Big Thankyou to you Chibi Mina for helping me break one hell of a writer's block!

Welcome to chapter 2

Kittycat: Thank you for your review and your awaited update is finally here.

Nicotine gum: Kantarou and Haruka are indeed blind and I agree it's painful.

Zelgadis 55: See? I did it at last!

Chubby-king-Chocobo: Beats head on brick wall. Sorry about those spelling mistakes! I swear I've fixed them..and also corrected the OTHER mistake I made as Muu Chan is GREEN!

DNKS Girls: I love you guys! You Rock!

Rubymoon 17: Not bad? That all you can say? Haha..but you know I'm pulling your leg!

Mnemea: Ah..isn't it customary to read a fic before reviewing? Hope you enjoyed!

Author note: While I am familiar with European medicinal herbs and Australian ones, I'm not that familiar with Japanese ones, so if Youko's herbs seem out of context, then I apologise in advance.

Disclaimer: I hate writing these, but if I DON"T...Tactics does not belong to me, so lets all bow down to the one who does!

" Because Hawks and Wolves Mate For Life."

Chapter 2: Dangerous Stranger

Story: Tora Macaw

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Kantarou stared in open mouthed astonishment. He knew he must have resembled a stranded fish as he gaped at the sight of the youkai laying unconscious on his floor, but he couldn't help himself. Risking a quick look at Haruka, he noticed the first jolt of shock had past and his expression had become closed and unreadable.

Blinking himself into the here and now, he became aware of Youko speaking in his ear; dispelling his indecisive moment so he became calm and focused on the injured Tengu before him as he issued orders with quiet assurance.

" Youko, we need hot water, medicinal herbs, bandages and cloth." Turning his head, he then addressed his dark haired friend. " Haruka, bring blankets and a pillow."

Instantly the young kitsune raced to do his bidding, but the male youkais eyes glared coldly a moment, then he spun on his heel and was gone.

Hissing as pain again lanced through the scar on his chest, the amber-eyed youth wondered what had bought it on. Haruka and Youko never caused such discomfort, nor did Sugino; yet this stranger...

The fox spirit bustling back to his side pushed such speculation to the back of his mind and after placing a steaming bowl, a pile of bandages and medicine bag on the floor, she joined her human friend in leaning over the female. A great red stain spread over the loose robes covering her ribs and as they watched, a glistening crimson tide began to slowly seep across the boards.

" She's wounded!" cried Youko in distress.

" Yes." nodded Kantarou grimily as he tentatively reached for her soiled clothing " We need to..ARRRGH!" Reeling backward he clutched at his chest and gasped painfully " Youko chan...you attend her wound."

Shooting him an apprehensive glance, the young woman gritted her teeth and peeled back heavy, rain soaked cloth. Baring a load a pillows and blankets in his arms, Haruka re-entered the room, paused to frown at his pale faced tamer, then dumped his burden beside Youko; averting his eyes as the strangers pasty coloured breasts were uncovered. A heart beat later his head swung back around at the kitsune's sharp in take of breath.

Jutting from between the Tengu's lower ribs, the broken shaft of an spear slowly rose and fell with the female's breathing as scarlet life fluid dripped in a steady torrent.

" Haruka." said Youko firmly as her expression grew dark. " That must come out at once. Hold her head for me."

Nodding grimly, he shuffled into position, then his shaking hands descended to lightly grip either side of her skull.

Digging into her leather bag, Youko's mind calmly worked out what she needed. Tossing marigold petals into the steaming water, for she knew its antiseptic properties would help check the bleeding as well as clean the wound; then she dampened comfrey root and pounded it in a bowl until it had become a squishy pulp. Densely packing the poultice around the deadly wooden splinter she then took a firm grip with both hands.

Exchanging a forbidding look with Haruka, she grit her teeth and removed the shaft with a sudden, hard yank. Fortunately the spear was topped with a long, tapering diamond shaped head so it jerked free easily. Arching her back as the glistening metal cleared her flesh, the Tengu uttered a scream and tossed about as she feebly fought against the hands on her head. Twin orbs then flashed open but there was no recognition in the dark gold depts. Mumbling incoherently, she lapsed back into limpness and Youko efficiently cleaned up the wound and bandaged it.

With the treatment over, the fox spirit sat back on her heels and passed a trembling hand over her eyes as she gave Kantarou a wan smile. " Well it's out and treated. Now it's up to her."

Large amber eyes shone with approval, then turned inquiringly to Haruka. The tall male had stood up and turned his back the moment the spear had been removed and now stood as a silent, brooding presence; hands thrust deep into pockets as he glared at the wall.

Obstinately studying the polished structure in front of him, the youkai ignored his human's gentle question as a fire storm of emotions rampaged through out his mind. Apart from Sugino, the white Tengu was the only one of his kind he had ever known and he was dead certain he had never seen a female of his species in his entire existence. So where had she come from? was just one of his many tumbling thoughts as he glared into space.

" I cannot remember the time before I was sealed and I can't recalled other Tengu, yet there has to be such. I was somehow born after all.."

The rustling of clothing at close range interrupted his thoughts and he half turned to briefly meet his tamer's concerned eyes before abruptly turning on his heel to stalk away to the sanctuary of his room.

Hearing Haruka's door slam shut with a loud note of absolute finality, Kantarou heaved a heavy sigh then mustered a smile for his worried friend.

" You go and sleep Youko chan." he said softly as he took note of the weary look shadowing her eyes. " I can watch over our guest."

" But Kan chan.."

" It will be alright." said the young scholar as he effectively cut off the beginnings of her protest with a calm reassurance. Lifting his head, he gazed quietly at the ceiling then chuckled as his eyes closed. " Hear that Youko chan? The storm is over."

Looking up at the ceiling, the kitsune noticed for the first time the silence now filling the night and glancing back down, she then gave her human friend a sheepish grin.

" Then, I'll go back to my room. Let me know the moment she wakes up."

" Good night Youko chan."

For a few seconds, the young woman held the eyes of he who had named her; then turned away at the undercurrent of command in the friendly dismissal. Reaching her doorway, she glanced back to see Kantarou kneeling beside the stranger with his beads held out before him and hoping there wouldn't be trouble she entered her room.

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A bright shaft of morning sunlight fell across the woman's face as the great fire ball cleared the horizon to begin its daily journey across the now cloudless sky. Long dark lashes fluttered against pale flesh, then eyelids twitched and slowly peeled open.

Blurred images of a low ceiling and wooden beams wavered before her unfocused eyes, so she squeezed them shut before trying again. Rapidly blinking, the woman's vision cleared as she suddenly realized she was lying inside a house with warm blankets piled over her and that the storm was over. Gasping, she sat bolt upright; only to curl in on herself and grimace as pain lanced through her. Chest heaving, her breath dragged in and out as heavy pants as she eased herself back down to lie still and ponder her situation.

Turning her head left, she noticed with infinite relief that she was no longer in her former home and breathing a low sigh, she gazed off to her right. Body stiffening fearfully, she stifled the scream that threatened to escape her and despite the pain searing her innards, she jerked upright then scrambled backwards in a frantic attempt to put as much distance between the human male sleeping on a nearby pallet and herself as possible.

Heart pounding, she struggled free of the blankets entangled about her then noticed for the first time her cloths were missing. Lips curled back as a low growl sounded in her throat, then anger drove the fear from her mind to rapidly evolve into rage. Gathering the covering about her body, the female Tengu slowly advanced on the silver-haired man. Sharp fangs lanced down from otherwise human like teeth while long claws extended from her finger nails and large black wings stood out from her slender shoulders. Drawing closer to her oblivious prey, her mouth curved in a wicked smirk. This human was an easy mark and once dispatched, she would forever be free of their control. Step followed step, then she was almost within striking range when something large suddenly insinuated itself between herself and her target making her startle; then draw back with a shocked cry.

Narrow orbs glared at her with a cold, unfriendly glitter and a long wooden staff topped by a large metallic ring tinkled from the movement of the small rings attached to it waved menacingly in her direction, as she stared in open disbelief at the one so obviously protecting her intended victim. Swiftly her incredulous gaze took in the sight of his dark hair and great black wings, then her tentative hold on her strength failed and she hissed loudly as she doubled over in pain then slumped to the floor.

The resulting thump woke Kantarou who instantly sat up and gazed blearily at Harkura looming threateningly over his violently shaking guest. " Harkura!" he called as he extended his right arm and pushed to his feet. " What are you..."

" Kantarou!" came the urgent reply as he shot his tamer a quick glance over one shoulder. " Stay back, she was trying to kill you!"

Snapping the business end of his lightening staff down so it pointed straight at the strangers heart, the male Tengu harshly demanded an explanation. Just then, Youko walked in on the drama and the female youkai scrambled across the floor to cower fearfully behind the barrier of the kitune's legs.

" Huh?" exclaimed Youko as she wonderingly stared down, then she turned about to gently disengage the arms locked loosely around her; only to have the stranger latch onto her torso the moment she crouched beside her and hold on like a frightened child.

" Hey," said the kitsune soothingly. " It's alright. You are among friends here."

" No." growled the woman in a low, fearful tone as her wide golden eyes flicked first at Haruka, then settled maliciously on the staring Kantarou. " No human is my friend."

Large brown orbs blinked, then the woman smiled warmly. " Kan chan is everyone's friend, right Haruka?"

Flipping his staff so it pointed straight up, the male Tengu turned his back and answered with a non committal grunt.

" Oh don't mind him." Laughed the Kitsune while secretly wondering what had got into her fellow youkai to promote such rudeness. " Haruka is being ill mannered, Kantarou would never hurt you."

Fixing her feral glare into the young scholars face, the winged female drew back and closed her great feathered limbs around herself like a cocoon. " Keep him away from me." she spat as she half concealed her face. " Or I will kill him."

" Just go ahead and try." rumbled Haruka over one shoulder while giving his staff a meaningful twist " I can assure you, it won't be Kantarou who dies."

" Why do you protect that vile creature!" she yelled suddenly as her wings snapped back and she shakily raised herself to one knee. " Humans are evil! Foul! They should be..be..des..troyed.."

Throwing her head back, she yelped with pain then collapsed in on herself to slide senseless to the floor and lay unmoving.

" Youko chan." said Kantarou softly as the fox spirit rushed to assist her. " See that she is installed in my study and made comfortable." Turning to the tall man beside him, he added " Haruka, come with me." as he left the room.

Once outside, the young man turned his large amber eyes to his Tengu as he sat down on the low wall running alongside his house.

" What do make of her?"

Dark, narrow eyes bored deep into curious orange ones for a moment, then lifted to gaze at the distant clouds. " I have never seen another Tengu except for Sugino, so I can make nothing of her. But..." he turned his head to fix his near black orbs onto his tamers face. " ...I can sense a deep rooted hatred for you that seems to extend to all humans." Looking away again, he added in a quiet undertone; " There was a time I would have agreed with such thinking."

" And now?" asked Kantarou as he pushed to his feet and laid a careful hand on his Tengu's left arm. The limb trembled slightly as he felt the bare skin, the warmth of his tamer's hand and his closeness made him remember a hot night; the refreshing coolness of a small lake, the silent dance of the fireflies and the way Kantarou's touch had made him feel.

Eyes met again, the liquid amber ones holding a subconscious desire and Haruka felt an instant response. He ached to reach for the youth, but held back as he was unsure of how the human would react. Seeing the brief look of tenderness extinguish as the usual sternness replaced it, confused Kantarou. He hadn't missed that fleeting expression of longing...so why had he stopped? Feeling crushed, he too turned away as he wondered if he kept trying, he one day find a way to reach his youkais heart.

" I don't mind you." muttered Haruka as he stared up at sky in fascination.

But Kantarou failed to hear the soft words as he was too busy drowning in a dark pool his own tangled emotions.

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Wiping her brow, Youko heaved a small sigh then smiled down at the female Tengu now lying comfortably on a thick futon in Kantarou's study. Chest rising and falling, she drew several deep breaths then her head turned on her pillow so she could give her benefactor a grateful look. " Thankyou..for helping me. But why do you live a filthy human, miss..."

" Youko." answered the Kitsune brightly. A faint rustling sound whispered at the room's window and Youko grinned at the little green youkai standing there. Head cocked to one side, it peered intently at the stranger as its ears wavered up and down while a curious 'muu' sound drifted from its wide mouth.

" Muu chan," she chuckled while extending her right arm, then Youko nodded to her intrigued guest. " This is Muu chan, a good friend."

Despite her pain and misgivings, the female Tengu found herself smiling back as the small youkai leapt down from the sill to stand before her. " Muuuuu."

" Hello yourself." she smiled as she tentatively reached out to touch the creature's smooth skin. Purring happily, Muu accepted the caress; then abruptly turned and skipped back out the window to vanish into the morning sunshine.

Lying down the stranger grimaced as a sharp of pain shot through her side, but worked up a small smile as Youko handed her a streaming tea cup.

" Willow bark, it will ease your pain." Rocking back on her heels, the Kitsune studied the Tengu a moment then she held out her hand. " I've told you who I am" she said cheerfully " You've met muu chan and you heard Haruka's name.." Braking off temporally as the woman frowned, Youko brightened as she forged ahead. " We live here with Kantarou..so tell me! Do you have a name? Kan chan could give you a good one.."

" I have a name!" the Tengu snapped suddenly as her golden eyes blazed with fury. " And I'll thank you not keep mentioning that savage wolf's name!"

" Wolf?" blinked Youko in confusion " Who? Kantarou? Haha... Kan chan maybe lazy at times or a bit of pain, but he is no wolf!"

" All humans are wolves." growled the woman sulkily as she drew her knees up to her chest and rested her chin upon them. " They are brutal, vicious, monsters who don't care who they hurt.."

" But Wolves are also loyal and loving to those they protect." broke in a new voice and two heads snapped around to see Haruka leaning casually against the door frame.

" And what would you know?" the stranger snarled in response " If a human had ever hurt you..."

" A human sealed me up for many years" came the coldly calm reply. " But Kantarou released me and I willingly gave him my lo... gratitude."

" Huh." grumbled the female as she failed to notice the change of word. " Given a choice, I would gladly be sealed away over..." Shuddering violently, she wrapped herself in the safety of her own arms; a reflection of her inner despair and a sorrowful misery to terrible to be born.

Sighing at her guest's sudden tight lipped silence, Youko stood up to quietly approach her tall, dark haired friend. " Where is..." dropping her voice, she said Kantarou's name.

Haruka shrugged indifferently as he pushed away from the frame work. " He's gone into town somewhere." Striding into the study, he loomed over the woman huddled on her bed and fixed her with a steely gaze. " Whoever you are, heal up and get out." Not waiting for an answer, he spun on his heel to stalk angrily from the room.

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To be continued...