Sorry I haven't updated, but you know how it is. Homework, tests, quizzes, midterms (shudders). My mind occupied that I couldn't concentrate on another chapter. Now that I have the free time, I could update chapter two. Hope it's good.
Disclaimer: I don't own Wolf's Rain. Don't own Hige or Blue but I do own the evil bloodthirsty Kariudo pack.
Chapter 2
She had woken up with a warmth feeling. Which for once was a first. Usually her nights were filled with taunting shadows and fire as bright as the morning sun. Then the coldness rushed in as quick as deadly. It wanted to prey. It wanted to feed. It wanted to kill. It shaken her, frightened her. Every night she'd wake up trenched with sweat and taste the saltiness of her tears. But now as she watched the horizon sparkle with a new day there were no nightmares. For just one night she slept without the horror that always waited for her at night.
Hige…It was strange, but since she met him she felt --- in better lack of words …freer. It was strange like a foreign language that you try to decipher so you could finally understand what the words meant. She met him for only 24 hours, and already she was having these feelings! She could have handle it if it was only lust she felt for him, it's true that she hadn't enjoyed a man's company for a long time, but it went deeper than that. Into deep unknown dangerous territories with the yellow tape that said 'Keep out'. She wasn't going to cross that yellow tape. Besides he must've left already. She tried to ignore the twinge of pain in her stomach. Shifting into a better position she stretched and yawned. It was time to start the day.
"Good Morning!" The door opened to reveal Hige with a tray of food.
"Uh…" Her brain didn't function correctly. She was imaging this, all of it. It wasn't real. He couldn't still be here.
Scratching his head he looked at Blue with curiosity. "Are you okay, Blue? You look a bit pale. Maybe you got a fever."
He walked to her dresser, put the tray there, and crossed to Blue's side to touch her forehead. Blue's hand grabbed his arm swiftly; it felt real, must be real. She raised her eyes to his, and found concern. When had another person felt worry for her like he did. Very few and those very few died. This wasn't right. She closed up years ago, build a barrier that never even cracked, and here was this man who in a matter of hours started breaking her defenses. No! She wasn't going to let him. She was fine alone and nothing was going to change that. She willed herself to put back her barriers; her eyes turned an icy blue, her body stiffen, and she gave Hige a look of annoyance.
"Why haven't you gone, yet?" She said with a look of irritation.
"That's a stupid question, Blue. I'm here to take care of you." Never once breaking his smile. It was if her look didn't face him. It angered her more.
Blue tightened her grip, and hissed, "I don't need to be taken care of. I was fine on my own before, and this isn't any different."
Hige narrowed his eyes a bit. Where was the Blue that was warm and soft, the one who he had a fun time talking to? "What happen to you?"
Blue blinked, and laughed. A laugh that made Hige shiver of the coldness from it. "Nothing really. I am who I am, thanks for saving me back there. Though I wouldn't have needed it if I was more aware, but now it's over. They're gone so no danger. No need to hang around here anymore. You know where the door is, so lead yourself out." She let go of his arm. Waited for him to leave.
He stood there a minute before he stood and left. She heard his footsteps, the locks, and the slightly slam of her door. As easily he came into her life, as easily he walked out of it. She felt a pang of regret but block it. It was better this way. She didn't want complications and Hige was considered a complication.
Her stomach started rumbling. She forgot that she didn't eat breakfast yet. Blue wasn't the best of cooks but she got by. But at the moment she felt lazy. Rubbing her stomach Blue glanced up to her dresser. She forgot that Hige made breakfast. She sighed in relief, no cooking for her. It was a simple meal that consisted of orange juice and blueberry pancakes, which were her favorite. She savored the sweet taste of it, and drank it down with her orange juice. Blue started to the kitchen with the dirty dishes. It occurred to her that it was very thoughtful for Hige to make her breakfast, and pang of regret cursed through her. She was rude to him. If she could just see him now just for a second to thank him it would be in of.
Her apartment door opened and there stood Hige with 5 heavy grocery bags. His brown hair tousled, his eyes a smooth hazel. "Sorry, the market was full today, and the waiting lines were a bitch." He said it cheerfully, like nothing happened between them a couple of hours ago. He started putting away the groceries, as Blue continue to stare in shocked. He went to the refrigerator to put some vegetables away, open her cabinets to put the herbs, the spices and other treats. Two boxes of donuts were on the counter. He never stopped talking. "Did you enjoy your breakfast?"
Blue could only nimbly nod. "Thanks, it was delicious." She waited a beat and still Hige was there. Wasn't he supposed to disappear now? It's been more than a second yet there he stood rummaging through her cabinets as if he owned the place.
Hige turned to look at her. He took a step forward and Blue took a step back. The barriers were still there. That thought hurt him more than he accounted. He thought that she just felt groggy and cranky in the mornings just like Tsume did whenever he woke him up. It was a painful experience, but one he enjoyed. Everyday he made some kind of plan on how to wake him up.
At first it was the simple things. A toss of water, poking, gradually increasing into more daring procedures. Once he got a gong and hit it as hard as he could. It was hysterical watching Tsume nursing his ears, curses streaming from his mouth. He laughed with tears in his eyes. Then got punched in the face. After that Tomboe took Hige's task.
Sighing he ran his hand through his hair. "You didn't think that I actually left for good, did you?"
That was exactly what she thought. Damn bastard. Why didn't he get the hint and leave. She continued to stare at him. Her mouth unsmiling, her eyes still held that icy look.
"Yes."
"Well sorry, but I'm not planning to leave just yet." Hige smiled. A smile that had women weak-kneed. Lucky for Blue she wasn't weak.
"It's not your choice to decide if you want to stay here or not. It's my place, so get out!"
Before she even blinked Hige took her hands into his, locked eyes with her, and giving her a look that she couldn't match. "What the hell! Let go of me!"
"No!" Hige gripped her hands tighter.
"You son of a bitch! Ass hole!" she pulled harder, damn his grip was like a vise.
"You can call me anything you want but I won't let go. What happened to you?! Where's the woman from yesterday."
"Damn you! My mind wasn't clear at all that day. I had so much blood loss yesterday that my mind didn't think straight. You just caught me in a bad time. I never act that way and never will. So let go!"
Hige stared at her with such intensity that made her squirm. His grip lessened a bit, but it still held on hard. Such cold hands…. yet last night they were warm. He'll make them warm again. Another promise he'd had to keep. But first thing comes first.
"I can't leave you Blue. You think there isn't any danger, but it still lingers. The pack of wolves are called the Kariudo pack." He looked up to see any recognition from Blue but found none, and continued. " According to my sources they don't value losing very well. They set to find the ones that got away and finish what they started." Hige took a deep breath. "You got away Blue, and in their maniacal minds that's not right."
Forgetting he held her hands, she blinked. Was he serious? That they'll be back to get her. A shiver of fear passed through her. Then she controlled herself once more. She was Blue and fear wasn't in her vocabulary. "So, what's the point? If they come after me then I'll take them. Last time my guard was down it won't happen again."
Hige let go of her hands and grabbed her shoulders instead. "Are you so dense! You'll get killed. You're only one person and couldn't take them all down. Do you think yourself independent, that you could take 5 large wolves by yourself? " When she nodded it made him more furious. "Bullshit! You're a stubborn woman Blue. Stubborn and plain stupid." Her chin jutted out in defiance. His fingers took hold of her chin, " No more of that. I'm going to stay here, and help you." His eyes spitted fire. Burning fire that wouldn't be diminished easily. If she refused it won't make a difference. Just a waste a breath. "One week."
"Two weeks."
"Three days."
"Three weeks."
"Dammit two weeks and that's all."
Hige let go and started to the stove. "Now that that's settled we could get started on dinner." He grinned at her. His face untroubled and full of mischief. No remembrance of that face filled with fury and fire remained. "I was thinking of pasta tonight."
Blue turned to the clock. It was close to 8 o' clock p.m. Have they been arguing that long? "So what do you think?"
What the hell did she get into? "Pasta sounds good."
"Right then. Pasta it is!" He said in the fun warming tone.
He has so many different moods. He was unpredictable, and unnerving. What the hell did she get into?!
"Are we there yet?" a tired Toboe asked.
"No" was the curt reply.
"Is there any hurry to get to Ramus?" Tsume asked. While he watched as Toboe's eyes drifted close. With a snap of his fingers Toboe focused again.
Kiba looked back at them. Toboe was in the verge of collapsing and Tsume held that annoyed expression. Tsume thought of himself as Toboe's older brother, and cared deeply for the red haired kid. Though he wasn't a kid anymore. He grew taller, leaner, stronger, his reddish hair cut short to his ears with bangs, he still wore the four golden bracelets on his right wrist, his soft features that made his innocence hardened into manhood. Yet he was the youngest in the pack so he'll always be considered the kid. Tsume hadn't changed much. With the same attire, white hair with a small ponytail, he's attitude change a lot though.
When they first met, he distanced himself from the pack, ignored Toboe, and didn't much care for a god damn thing. The years passed and they all changed. Grew closer together. All of them became brothers, no blood relation necessary. When one was in trouble they were there, if one made a stupid mistake then they'll try to fix it. Apparently Hige was the one making mistakes, so it was up to them to fix it.
"Hige plus woman equals trouble." He explained. Tsume's brow arched in amusement, while Toboe chuckle good heartily. "I don't want another episode just like that blonde woman from last time."
"You have to admit it was amusing." Tsume grinned. Remembering the day at the club.
"I wonder what he picked this time." Tomboe wondered. As they went inside to rent a jeep.
"Another whore perhaps. Hope she didn't con him, yet." Kiba said casually as he signed the renting papers. After he finished he handed them to the clerk. Nodded when she said to wait a minute, choosing to ignore her flirting, and when she winked at him.
They crossed where the cars were parked. Searching for their Jeep. They found it, it was old, but sturdy. It would hold. Kiba got in the drivers seat, Tsume beside him with Toboe in the back.
"When can I drive?"
"When you're old in of." Kiba answered with a smirk. Looking at the rear mirror. He started the Jeep.
"I'm almost 17." Toboe urged. "I'm responsible."
"But not old in of. When you turn 18 kid then we'll see."
"Ugh…." Toboe gave up. When it was two against one it was a losing matter. He slump against his seat, as he watched the houses fly by into flat land. Barren of houses now and only flat land lay clear.
It'll take about two weeks to reach Ramus, and a day to find Hige. It was a long ride, and a boring one at that. He often had wild adventures with his brothers; got in trouble with them, laughed with them, beat each other up for fun. Nothing was going to change that. Not some woman anyway was going to stand between them. He closed his eyes for a short nap, as Kiba rodeunto the sunset.
