeato," growled Lefty. "We got a problem here."

"What?" He snaped.

"You and this girl...Chiru. You hardly hang out with us anymore. H*ll we bearly recognize you anymore."

Tsumeato's skin prickled. "What're you gettin' at?"

"I believe he's implying that your different because of Chiru," Houkou sipped his tea. "And not in a good way old chum. Face it we hardly see you anymore."

"Yeah! What gives?" Inidigi whined.

Tsumeato felt cornered. "I...I don't know what you guys are talking about!"

Tomi giggled. "Tsume loves Chiru-chan!"

Tsumeato slammed his beer down. "I don't! She's my partner, thats all! I used her to help find Suna, thats it! She doesn't mean a damn thing to me, got it?!"

Tomi gasped. He was lookign behind Tsumeato. "Oh no..."

Tsumeato turned and his heart sunk.

Chiru stood there, her eyes wide and full of tears.

"Chiru...I-!"

Tsumeato lurched out of his seat.

Chiru backed away. "Stay away from me! Jerk!" She sobbed, and she ran out of the bar, sobbing!

Houkou hung his head. "Happy, Alpha?"

Tsumeato screwed his eyes shut and bowed his head. "D*mmit...what have I done?!"

The following day, Tsumeato arrive at the precinct.

"Yo." He greeted the chief as he entered.

"Hey, have you seen Chiru?"

Tsumeato frowned and looked around the station. She wasn't at her desk. "She's not here?"

"No. I called her, but she didn't answer."

Tsumeato felt something in his stomach. Something bad. "She's such a ditz. She probably is just late. Baka…"

But an hour wnet by. Chiru still wasn't here.

Tsumeato called her and got her voicemail.

"Somethin's not right…" She was always so determined and driven to work. Why would she not turn up without saying anything?

"I'm gonna go." He stod and walked to the door. "Maybe she's sick or somethin'."

The chief frowned. "Let us know how darling Chiru-chan is! Such a good boyfriend, Tsumeato-kun!"

Tsumeato kicked him! "Im not her boyfriend!"

Blushing, he ran out of the station.

He arieved at Chiru's house and froze. The door was unlockedand there were claw marks gouged into the wood.

"Sh*t… Chiru?!" He ran inside.

Bloody pawprints streaked the ground. The living room had bene torn to pieces. Stuffing was pulled out of the couch, the TV lay smashed in pieces, a flower vase had been knocked over.

He ran upstairs and found bloody claw marks on Chiru's bedroom door. He opened it…

There was bloody letters written on the bedroom wall.

Come and get her where it all ended boy

Tsumeato's blood ran cold.

Where it all ended…

His mother's pleas, his brothers pushing his father over the cliff to their own deaths.

No. It was impossible!

Tsumeato ran outside and turned into a wolf. He threw his scarred head to the skies and howled.

Lefty and the other wolfs answered his call.

"What's wrong?" indigo asked, leaping from a roof.

"My father. He has Chiru." Tsumeato snarled.

Lefty's single eye widened. "Sh*t! But I thought-!"

"So did I. And if he's hurt her…he will pay. Are you guys with me?"

"Yah!" Tomi barked. "Lets go save Chiru-chan!"

"With you all the way, good chap!" Houkou grinned.

"I'm always up for a fight!" said lefty.

"Shigure?" Inidigi asked.

Shigure was sleeping.

"SHIGURE?!"

Shigure jumped! "What? Sure, let's go."

Tsumeato broke into a run, jumping from roof to roof.

Chiru, hang on! I'm coming for you!

Chiru opened her eyes, shivering. She lay in a den, her paws bound with chains. A blizzard raged.

"Huh? Where am I?" the red wolf whispered.

A black paw landed on a rock. She raised her head.

An enormous black direwolf towered over her. He had one blue eye and one yellow eye.

"My dear. We meet at last."

Chiru's heart sunk. "Your…"

He licked his licks, grinning. "So, you've heard of me. My name is Kuro."

"Your Tsumeato's father. The one who killed his mother!"

"Yes. I killed the whore. And my wretched offspring when they dared betray me. She cheated on me and bore me a b*stard son. Only one has eluded me for so long. The one I've waited to kill since his birth. Tsumeato."

"No!" Chiru struggled to stand. "You can't! I wont let you hurt Tsumeato-kun!"

He barked laughter. "Foolish girl! Your bound at my feet!"

"What do you want with me?" Chiru bared her fangs.

"My b*stard son cares for you. I can see it in his smile. He'll come for you, and find me instead."

"No…Please, hurt me! Take me instead!"

"Oh, I will…" he licked his lips and bent his snout to snarl in her ear. "He won't find us without a little…encouragement. Scream for me, girl!" His fangs pierced her neck!

Chiru clenched her jaws. She couldn't! If she screamed, Tsumeato would be hurt.

"I said, scream!" He roared, and his claw slashed her across the face.

She yelped in pain.

His fangs pierced her ankle, and he lifted her and hurled her into the rocks!

Her vision turned white. Chiru crumpled, shaking.

Don't come… Tsumeato…Please!

Tears streaked her furry cheeks.

Tsumeato wandered in the blizzard, unable to see. "Chiru!" he howled.

Lost in the darkness, hoping for a sign
Instead there is only silence
Can't you hear my screams?

"Alpha, it's no good! We have to sdtop!" Lefty barked.

"I won't stop! I have gotta find her!" Tsumeato snarled. She needed him. Somewhere out there, she was alone and afraid, at the mercy of his father. He knew alltoowell that kind of fear and pain. He would never have anyone else suffer such a fate.

"sumeato, it's no good! Chiru's gone!" Lefty snarle,d running out in front of him.

"Shut up! She's out their somewhere! I'm gonna find her!"

"Oh yeah? And where is she? Behind that tree? For all we know, she could allreayd be—!"

Never stop hoping
Need to know where you are
But one thing is for sure
You're always in my heart

Tsumeato's eyes widened. He couldn't bare the thought!

"SHUT UP!" He tackled Lefty and they tumbled down the hill!

"Tsume!" Tomi cried, and Houkou restrained the pup by the tail.

I'll find you somewhere
I'll keep on trying until my dying day
I just need to know whatever has happened
The truth will free my soul

Tsumeato and Lefty tumbled over, snapping and biting. Then, Lefty grabbed Tsumeato by the scruff and threw him against a tree trunk!

"It's hopeless, Tsumeato! We've been out here for days! Give it up, Chiru-chan…Chiru-chan is…"

To Tsumeato's horror, tears pricked his eyes.

No. He refused to accept it.

"if you wanna go, then go, lefty. But I made a promise to myself. I would never lose anyother person I cared about. I'm going."

He turned and stalked away, and the blizzard swallowed up his friends,

"Tsume!" Tomi wailed.

Tsumeato blinked back his tears. He had to do this.

For Chiru.

He vanished into the blizzard.

Menawhile, Chiru lay, bleeding and hurt. She shivered, tears in her eyes.

Lost in the darkness, try to find your way home
I want to embrace you and never let you go

"Tsumeato…" She would never see him again. Never hear his grumpy comments, or see his precious smiles.

She hadn't realized until now, just how important he had become to her.

Almost hope you're in heaven
so no one can hurt your soul
Living in agony cause I just do not know
Where you are

Her blood ran across the cave floor and froze.

"Goodbye…Tsumeato-kun…"

She closed her eyes…

I'll find you somewhere
I'll keep on trying until my dying day
I just need to know whatever has happened
The truth will free my soul

Tsumeato fell, too cold to keep walking.

"Chiru…" He whispered…I'm sorry."

Wherever you are, I won't stop searching
Whatever it takes, I need to know

His eyes closed…

He remembered her. Her smile, her laugh. The moment she'd told him they were friends and held him tight.

"Tsumeato!" she called out to him. He opened his eyes.

Chiru was running toward him, in a sunny field of flowers, her fur blowing in the wind.

I'll find you somewhere
I'll keep on trying until my dying day

Tsumeato ran toward her, and they collided, nuzzling his face in her brown and tan fur. "Chiru…"

But then the image faded.

"Find me…Tsumeato…!"

Tsumeato's eyes widened. He forced himself to his paws. He would not give up on her.

No matter how long, no matter the cold that nawed at him…

I just need to know whatever has happened
The truth will free my soul!

I will find you!

"I'm coming…Chiru!"

Tsumeato broke into a run, and vanished into the storm.