: : Caged Fate : :

: By : Akikazu :

: : Chapter Two : : Caged By Blood : :

Akira was still in his werewolf form when he burst into the air, he also pulled Mahiru out of the water.

"See Mahiru, we're out!" Akira said excitedly.

When there was no answer Akira looked down to see that Mahiru was unconscious. Blood and water dripped off of her and into the river.

"Mahiru!"

Looking around Akira tried to figure out what to do. Lifting his head he gave a piercing howl.

"Don't worry Mahiru, my friends will get here soon, I'm sure Misoka will know what to do. He's the bestest and smartest leader ever!"

Mahiru stirred and her eyes fluttered open. Akira was human, well mostly he still had a tail and his wolf ears. She would have laughed if it weren't for the stinging pain in her side. Akira was sitting on the shore with her head in his lap.

"Akira I think I was shot," she whispered.

"What! Where?" Akira demanded.

"My side, it hurts."

Akira then noticed the arrow sticking out of her side, his ears plastered themselves to his head in shame.

"I can't believe I didn't notice," Akira muttered.

"Akira? Where are you, ya mangy mutt!"

"Nozomu!" Akira yelp.

A tall figure walked out of the shadows. On closer inspection it was a young man with blonde hair and blue eyes.

"Akira you are busted for not going back last night," he announced.

"Nozomu, I need Misoka," Akira interjected.

Nozomu saw Mahiru and came over.

"A girl, I didn't think you had it in you Akira," he said shocked.

"Nozomu, Misoka NOW!"

"Okay, I'm on it."

Nozomu whistled and a little bat flew out of the trees and to him. He whispered something to the bat and let it take off. Then he turned back to them.

"I'm Nozomu, what's your name?" He asked reaching a hand down to her.

"Mahiru."

She reached form his hand but gasped as the pain intensified and held her wound instead. Whimpering she closed her eyes and tried to think of other things.

"It hurts really bad Akira," she whispered.

Nozomu looked at where her had was grasping and his eyes widened at the blood and arrow.

"Why didn't you tell me she was injured?" Nozomu demanded.

"You should have noticed!"

As the two boys continued to argue Mahiru slipped quietly back into unconsciousness. A short boy with long black hair and glasses appeared next to them.

"You called Nozomu?" He said.

"Well ya see I found Akira here, but doggy here has a little injured playmate and we need your expertise Misoka," Nozomu explained.

Misoka nodded and kneeled next to Akira and Mahiru. After examining the wound he looked up at Nozomu.

"We will have to remove the arrow before we move. I am fairly unprepared so it would be very painful," Misoka looked at Akira. "If your friend wasn't already unconscious she would become so during the process."

Akira and Nozomu nodded in unison. Misoka looked back down at the injury and moved Mahiru's nightshirt away from it.

"I expect a full report on this A.S.A.P. Akira."

Akira nodded, Misoka was the leader and what he said went.

"Akira lay her on the ground and hold her wrist. Nozomu come here," Misoka started ripping his sleeve to make bandages. "As soon as I pull out the arrow you press this to the wound and try to stop the blood flow."

Everyone took their places and waited anxiously for Misoka to pull out the arrow.

"She was lucky the arrow went all the way through and didn't hit any thing vital," observed Misoka.

"Need a new concept of luck much," Akira muttered.

Misoka snapped the arrowhead off the arrow and threw it over his shoulder.

"Ready?" he questioned.

"Yes," Akira and Nozomu chorused.

Misoka pulled the arrow out the way it had come in quickly. As soon as it was out her moved away and Nozomu pressed some of the bandages to her wound. Akira released Mahiru's wrist and wrapped the rest of the bandages around her waist to hold everything in place.

Mahiru groaned but still didn't wake. Akira looked down at her anxiously, he hated to see innocent people get hurt.

"We had better get back to the bar, we can take better care of her there," Misoka suggested.

Nozomu nodded and stood, Akira also stood, but her carefully cradled Mahiru in his arms. Misoka walked with Akira and Nozomu went ahead to prepare for their arrival.

After a few minutes of travel Misoka and Akira arrived at a white van with Moonshine Bar written on the side. Misoka climbed into the driver's seat while Akira sat in the passengers seat with Mahiru in his lap. Misoka was seventeen and although he was the only one out of the four boys that was allowed to drive. Nozomu was only allowed to drive during emergencies, and Akira wasn't allowed to drive period.

Of course all of them could get around faster in their other forms, but it wasn't good to be spotted by innocent bystanders. It would cause panic, and if the person was believable it would be on the new. Then there could be worldwide panic and chaos. And all because he had to get a book for the library before it closed in five minutes and he was careless enough to get seen by a man video taping his two year old son's birthday.

Akira snapped out of his over exaggeration when the car lurched to a stop. Nozomu opened Akira's door and lifted Mahiru away from him and carried her inside the bar.

The Moo0nshine Bar was where they worked, it was where they lived, and it was also their headquarters. Misoka, Nozomu, another boy, and himself were on earth to collect the Teardrops of the Moon. The Teardrops were a valuable source of power that had been stolen when they had killed the most powerful demon in Lunar Race history in a battle over a human princess.

Come to think of it what was that whole 'Princess' thing back in the underground lake?

: : Flash Back : :

Akira wagged his tail harder as Mahiru petted his tail. She giggled and moved to stand by his shoulder. Akira turned his attention to the five armored men in front of him, they were pointing arrows at them and he couldn't help but growl at the threat to his friend.

"Come peacefully wolf or we will be forced to kill you here and endanger the princess," one of the men shouted.

: : End Flashback : :

What kind of person kept a Princess locked in a basement?

"Akira, Report," Misoka demanded.

Akira snapped to attention and stared at Misoka, then he realized a very important detail, he hadn't eaten since lunch yesterday.

"Can I eat first?" Akira begged.

Misoka sighed heavily and put his hand on her forehead. After a second he let his hand fall back to his side and he looked at Akira.

"You can report while you're preparing and eating your food," Misoka decided finally.

"Yay! Thank you Misoka, you're the bestest. I wuv you soooo much," squealed Akira while launching himself on Misoka.

Misoka batted Akira's tail out of his eyes, and pushed him away. Akira tried to launch himself back at Misoka but froze with him paws out stretched. Frowning he let his paws drop and his tail and ears fell. Misoka unfroze him and he ran into the bar.

"FOOD!" He shouted.

Misoka stormed after him.

"Report!" He demanded.

Akira was nowhere to be seen in the clean bar, and the bar was closed so there were no customers. Misoka walked straight to the kitchen and saw food flying in the air. Akira skillfully caught the food in a pan. Misoka shook his head, it figured, Akira was cooking a rather large serving of chicken fried rice.

Akira looked at Misoka as he entered. But didn't miss a beat in his cooking, he was an excellent chief, that was why he was the cook for the Moonshine during nights.

"Want some Misoka?" Akira asked.

"No, just give me the report," Misoka replied.

Akira nodded and flipped the rice in the pan expertly.

"Well, you see I was walking through the woods in werewolf form and I was really tired and sat in a river to cool off. I think I fell asleep because when I opened my eyes it was dark. I was really hungry so I was tried to search for some fish, but something came up behind me and knocked me out," Akira started.

"Continue," Misoka commanded.

I guess the current pulled me into the underground lake, because when I woke up Mahiru was leaning over me, she took me to her room and got this woman called Nurse to look at my forehead, because it was bleeding. We went to sleep and in the morning there was five men with bows they told me if I didn't surrender then they might have to put the 'Princess' in danger while trying to bring me down. I took Mahiru and we swam out the way we came in. they must have shot her before I dived," Akira finished, then he added. "Could you hand me one of the large bowls?"

Misoka's eyes had a far away look as he handed the bowl. Akira tossed the rice up and over his shoulder. Before it could even get into the danger zone of hitting the ground Akira caught it all in the bowl. Akira disappeared and reappeared at a table with a fork. Without further ado Akira started shoveling food into his mouth.

Nozomu came down the stairs and smailed at Akira.

"The girl's still asleep, and she's in the extra room," he reported.

"Is anyone else home?" Misoka questioned.

"No it's just us and her up there," Nozomu replied.

"Mm," Akira hummed.

"You didn't make any for your good old buddy here, Akira?" Nozomu asked.

"Want some?" Akira held held out the spoon for him.

"No thank you."

Akira shrugged and went back to eating. Misoka shook his head at their antics and then looked at the door.

"I wonder where everyone went," he said to himself.

"Probably out to do some research," Nozomu answered.

"Maybe," Misoka replied.

"Kya!" A voice screamed from upstairs.

Akira blink and then rose quickly, forgetting about his food.

"Mahiru!" He shouted.

Akira, Misoka, and Nozomu ran up the stairs.

: : End Chapter : :

: : Author's Note : :

A cliffie, I'm sure you're all really happy with this, not.

Well Fall Break is over so, it might be a while, but I'll do my best. You know what they say though, the second is always worst than the first. And I'm starting my second quarter for school and all my teachers said it would be harder.

Oh well if worse comes to worst I'll get a B or C because I did this instead of my homework.

Bye.

: : A Note From Kejie : :

It is my belief that two things should be made illegal.

Homework and...

Any of Akikazu's fan fictions.

'later.

: : Next Time : :

What made Mahiru scream.

Who is Mahiru and why she was captive .

Questions and answers.