Chapter 18- The Silent Fire of Kiyoshi

Shives continued down the depressing road to the black castle. She hugged herself against the cold wind, thinking about that rose Yukio gave her. She looked at the blue rose. Was Yukio lying to her? What if he wasn't? She thought about seeing Toboe and Hige again and her eyes start to water.

"Shives! Hey Shives!"

She looked in the direction from which the sound came. It was Tsume and Kiba waving at her. She ran over to them with tears in her eyes.Tsume didn't expect her cry into his chest but he held her lightly. He didn't want Kiba to tease him about it later thinking it was something else.

"Shives? Where's Hige and Toboe?" Kiba had a stern look on his face when she didn't respond, so he shook her.

"If I told you, you wouldn't like it." Shives was still Tsume's arms.

"It's okay. Tell us."

Shives couldn't sugar coated it in anyway so she came out with it blankly.

"Toboe committed suicide to save Hige and I but Hige died from Hypothermia."

Kiba and Tsume were silent.

"I'm sorry you guys."

Tsume punched a near by oak tree trying his best to hold back tears.Kiba was extremely angry...at Shives.How could Hige died from Hypothermia, in this weather? And why would Toboe commit suicide? Something just didn't add up.

"How is that possible?"Tsume asked, now fully in control of his tears.

Shives thought back to the young blonde wolf she encountered first.

"Kiba? Remember that 3 tailed wolf that we met before we came here?"

Kiba only nodded.

"Well, this may sound strange to you but he has powers."

"Shives, I don't have time for your stupid jokes. What really happened?!"

"That's what I'm trying to tell you. That Yasuo guy could control the wind and he created these tornadoes that could rip you apart. One of the tornadoes was following Toboe-"

"So he thought that it would kill Yasuo if it hit the both of them." Tsume finished.Damn it Toboe.

"Should I explain Hige too? Kiba?" She had a pretty good sense that Kiba thought she killed the two wolves.

"No." First Kint, then Toboe and Hige, who would be next? Kiba was starting to suspect that Shives was the one that owned the robot! How did she know how to kill it?

Tsume and Kiba continued walking while Shives followed. She didn't bring up anything afraid Kiba might snap on her. Then she remembers the rose Yukio gave her.

"Tsume?" Her voice was calm.

Tsume simply looked over his shoulder.

"I do have some good news. I think."

"And what could that be?"

"Well there's this rose one of the strange wolves gave me. He said if I give it to this Knit girl you guys are after, it may bring back Hige and Toboe."

The mention of Knit's name made Kiba pay attention.Shives showed the rose to the boys.

"So, what he was saying was that...Knit is alive?"

Shives nodded. "Yes, but she may not be what she seems."

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know."

Kiba thought quietly for moment then broke of running. He wanted to see Hige and Toboe again. He wanted to see his paradise, Kint again. If what Shives said was true, Kint could be waiting in the castle just for him. Then only then, could he pour out his emotions telling her anything and everything without holding secrets.

He reached the foyer of the black castle which was vacant but bones of animals were scattered everywhere.Shives and Tsume finally caught up with him.

"Kiba, I'm sorry if that made you angry I-Eeee!"She screeched seeing bones everywhere. If there was one thing Shives was afraid of, it was bones.

"What the heck happened here?" asked Tsume.He caught the scent of burning flesh in the air.

Suddenly, in the middle of the foyer, the floor opened up and smoke shot through the air.Skeltons began to climb out of the hole. Shives screamed when one of them grabbed her leg but Tsume kicked it away and it shattered into a billion pieces.

The smoke cleared completely and a black wolf stood in front of them. It looked similar to Kint but its eyes were red and it also had 3-ringed tails, only this time the rings were red. The wolf was silent.

"Tell me! Who are you?" shouted Kiba.

'Kiyoshi' (quiet). The wolf was now in his human form and his lips weren't moving. He was telepathic.

Shives was pushed behind Tsume after he caught the ebony wolf looking her over.Kiyoshi wasn't as attractive as Yukio but he did look lethal. He was tan like Tsume, had short spiked up black hair, and was dressed in tight black pants just like Tsume's and a long sleeved black velvet shirt that showed his abdomen. The ends of sleeves were torn and his eyes were an eerie gray.

Kiyoshi? Maybe he's going to kill Tsume this time? Shives thought.

'Precisely' said a deep creepy voice in her mind.

"Tsume?"

"Stay here" Tsume commanded.

Shives watched the two wolves raced towards Kiyoshi she gasped seeing him pull out a gigantic sword. He swung several him at the wolves, his ace emotionless but missed.Tsume managed to get 3 perfect assaults on Kiyoshi's lower back and arm.Kiba aimed only for one place in particular, his neck. While Shives watched the bloody fight, she was busy fighting off skeletons that seemed very fond of her.

"WHY! ARE! YOU! NOT! DEAD! YET!"She said as she punched them off. Even if she was badly wounded that wasn't going to stop her.

Tsume and Kiba stood side by side dripping blood and panting heavily.Kiyoshi raised his sword, his eyes focused on Tsume.Kiyoshi leaped into the air, but instead of slashing Tsume, he slashed Kiba across the waist with lighting speed. He then flipped the sword and slid it under his arm stabbing Tsume and pinning him to the ground. An attack done is less than 6 seconds.

Kiyoshi watched in amazement as blood seeped out of the gray wolf's abdomen. He pushed to sword down wanting it to go all the way through while Tsume yelled in agony.

Shives was now free from the skeletons and was able to help. She ran over to Kiba, who was only a few feet away.

"Kiba, Are you-"

"Tsume.Help Tsume."He patted her shoulder reassuring he was okay.

Kiyoshi lusted for more blood, more pain. His eyes glowed red as the sword became in gulped in flames. He lifted it over his head but before he could make his finally strike, Shives side kicked his neck sending him soaring into the door of the castle. She lifted Tsume up to where he could rest in her arms.

"Tsume, are you alright?"

"I'm fine." He didn't want to admit it but he was glad she was there with him.

The two watched Kiba break Kiyoshi's sword in half and stand in front of the wounded black wolf.Kiyoshi lifted his head and looked at Shives then Tsume,then Kiba,who wasted no time in attacking him again. This time biting his neck, closing his windpipe.Kiyoshi coughed up blood and gasped for air.Kiba finally let go after he stopped struggling.

The doors of the castle opened automaticially.Kiba felt a rush excitement but he was unconfident.Kiba remembered Tsume's wounds and ran over to him.

"Tsume, can you walk?"

"Even if he could he's not going too." Shives said in defense.

"And why is that?"Tsume asked annoyed.

"Became you'll-you'll kill yourself."Shives eyes softened.Tsume noticed rather quickly.

"Kiba, you go on ahead, I'll stay here."

Kiba nodded and took the rose from Shives.He ran into the castle, doors closing behind him.Tsume winced a little.

"I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?" Shives voice was comforting to him.

"No" He didn't want to look at her, afraid his emotions would show on his face.

"Tsume? I'm sorry."

"For what?" He was now able to sit up on his own.

"For being so rude to you. I liked it when you kept me warm in the desert, back there. And I like talking to you, even if you don't feel like talking to m-"

"I always liked talking to you." He interrupted.

He blushed a little, pink, that made him look adorable.Shives smiled to herself.

"What should we do now?"

"Maybe I should see if there's a way out of this place." Shives stood up to leave but Tsume grabbed her leg.

"Come back after you're done looking." He didn't look at her but he was blushing.

"Sure." She smiled at him.

Kiba ran down the dark hallways of the castle. There were so many passage ways and he didn't know when one turn down. He looked at the blue rose and continued his run. Moments later; he heard singing that made him want to cry. It was the voice of Kint.The sound was clear and easy to find. He just had to follow it. Soon after, he could smell her sweet scent which led him to a door with a lion's head knocker on it.

He reached for the door and opened it.

To be continued...

A/N:Sorry if I've made you mad,cry,or confused.It will all clear up and get better.I promise.