A/N: So I ended up continuing this regardless of the lack of attention because I just have way too many of these would-be RP ideas! Haha! Who knows? Maybe this chapter will do better! Getting into pack dynamics in this new world!

Tsume and Kiba make it back to their abandoned corner alley in record time, Tsume actually beating Kiba by a good few seconds. Hige, having stayed behind in case Toboe came back before the others found him, is rushing for them even before they touch down. He's been silently freaking out since his sensitive nose picked up the scent of Toboe's blood—a lot of it—from several blocks away.

"Toboe!" He reaches toward him on instinct, but his hand stills and he gasps, eyes widening and face paling, at the sight of the kid's leg and the fact that he's unconscious. Worried, angry eyes fly up to the others. "W-what the hell happened?! Who did this?!"

Tsume, glaring at the ground, growls angrily, his hold on Toboe tightening protectively. Mostly to keep his temper in check. "That old man happened! Blue's geezer!" He tries not to want to kick Hige's ass at how his eyes light up at the mention of his old world mate. His nostrils flare. "He didn't remember us, and Blue didn't either! She doesn't remember or maybe even know she's half-wolf in this world, not that any of it makes any difference to me! If that bastard weren't so important to Toboe, I swear—!"

Kiba's hand on Tsume's arm is the only thing that makes him stop short. "I understand, Tsume, believe me, but we can't afford to focus on that right now. Toboe's still bleeding pretty badly, and his wound might get infected or worse if we don't do something soon." He squeezes his arm tightly, its meaning clear and grounding, his voice softening just enough. "He needs us. So let's be there for him. We'll worry about the old man and Blue later. All right?"

Tsume, eyes never leaving Toboe, seems to wrestle with his fury and need for vengeance for a few moments before he squeezes his eyes shut and lets out a rough sigh. Opening them, some of the tension bleeds from his shoulders, but only just. He's tired, already emotionally drained from this. Kiba can see it in his eyes. Maybe this is why they didn't remember their past lives before, he thinks. It would've been too painful. "All right. Help me get him comfortable."

Kiba can't help but smile softly at that. He remembers a time when Tsume wouldn't have let him touch him, let alone trusted Kiba enough to let him (request) help with an injured Toboe. He really has changed for the better, and so much of it he owes to the boy in his arms.

They move to their sizeable makeshift lean-to in the cleanest part of the alley, laying Toboe on a brushed-clean sheet inside, Tsume taking off his jacket to cushion his head. Kiba's pretty sure it's the first time he's ever seen Tsume without it. He just has a gray tank top (more of a crop top, really) underneath. Hige still hasn't moved or said anything, but he's probably just trying to figure out how he feels about losing Blue. Tsume doesn't care. Like Kiba said, later. Once he hears the change in breathing from Toboe in settling, the second-youngest wolf shakes himself. He jerks his thumb toward the town's center. "Y-you guys stay here with the runt! I'll go get us some supplies! Be right back!"

"Sure! Lay low, and be careful!" Kiba calls, and he doesn't have to see Hige's nod to know he heard. He hurries off as quickly as he can, disappearing into the shadows. Tsume watches him go, too, gaze lingering even after he's gone with lips drawn in a thin line.

While he's distracted, Kiba works on tearing off what scraps are left of Toboe's ruined pant leg and then lifting the leg itself to inspect the wound as carefully as he can. Toboe winces a little in his sleep, breath hitching, making Kiba freeze, but Tsume is quick to run surprisingly gentle fingers through his hair. "Don't worry, kid. It's just us. We're trying to fix you up. We'll do what we can for the pain." Toboe seems to calm at that, leaning into his touch, and Tsume doesn't bother trying to hide his fond, if guilty, smile. Kiba sees, though he pretends not to notice for Tsume's sake, not wanting to embarrass him. Not that he thinks it would anymore with all the growing he's done, but still.

It's quiet for several moments while Kiba takes note of as much as he can, and when he's done, he lets his human guise fall away for now. Taking a breath to brace himself, he starts licking away the blood that's stained the boy's skin. A heartbeat, two, and then, cautiously, 'Do you want to get his wound or should I?' He's honestly not sure Tsume would want any part of it (he's become incredibly sensitive to the taste of any of their blood after…well…), but because it's Toboe and he knows the other wolf still feels incredibly guilty about not being able to help or save the boy in the last world, he wants to give him the choice. He knows Toboe would want that, too.

But it seems he doesn't need to ask at all – Tsume's made the decision on his own. Kiba blinks, and Tsume, in his own true form, is already setting out to very carefully do just that. His feather-gentle licks still make Toboe moan and whimper some, toss and turn his head, but that's to be expected, and Tsume makes sure to nuzzle his leg and rumble soothingly, even lick Toboe's hand, every now and then to try to keep him calm. He hates causing the kid pain, but if it helps him heal and wake up faster, hell, he'll do just about anything.

They spend the next ten minutes working, and then, when they've done all they can, they replace their human forms so Kiba can tie off the makeshift sheet-bandage. It's not the best job in the world, but it'll do to keep it clean and hopefully staunch the bleeding until Hige brings back something more substantial. Hopefully, that's not too far off.

"So," Kiba's eyes flick up to Tsume, not even batting an eye at the fact that the man's holding a more relaxed Toboe's hand, "you think he's really going to get help or out looking for Blue instead?"

He. Hige.

Kiba sighs through his nose. He knew this was coming, but it's not like he hadn't considered the same thing himself, at least at first. They've forgiven him for everything he did to those other wolves in the old world, of course – it wasn't his fault – but in this situation, it makes sense that Tsume might be worried. Both for Toboe and Hige. They don't need two packmates down (or worse). "Hige can be…complicated, but even he wouldn't go after those two right now. He has to know Blue and that old man wouldn't leave while there are wolves in this city, especially one he's wounded. They'll be looking for us, and mostly likely, with our luck, we'll cross paths again. Besides, don't forget, he loves Toboe, too, Tsume. I don't believe he'd intentionally do anything that could mean losing him again."

Tsume's tense body relaxes some at that answer, eyes and expression losing some of their sharpness. Kiba relaxes a bit, too, giving him a soft smile. He thinks, most likely, Tsume already mostly came to that conclusion himself, but he needed to hear it from someone else to confirm it. It's relieving for both of them, really. Like he said in the old world: once Hige tries to kill them outright, they'll fight, but not before. Until then, Hige's pack, and they're going to Paradise. That's all.

For all of that, though, Tsume's still looking pale, more and more since cleaning Toboe's wound. "Are you all right?"

In the end, Tsume does get sick, as Kiba figured he would. He he tries to keep it as quiet as he can, but there's only so much he can do. Thankfully, Kiba pretends he didn't hear a thing by the time he comes back, paying no mind to his small stumble and the slight tremor in his limbs. He gets it. He really does. While he was gone, Kiba spent that time taking stock of Toboe's condition. He's lost a lot of blood, obviously, but his makeshift bandage thankfully seems to be holding all right for now. He's barely stirred or made a sound since passing out, which has Kiba worried. He's not sure if it's because of the shock of everything or the blood loss, maybe both, but he hopes he at least wakes up after they get him treated properly. He doesn't really know what they'll do if he doesn't. If it was like before, maybe they could take him to Cher or Hubb, but…they haven't met them yet in this world, don't know if they'd remember the pack or if it'd just end up with something like this again. Kiba really, really hopes they don't have to resort to that. He doesn't (want to) know how Tsume would take seeing Toboe in such a bad way…

He relays all of this to Tsume (except the last part, of course), wanting to hear his opinion. He knows more about humans than he does, after all. "Honestly, I did my damndest to never pay them too much attention, distancing myself like I did." Now, Tsume almost wishes he had, stormy eyes fixed on Toboe. "Ironically, the one who knows the most about humans and could probably help us the most is the one who needs our help…" Tsume's thumb absently runs along Toboe's knuckles, and he sighs roughly, resting his head back against the wall and closing his eyes in frustration. "As Hige would say, 'This whole thing sucks.'"

Kiba huffs a laugh, an amused smirk coming to his face. It feels good, honestly, in light of things. "Never thought I'd live to see you quote our resident bottomless pit."

Tsume smirks and laughs right back, opens his mouth to reply, before he suddenly straightens and looks toward the entrance. Footsteps, quick ones. That scent. Hearing and smelling it, too, Kiba readies himself to move. A second later, a breathless Hige races inside, carrying all kinds of medical supplies in a simple cloth bag. Thrusting it toward Kiba, he leans on his knees while he catches his breath. "Sorry…I took so long…! Couldn't nab it all…in one place…! Too many humans…! Had to be careful…keep suspicion off our backs…!"

Inspecting everything, Kiba smiles widely, relief flooding him. "This is perfect!" He reaches up to ruffle Hige's hair, the younger wolf leaning into the surprising, affectionate touch eagerly. "Great job, Hige! We should have enough for a few days and then some!"

Hige beams and flushes some at the praise, swiping modestly along the bridge of his nose. "That was the plan! Just in case we have to move the kid before he's better, too." Dropping to his knees at Toboe's side, he sets a light hand on his chest. At least his heartbeat and breathing still seem okay. "So how's he doin'? You know, considering?"

Tsume is the one to answer, pushing a few rusty strands of Toboe's hair from his forehead. "He's fighting. That's the important thing." His golden gaze moves to Hige, who's smiling at him warmly, almost teasingly, but it's too soft to be that, and he finds himself softening, too, maybe even flushing faintly, though he'd never admit it. "Thanks, Hige."

He nods, grinning toothily. "Hey, this is Toboe we're talkin' about here! He's like our little brother! Gotta look out for 'im, right?"

Kiba was right. He was right, too, really. He had nothing to worry about at all. Hige wouldn't leave them, Toboe, in the lurch like that. Not like this. Thank goodness.

"Right."

A/N: I already have most of the next chapter written (this chapter was originally a lot longer before I cut it so it wouldn't be a monster, lol), but I still gotta finish and edit that before I post it. Hope this is okay! Please let me know what you think! Thanks so much for reading!