Wow, this is getting long isn't it? Hope you guys are enjoying it as much as I enjoy writing it. If anyone has any suggestions about things my story is lacking or even things you would like to see happen…feel free to contact me, or write it in a review. Thanks, now let's continue…

It didn't take long for the soldiers to realize that their attacker was not inside the building, but outside—in the compound. Their new plan was to surround the compound and gradually force their attacker into the middle; outnumbered. It was positively foolproof.

Kiba leapt swiftly into the air, holding Yuri by the waist. She gasped and wrapped her arms around Kiba's neck. "You could have at least warned me!" She yelled. Kiba responded with an amused chuckle.

From the air, Kiba could see that some rows of trucks were littered with bodies while others were not—process of elimination. Jumping from one hood of a truck to anther, Kiba made his way to the row, by far, littered with the most bodies. He sniffed the air quickly and released Yuri. "Smells like…"

"Tsume!" Toboe cried, landing awkwardly next to Yuri. He pointed to a dark corner under one of the trucks. A gray wolf lay near one of the tires, nearly completely hidden. Kiba ran to Tsume's side.

Breathing a sigh of relief, he turned to Toboe and Yuri. "He's not dead."

Yuri, who had clapped her hand over her mouth in shock, removed it slowly. "How bad is he?" She asked. Beside her, Toboe whimpered softly. Hearing his whimper, Yuri moved next to him and put an arm around him, rubbing his arms comfortingly. As she looked intently at Kiba and Tsume, Toboe raised startled eyes to look at her face. He sighed, and leaned against her, letting his body accept her comforting caress.

Kiba took Tsume into his arms and brought him into the light for closer inspection. "Well, his wounds don't seem to be all that bad…not much blood to speak of—my nose tells me that some of this blood isn't his. I think he was just knocked out by those damn sonic guns these bastards use when they want to capture wolves." Seeing that Yuri's face was still wrought with concern, he added reassuringly, "Don't worry, he'll be alright. It's just temporary."

"I know, it's just…"

"Just what?" Kiba asked, looking concerned. Did he miss something?

"Nothing." Yuri finished. She squeezed Toboe's shoulders softly and released him, taking a few steps away from him and putting her to Kiba. She didn't want to look at them right now, not now—she didn't want them to see her cry. But it was just so sad. All her life she had heard stories of wolves. They were fearsome creatures that would kill you in a second if you gave them half a chance—merciless beasts. "Are they? Are they really?" She had asked herself. Most of the people that told her such things had never actually met a wolf themselves, so how would they know? But here was the truth, standing before her. She thought of Kiba and the rest of the wolves. How could people say such horrible things about them? How could people be so ignorant? These wolves were more human that they were, yet they were charged with atrocities they never committed. Granted, wolves had the capability of become the fearsome creatures people spoke of—that didn't mean they were. Such wonderful souls…persecuted for no reason. How could such injustice exist?

"Yuri, are you OK?" Kiba asked hesitantly, tapping Yuri's shoulder lightly. Quickly wiping the tears from her eyes, she turned around and gave Kiba a huge smile and a big "thumbs up." "She can't hide behind that smile," Kiba thought. "But what was she thinking about? What could bring such sadness to her eyes?" He shook the thought from his head and placed a firm expression on his face.

"We've got to hurry and find the others—we don't have much time. They've caught onto us."

"What do you mean?" Yuri asked.

"I mean we're being surrounded…slowly."

Yuri uttered a small gasp. "This still surprises me?" She thought. "I have got to get some self-control."

Kiba threw Tsume's limp body carefully over his back, securing his grip to make sure he didn't drop him. At the same time, Yuri reached over and took on of Toboe's hands in hers. "You ready?" Kiba asked. Yuri and Toboe nodded at each other then nodded at Kiba.

He leapt into the air followed shortly by Toboe, with Yuri holding fast to Toboe's hand. Before long, their ears were met with the sound of screaming—Hige and Blue.

"Look!" Blue cried, pointing upward. "It's Yuri and Toboe! And Kiba's with them!"

"Kiba!" Hige cried, looking up as well. A bullet grazed his cheek. No time to get distracted. He lunged at his attacker. Man, was he ever glad that guy was back. If anyone could take care of these jokers in a flash, it was Kiba—how he had missed the damn jerk.

Kiba, Yuri and Toboe landed a little ways away from the fighting. Kiba carefully put Tsume on the ground, turning to Yuri and Toboe. "I'm going to go help the others. Be careful. Toboe, guard Yuri and Tsume. Yuri…be careful." With those last words, Kiba leapt back into the air.

Yuri watched as Kiba disappeared behind the trucks. She sighed. Now what were they supposed to do? Just wait?

Toboe tugged timidly at her sleeve. Yuri turned and saw that he was sitting on the ground. He motioned for her to sit next to him. Yuri smiled and sat next to his right, with Tsume sleeping soundly on the other side of him. She brought her knees up to her chest and hugged her legs. She smiled at Toboe. "Are you alright?" She asked.

Toboe nodded. "Uh, miss…"

"Yuri."

"Yuri…uh," Toboe stuttered.

"Yes? Is there something you want to ask me?"

"Why don't you run away?"

Yuri was taken aback by his question. To be honest, she's never asked herself this question. Running hadn't occurred to her. Now look where she was.

"I don't know, I never considered it." She answered, looking at Toboe.

"But aren't you afraid? Afraid of getting killed?"

"Sure I am, but…well, I can't really explain why I've stayed this long. All I know is that everyone is afraid sometimes. But you have to face your fears; it's the only way to overcome them. If you just keep running away from the things you're afraid of, you'll waste your life away, just cowering." Yuri smiled in spite of herself, thoroughly proud of herself. That was a pretty handy bit of advice, she commended herself. Cliche, but nice.

"Is it because of Kiba?" Toboe asked hesitantly. He hadn't wanted to intrude on Yuri with prying questions, but his curiosity was insatiable...he had to know.

Yuri was shocked. Kiba? What did Kiba have to do with Yuri being afraid of dying? Lord, that's not what he meant and she knew it. He was asking her if Kiba was the reason she had stayed so long.

"I don't know." She answered, squeezing her legs and propping her chin on her knees. And that was the truth. She knew that she felt strangely elated whenever she was with him, but what did that mean? Had she really come to care about him so much that she would put herself in such danger for him? "Well look around you!" She thought. "Where are you? Why else would you be here?" Damn, that's true. Without realizing it, she had taken a patient in to care for and left with something much more. She really cared about him, but did she love him? No, that would not do. She couldn't, it was pointless. He was on a quest of some sort and he already had friends that needed him. He didn't need her. She was just a liability. Then why was she still here? She was too weak to help him in any way, so why was she subjecting herself to all this? Maybe she entertained thoughts that he cared about her too. Lord, what a fool. She had known all along that he could never care for her that way, why did she keep deluding herself with false hope? She wished she had never seen him. She wanted to go back to her little house and live like she had before she met him. She had been happy, if a little lonely at times. But even loneliness was better than the pain she was feeling now. The pain of knowing that the person you love can never return your feelings. She felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Toboe stared at Yuri as she thought. She didn't need to say anything; her eyes were enough. It was Kiba. But if she cared about Kiba so much, how could she not see the truth written in Kiba's eyes? Couldn't she see the way Kiba had looked at her when he found her? Couldn't she sense the relief in his voice? Hadn't she noticed it all? "I guess not," he thought. He placed his head on her shoulder.

"Kiba cares about you too," he said softly. Yuri's body stiffened then relaxed.

"Kiba is a caring person," she answered, putting her arm around Toboe's shoulders. "He cares about all of us."

Toboe sighed. There was no use telling her if she was going to deny it. She wasn't ready to hear it, that's all. She would find out herself soon enough, she had to. She had to know that Kiba cared about her more than any of them…maybe even more than Cheza. He shook Yuri's arms off him and looked at Yuri. Her eyes…what sadness they showed! Yuri smiled faintly and placed her head on his shoulder. This time, Toboe hugged Yuri—rubbing her arms comfortingly.

Kiba came upon them with all the fury of a lighting bolt, then moving like a shadow amongst the startled soldiers—they fell, trembling, in his wake.

"Kiba!" Hige cried. "Where were you?"

"Explanations later, Hige. We have some business to take care of now."

Hige nodded in agreement and they continued in their fight against the soldiers. "Damn!" he thought. "I thought we had taken care of them already. How could there be some many?"

"Where are they coming from?" Kiba yelled, speaking Hige's question aloud.

"That's what I was wondering," Hige responded.

Kiba paused and looked around. How? How are they replenishing their numbers? There must be some kind of secret passage they're traveling by. Otherwise, they would have noticed where they were coming from.

In truth, there was no secret passage by which the soldiers were managing to get reinforcements. There was only a walkie-talkie. Each soldier carried one. When they had dispersed to try and contain their attacker, one group had stumbled upon Hige and Blue while another met Kiba, Yuri, and Toboe, and still another found Tsume. The latter two groups had been smaller than this group had been, so they had been disposed of before they could become much of a bother. But this group, the one that had found Hige and Blue, they were smarter than the others. Just as they found the two wolves, one soldier waited before joining the action. He called the rest of the soldiers and told them exactly where they were, and that they were under attack—so the rest of the soldiers came running, some faster than others. The wolves had been too distracted to notice the simplicity of the soldier's tactic.

Tsume grumbled as he came to. "Shit," he thought. How could he let himself get cornered by these poor excuses for soldiers? Boy, was he ever on a run of bad luck. He sat up with some difficulty.

"Well isn't this a quaint sight?" He muttered, eyeing Yuri and Toboe.

"Tsume, you're alright!" Toboe cried. "I'm so glad!"

"I always knew you had a soft spot for humans, Runt," he replied.

"Come on, Tsume. We were just worried about you," Toboe responded sullenly.

"I don't think I need to remind you that I don't need your sympathy."

Toboe pouted.

"But thanks all the same," Tsume said softly as he stood up. "What happened? Don't tell me you two saved me all by yourselves. I could have sworn I heard that jerk's voice before I passed out."

"You mean Kiba?" Toboe asked.

"Who do you think I mean?"

"Kiba left to go find Hige and Blue. He should be here soon."

"I don't think so. They're on to us. The soldiers have these little black boxes that they talk into. Don't ask me how they work, but somehow, they're able to communicate with each other by talking into those boxes."

"What does that mean, Tsume?" Toboe asked, looking worried.

"It means," Yuri interjected, "that they know where we are—they all do."

"They're going to try to ambush us."

"We have to find Kiba, Hige, and Blue!" Toboe cried.

"I can already hear them," Tsume said. "Let's go."

Tsume didn't need announcement. He swooped in on the action before the other wolves could notice him. He moved surprisingly fast, considering he had just regained consciousness.

"Tsume!" Kiba yelled. "How—"

"Don't worry, the girl and the runt are fine. And you know me—can't stay away from the action for very long." Kiba smiled, dodging bullets from two soldiers.

"Listen!" Tsume barked, so only the wolves could understand him. "They're communicating with each other. That's how they know exactly where we are. It's useless to stand here and fight them, they'll just keep sending more and more until we're too tired to fight anymore."

"What do you suggest we do?" Hige yelled, noticing Tsume's presence.

"We've got to give them the slip. Someone's got to create a diversion so we can escape."

"I've got an idea," Kiba called out. Too late.

A few soldiers had found Yuri and Toboe, who were hiding behind one of the trucks. Yuri screamed as the soldiers shot at them. She took Toboe's hand and ran.

"Yuri!" Kiba cried, hearing her scream. Finishing three oncoming soldiers off quickly, he ran in the direction of her scream.

"Damn," Tsume muttered under his breath. His suspicions were confirmed.

Yuri and Toboe ran wildly in all directions trying to evade their pursuers—this feels familiar. Suddenly, Yuri turned to face the soldiers—she wasn't going to run anymore. The soldiers stopped and sneered at her, pointing their guns at her. "Hmm," she thought. "Maybe I should have thought this through." But the time for thinking was past.

Before either of them could fire at her, Yuri charged madly at them, catching them by surprise with the sheer stupidity of her action. Her charge was so unexpected, in fact, that it was a few seconds before they realized that she was behind them. Now Toboe charged at them, tearing at them with his claws. "Shit!" They screamed, dropping their guns.

From behind, Yuri ran to where the guns had been dropped and picked one up as she tried to dodge the soldier's kicks. The other gun was kicked away. She disregarded that and, taking careful aim, she fired at the soldiers. She missed.

"Toboe, get out of there! I need a clean shot!" Toboe leapt into the air and landed beside Yuri. "Thanks for your help," she said, taking aim again. The soldiers were still a little bewildered—first the girl ran at them like a maniac, next moment they were being attacked by a little boy, then they were shot at…what next? Yuri fired, hitting one soldier in the shoulder. He yelled in pain. Yuri shot again and missed. She missed again. She pulled the trigger again… "No! I'm out of bullets!" She cried. "Run!"

Seeing their opportunity, the soldiers lunged at Yuri and Toboe. There was a flash of movement before Yuri and Toboe that sent the soldiers flying into the air. Kiba suddenly stood in front of them.

He flew at the soldiers, bringing them down in seconds. "Are you two OK?" He asked, walking toward Yuri and Toboe. They nodded slowly.

Kiba eyed Yuri with slight amusement. She was still holding the gun. "So she tried to defend herself again," he thought.

"You can put that down now," he said, pointing to the gun.

Yuri looked down. She hadn't realized she was still holding it. "Oh, uh, yeah," she said, bending down to lay the gun on the round. As she did so, she noticed one of the soldiers move. He was still alive? What was he doing? He was reaching, ever so slowly, for the second gun that had been kicked away. It now lay within arm's reach of him.

Yuri stared as if in slow motion, horrified, as the soldier's fingers felt the cold steel of the gun's shaft. He wrapped his hand around it. He grabbed it. He aimed. He aimed right at…

"Kiba!" Yuri yelled, jumping up and pushing him to the ground. His back had been facing the soldier, so he had not seen his danger. Yuri screamed in pain as she landed on the ground in a crumpled heap.

"Yuri!" Kiba cried. He saw the soldier. Toboe ran to Yuri as Kiba flew at the soldier, this time making sure both of them were dead. He rushed back to Yuri's side.

"Yuri," he whispered. He gasped as the scent of her blood filled his nostrils and he saw a puddle of blood soak into the ground under her.

Well, that's it for this chapter. Hope you're enjoying this story! Next Chapter: Granny. Thanks for reading, please, please, please, review!