To those who reviewed for the last chapter. THANK YOU. All of you, you made my day. When I checked my email, I couldn't get rid of the smile that broke out across my face, even if I tried. I was so happy. Thank you for the comments, the questions, and demands. All of you are so wonderful. I just wish I could repay you for being so great.

A reminder of the ages of the Characters: Serena(21), Quent (mid 50's), Kiba (around 22), Tsume (around 30) Toboe (around 16), Hige (around 22),

Thanks goes out to: kitty demon(usagi), Kou Kepani, Skittles the Sugar Fairy, Comechatcha, Dragonpink, jaz7, Serori, Flame Dancer077, Chibi-Midnight-Sakai, pumpunita, Prophetess of Hearts, Serenity Komoshiro, x3-staRr3e-x3, Aeden Hale, Darkened Lust, Dust to Dust, Machiko, Anime Moon Gurl, Kitoky, Sere, dragon-wing3, Lady Tristana Rogue, Lady Light, me, Concrete Tenshi, GravityGoddessBlade, Jypsee (Brenda-chan, jessica.

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Chapter five:

The Boy, and The Wolf

After settling into the hotel, Serena left her room, and walked out of the building. She stood outside on the sidewalk, looking for which way she should head.

Maybe if she was lucky, she would find Toboe, and Tsume again. They had been awfully kind to her, helping her find a hotel before they had left.

Even though they had said they were also new to the city, she had the distinct feeling that they knew their way around the place. They had easily directed her to the hotel she was staying at now, without having to back track at all.

She was sure they weren't staying there as well, since they had departed at the front doors. Now, an hour since she had last seen them, she looked in the direction they had gone. Maybe if she went that way, she would find them again.

It was worth a try, she thought. So with her mind made up, she turned right, and started walking.

She passed shops, and stores. People filled the street, either walking with her, or blocking her route. She managed not to make a fool of herself, and run into anyone. She dodged each body, squeezing her way through the masses.

Serena reached a corner in the sidewalk, and glanced around. She had three choices, and all looked just as good as the next. The light flashed green, so she crossed with a few other's, and stopped on the other side of the street. Now where, she asked herself.

She couldn't afford to go and get herself lost, in this strange new city. Catching her bottom lip between her teeth, she sighed in frustration. Reaching up, she ran her fingers through her blonde hair. Which way, which-

Serena had the distinct feeling that she should turn around. Shivering from a nonexistence breeze that seemed to lower the temperature around her, she crossed her arms over her chest. Hesitantly, she turned her head to look behind her.

To her knowledge there wasn't anything special there. Turning around completely, she searched her surroundings for something that might have caused the feeling she had just felt. Reaching up, she tucked her hair behind her ears, just when her eyes caught on something, someone actually.

It wasn't anyone she knew, that much she was sure of. He looked like any other boy on the street. A boy close to her age, maybe older.

His hair was wild, and untamed, the dark russet locks falling to his shoulders loosely. Blue eyes stared at her, as if they knew her, and yet they betrayed nothing of what he could have been feeling.

Slowly, as if she felt that moving to fast, would alert him, she dropped her hands to her sides. While she did so, she looked at the rest of him. He was tall, with a lean form. Dressed in a normal black jacket, white shirt with the buttons at the top left undone, and a pair of blue jeans, he looked like every other stranger. On his feet were a pair of simple sneakers.

He was dressed for the cold, just as she was. She had put on a pair of jeans, a pink shirt, and big white jacket that nearly swallowed her whole, before leaving her hotel room, earlier.

The boy made no move towards her, or away from her. They sort of fell out of place with the world. Everyone walked by them as if they weren't even there. No one paid them any heed.

Serena studied the boy's leg, with a frown on her face. Wrapped around his thigh, was what looked like a pink scarf. How she had missed it the first time she looked, was beyond her. But the sight of it now, made her think of the one she had given to her wolf.

Staring at the cloth more, she could almost make out the bunny imprints on it. What on earth, she questioned. It couldn't be a coincidence, could it?

Clearing her throat, she slowly lifted her eyes back to his face. "Who are you?" she asked, mostly to herself.

This time he did take a step closer, almost giving her a sense of panic. Straightening her back, she wondered how she could feel threatened with so many people around her. It wasn't like he could attack her.

She watched him closely, her heart thundering behind her ribcage, and her chest tightening in apprehension.

The boy lifted his nose an inch, and sniffed at the air. Something she hadn't been expecting him to do. But the movement was quite familiar. In fact, when he leveled his eyes with hers again, she could almost swear she saw his image waver.

Blinking, she reached up and rubbed at her eyes. Maybe I'm losing it, she thought. She was making a fool out of herself by just standing there staring at some stranger. He was probably thinking she was weird.

But the boy made no remark, and didn't even walk away from her. He stood there staring at her in a way that was frighteningly familiar. Hadn't she seen that look before, maybe with different features, but it surely was the same chilling stare.

Shaking her head to clear it, she muttered an apology, before she turned away. She needed room to breath. Walking away, she left the busy streets, and entered an empty parking lot. If anyone wanted to attack her, now was the time. There wasn't a soul in sight.

She could hear the distinct padding of footsteps behind her. Fear encased her, and she whipped around fast enough to nearly give herself whiplash. She gasped, unable to hide her shock to find the boy in the parking lot with her.

"Wh-what do you want?" she asked fearfully. There had to be a reason why he had stared at her like that, and then followed her into a deserted area.

The boy moved carefully and silently. With precise movements, he untied the scarf from his leg, and held it out to her.

Serena stared at the cloth he held in his hand. No this was impossible, she shouted in her head. Reaching out, she only had to take two steps towards him, before she was able to take it from him. She held it in her hands, staring at the cloth with brownish orange stains, for a second longer than needed.

Bringing the scarf to her face, she breathed in deeply, taking in the scent of the beautiful creature that had stayed with her for two days. Her bottom lip trembled, as she finally looked at the boy. "How did you get this?" Had he run across the wolf who had been wearing it? Or did he know Kiba?

He did not answer her, and she felt another impression of the wolf she had taken in. Quiet, but watchful.

"Wolves!" came a shout from a distance.

Serena jerked her head in the direction the shout had come from. Someone had cried out wolf… Blinking back the tears that threatened to fall, she whispered the first thing that came to her mind. "Kiba…"

Taking action, she raced off in the direction she had come from. As she ran, her hand fisted around the scarf, holding it tightly in her grasp.

She had to jump over a fallen trash can, in order to run into the alleyway. Dodging homeless people lying on the ground, and trash that had been knocked over, she burst out from the mouth of the alley.

Sliding to a stop on the sidewalk, she jerked her head to the right, and then the left. A gun shot sounded, and for a second her heart stopped. "No!" she cried. Turning left she ran as fast, and as hard as her legs would carry her to where the sounds had come from.

Another shot shattered the silent streets, that were suddenly barren of life. Crossing the road, she had to dodge a car barreling towards her, so that it wouldn't hit her. Turning the corner of a boardinghouse, she reached the street the gun shots had come from.

Her heels slid on the sidewalk, as she came to a sudden halt. "Oh my god," she breathed. This street, unlike all the others she had been on, was not empty.

At the far end of the street, near a building with a glowing neon sign was an aged man. He was dressed in some kind of military uniform, with a heavy dull looking trench coat over it, and a hat on top of his head. The rest of him was distorted by distance, but she could clearly make out the rifle in his arms, aimed at the third person in the area.

She couldn't relate with this creature. She would say she had never seen it before, but she was sure it was one of the four wolves she had seen when she had been on the train last night.

It looked young, maybe still a pup with reddish-brown colored fur that was nearly as thick as Kiba's. He was still beautiful, with his lean face, and pointed ears. At the moment he was just standing there on the street, shaking. A familiar chime sound drew her attention to a bracelet on his front paw.

Where have I seen that before, Serena wondered to herself.

The man with the gun reloaded his weapon, with jerky movements, and then aimed again. Surely he didn't plan to kill it, she thought frantically.

Seeing that the man wasn't joking, and that the wolf looked frightened, and unable to flee, she took action. "NO!" Running forward, she reached the wolf in time to throw him out of the way. A shot fired, and something nicked her shoulder.

Serena cried out, while another voice let out a startled yell. Hitting the ground, she found herself landing on top of a boy. Toboe? Blinking rapidly, she found herself lying on her back, next to the wolf she had saved.

What was wrong with her? Looking over, she drew in a shaky breath, finding that her shirt was smeared with blood.

Tears filled her eyes, and she whimpered from the agonizing pain that shot up through her arm. The wolf next to her whined, making a keening sound that could almost rival with the sounds she was making.

Serena was suddenly distracted when something shot out from the shadows, attacking the man with the gun. Rolling her head to the right, she could make out another wolf, this one with thick gray hair.

Breathing heavily, she reached out, placing one hand firmly over the wound, and struggled to get up. "Lie still."

Serena whipped her head around, to find the same boy she had encountered on the street, and in the parking lot. He eased her back down on the pavement, and took the scarf from her clenched fist. With practiced ease he wrapped the wound in the same manner she had done to Kiba. He made sure it was tight, before he pulled back.

"Th-thank you," she said softly.

She stared up at him, her eyes holding his for a minute longer than she intended. There was a loud curse, and a yelp from a ways down. Tearing her eyes away, she saw the gray wolf come charging towards them.

Her eyes widened it alarm. But to her surprise he came to a sudden halt next to the boy. He sniffed the air, before shaking his head stubbornly. The other wolf, the one with red fur, nudged her good arm with his snout.

Serena looked over at the younger wolf, and smiled weakly at him. "I'm okay," she reassured him. She scratched him behind the ears, causing his tongue to loll out at the side of his mouth, and leaned into her touch.

She was shocked when the boy who was still knelt next to her, shoved the young wolf away from her. Looking at him, she was about to retort to his roughness, when he cut her off by asking, "Are you okay?"

Nodding, she worked herself into a seated position. "Yes, thank you." Once seated, she rolled over onto her knees, and climbed to her feet. The boy followed her example, standing next to her.

But instead of looking at her, he turned to the man who was still standing not too far away. The older man still clutched the gun with one good hand, while the other bled from a fresh wound. The two wolves next to her growled at him, and she wondered if maybe this was a reoccurring incident. "Girl!" the man shouted towards her. "Get away from there. That there, isn't a real man, and neither are those wolves. Don't trust what you see."

Serena frowned, her brows arching in questioning. Not a real man? Was this guy serious? Shaking her head, she was about to say something, when the man took aim. He aimed the gun at the boy, and she was sure he wouldn't hesitate to shoot as he had done before.

The boy in front of her growled, the sound startling her. Then, right before her eyes, he transformed. Gasping, she fell back, in the same manner, she had when the white wolf had spoken to her just a week prior.

Where once had been a young man, now stood a wolf. A white one, with its thick mat of hair standing up on end as it growled a warning. Serena sat on her rear, her mouth hanging open in shock. She looked from one wolf to the other, wondering if they could do the same.

Suddenly the white wolf lunged, attacking the man, before he could even get a shot off. Serena watched, as the wolf snarled and snapped, trying to get a bite on the old man. "K-Kiba…"

The gray wolf next to her, looked at her sharply, and then back at the white wolf. A look of suspicion entered his dark eyes.

Swallowing hard, she managed a little louder, "Kiba!"

The wolf leaped back, having sent the man to his knees, and his gun knocked to the floor.

He looked towards her, his golden eyes flashing in the dim light of the afternoon. She knew him, easily recognized him. Tears filled her eyes. After all this time, she had found him again.

Pushing herself to her feet, she ran to the white wolf. She had only known him for two days, had only been in his company for that long. And yet she already considered him as someone close to her heart, one she had missed more than she had truly thought. Dropping to her knees in front of him, she hugged him fiercely. "I found you," she whispered, her face buried deep in his fur.

In her arms, the body of a wolf changed to that of a man. With ease, he lifted her up into his arms, and started walking away from the old man. The two other wolves followed them, as they traveled through the city streets, at a speed that could rival that of a wolf.

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Serena groaned. Her arm hurt, where the bullet had sliced her shoulder blade, it throbbed in beat with her heart. But even though that spot was hot, she felt quite chilled.

She moaned again, the sound coming out more like a grunt, as her eyes opened. She was lying in a dark room. That much was obvious, as soon as her eyes had adjusted to the lack of light. The thought of being there, alone in the darkness was frightening. But not nearly as much as the fact that she couldn't remember how she got there.

Her last coherent thought was muddled as it was, but she was sure it must have been a dream. How could she have found Kiba, already? She couldn't have been so lucky.

A sound alerted her to the fact that she wasn't alone anymore. Soft feet padded across cement, the same floor she laid on. Shivering, she rolled her head over to look where the sound was coming from.

A pair of eyes flashed in the shadows to her right. The feet had stopped suddenly, and she could barely make out something breathing. It wasn't that far from her, but far enough that she couldn't see it.

"H-hello…" Serena eased herself up into a seated position on the floor. Using her good arm she was able to do so, but had to lean against her arm for support. "Is someone there?"

Her eyes kept in the spot she had heard the noise. She was sure she had heard it.

Suddenly a massive body emerged from the darkness, and her breath caught in her throat. Seeing him brought back a flood of memories. Ones that she had forgotten during her haze of pain, and dreams.

Maybe emotional stress had something to do with it as well. She had been shot. The rest was merely her mind's work on blocking out the pain. But that didn't answer her earlier question. How had she gotten here?

She didn't recognized this wolf. He had thick but short fur. His body was much bigger than the others, with more muscle on his torso and legs. There was also a collar around his thick neck, with a number on a silver plate. 23?

"Oh hello." She smiled at the wolf, hoping beyond hope that it was friendly.

He slowly moved towards her, his head bent low. Her smile brightened, and with her good arm, she reached out. "It's okay, I wont hurt you." He came close enough, and her hand rubbed against his nose. She giggled, "Hey…"

When he came even closer, she was able to cup his face with both hands, with just a slight wince. "Well you're not such a bad guy… now are you?"

She laughed out loud when his tongue came out much like a dog, when she scratched him behind his ears. I wonder if he can talk too, like Kiba did?

"Hige?" a low growl hissed from the shadows. Serena jumped slightly, not expecting someone to say anything, but herself. The brown wolf pulled away from her. A pair of feet, not four clunked across the cement floor, slowly making their way towards her.

Serena looked up, as the man slipped into view. "Tsume?" she asked, when she recognized the leather clad man. Grinning, she managed to get to her feet. "How'd you find me?"

The older man raised a silver brow at her, as if she had just asked a stupid question. Looking around, she said, "I'm not quite sure how I got here myself- hey that man!"

She suddenly remembered the man who had shot her. The one who had been dressed in a large over coat, and wore a hat. "H-he shot me…" as if she needed proof, she looked over at her shoulder. "How?" she stared at the pink scarf wrapped around her arm, the pink scarf she once owned.

Kiba

But it was impossible. How could he have wrapped her shoulder. While a part of her shouted that she had seen that boy transform into a wolf, the logical part of her shouted she was hallucinating.

"I-I don't want to sound crazy but-" she was interrupted by a voice shouting, "Hige, we're back!"

Suddenly Toboe came into view, and slid to a stop when he saw her. "You woke up," the smile on his face was refreshing to see, even if it was nervous looking.

Before she could say anything to him, another set of footsteps entered the room. Faintly she wondered, just how many were there?

As soon as he came into her view, where the darkness didn't cover him completely, she recognized him. Her stomach did a little flip, before bomb diving to her toes. She didn't know him personally, but she knew him.

But, her mind countered. How could it be possible. People did not just change into wolves. It just didn't happen… right?

He was staring at her in a way she would forever recognize. How could she not? The look was the same her guest had given her for two whole days, without changing once. Even though the boy lacked the white fur, and golden eyes, his stare, his poster screamed who he really was.

Struggling to compose herself, she cleared her throat roughly. "Um… hi."

He nodded in return, and the movement brought a sad smile to her face. What had she been thinking when she decided to go after him? Trying again, she said, "thank you, for um, helping me."

Again he didn't say anything, but nodded. Tears flooded her eyes, before she could stop them. Stupid, stupid, her mind shouted. She had made a mistake coming after him. Why did I want to chase after a wolf anyway?

"I guess I'll go home, then. Again thank you, it was um… nice meeting you, and seeing you two again," she whispered softly, unable to lift her voice for fear it might tremble. Keeping her head bent low, and her eyes on the floor, she stared in the direction the boys had come from. Surely this was the exit… right?

"You're leaving already Serena?" Toboe asked, when she had shuffled passed him. What did she say to that? That she didn't feel like she was wanted there. With Tsume glaring at her, and the other boy who she had yet to admit might be Kiba was staring at her with a hint of amusement. As if she was something humorous.

"Yes, I think I will. Again thank you." God I sound like a broken record. Deciding that she had already over stayed her welcome, she promptly entered the shadows of the building, and made her way to what she hoped, was the exit.

With her arms stretched out in front of her, she searched around for just a graze of something solid. As soon as her hand touched something cold, she went on the hunt for a door. It didn't take all that long, since it was just a few feet off from where she had ended up. Maybe her sense of direction wasn't all that bad…

Pulling the door open, she was started by the horrible sound it made. How had they gotten inside, without her knowing? The door's hinges had the same scream, that of a dying banshee.

Staring at the door in wonder, as she stepped out into the cold night, she couldn't get over the fact that she was missing something. She knew no one had been in the building when she first woke. She had a wonderful knack at knowing when she wasn't alone. So how had they gotten inside, without her hearing such a ruckus?

Surely she hadn't been that dazed? Clearly she still was, if that was the case. For when she turned around, she jumped about a mile in the air. Staring at the person who had practically materialized in front of her, she clutched the front of her shirt as if it could keep her heart from bursting. Panting from the shock of her life, she accused, "What is wrong with you!"

But even though she felt mad, frightened, and a little worried, she couldn't help but notice how good he looked standing there. Sure she hardly knew him, but that didn't stop her from noticing him.

Narrowing her eyes on him, she hissed, "are you following me?" Which she couldn't pin on him. Since he was standing in front of her, not behind her. But he had followed her into that parking lot, and then to that wolf's rescue. And even now…

Taking a tentative step back, she bumped into someone. Looking behind her, she blinked. Who the hell was this?

She couldn't say she recognized him. But she was sure if she had, she wouldn't have been able to forget him.

He was dressed in loose fitting clothes, an orange jacket, and a pair of grayish blue pants that hardly fit him. His hair, which was a light shade of brown, was loose around his face, but not long like the other's she had recently met.

But what mostly caught her eye, was the collar he was fiddling with around his neck.

23?

Staring into his brown eyes, she tried to come up with a logical explanation for this. But before she could do that, the boy spoke, "well I guess I'll be heading out with Toboe and Tsume. You two, err take care." He winked in her direction as he started off into the night. He paused a little ways away. "Oh yea, nice meeting you too lady!" he called, before running off, with what she realized were two wolves at his heels.

Feeling faint, she looked around blindly for a place to sit. This was not happening to her. She was a journalist, she believed in logic, in fact, in things that existed. But this… this was… she tried to explain it to herself, but came up with nothing.

"I'm dreaming right? I mean I never left my apartment," she started. "I mean hell maybe I fell asleep at work, and haven't even left for my vacation." She nodded her head, as if that was the answer. She had to be dreaming.

But then why did her arm still hurt, and why did the boy in front of her stare at her, with that look of amusement in his dark eyes. As if he knew something she didn't. Which at this point wouldn't surprise her.

"Are you all right?" the boy asked her, bringing her out of her troubled thoughts. Staring at him for a long minute, she decided to reply, "I hope so."

He nodded stiffly as he said, "Why don't you come back inside." He motioned with one hand to the entrance of the warehouse.

Serena looked back at it. "I think I'll just go to my hotel. I have a room rented there," she said, her intent to leave. But before she could move, the boy stepped up to her, blocking her view with his body. "I, um-" she stammered. What was he doing?

Then to her amazement, he sniffed at the air, the movement catching her attention. Frowning, she sniffed as well, wondering if maybe she smelled or something.

But instead she caught his scent. And it wasn't a new smell either, she knew it from somewhere. "Come back inside," he said, his voice giving no hint if whether he was offering or ordering.

Smiling almost lazily up at him, she let him steer her back inside.

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I made a horrid mistake, that I must correct. Even though I liked my description of him better, it isn't the truth. Tsume does not have steely blue eyes, they are more of an amber shade. Pardon for my lack of research. I will make sure that in the future this will not happen again.

Is there anything else I should add? Oh yes, hang in there, things will heat up pretty quick, and pretty fast from here on out I believe. If I lose you, just say so, I don't have a problem with explaining my wild and untamed ideas. :D

Well that is all. Here are the answers to questions asked.

Reviews:

Pumpunita: Well I decided to use your idea. I used three of the four you selected, and added one of my own choices. This chapter wont be for a while… but the whole alley thing happens, and I think you'll like what conspires from it.

Machiko: wish I could tell you straightforward, but you'll see what I have in mind soon enough.

Kitoky: Nope I don't think I ever had her say her name aloud. Which I'm sort of glad, because I think it helped develop this last chapter nicely…and I think this chapter explained what happened when he went out

Me: Well she's definitely different, and I will congratulate myself in being unique. From what I have seen not one of the crossovers with Wolf's Rain has ever used this (like two of them).

Concrete Tenshi: for your first question, well I think this chapter explained what he was up to… She does??? Crap, I think I'll have to rewatch the episodes with Cheza in it. She hardly ever talked, so when she did I never really paid that close attention… as for this whole Monday thing, I don't know if I'll be able to do it. The anticipation of updating is killing me…

Recomondations:

All of you must go read Concrete Tenshi's Wolf's Rain/Sailor Moon crossover. It's really great!

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I have many twists and turns that this story will take so I hope all of you will enjoy the ride. We still have two whole months to go… c(-;

LP