Disclaimer: I do not own Wolf's Rain
Chapter 6
"Now if you'll excuse me, I do believe Kiba wants to talk to you"
"How do you know that?" Soui asked
"Because I'm right here" Kiba said ducking his head as he walked in. Blue walked by with a grin and kept going, trying to catch up with the boys.
Soui looked up at Kiba nervously running her hand through her mangled blond human hair curling up her knees as he stood looming above her. She wasn't sure who was supposed to speak first but like on an instinct she opened hers
"I'm sorry Kiba, I know I really worried the pack but I live with this curse and I don't want to harm anyone else and its just...." Kiba motioned her to be silent and he sat down beside her. He stared at her, for a long time, and finally let his hand reach out and trace the scar. The scar started to glow and Soui closed her eyes softly
"What is this curse that Darica left you?" Kiba asked stroking her forehead
"In so many ways I'm not fully sure, but it seems, since the moment I got that scar, horrible things happen to people, wolves, anyone around me that I care about ends up getting hurt. There was no coincidence that the hunter came for me not once but twice, or that Adam went crazy and Tsume almost killed him. It's like I fabricate the line between the senile and the sane...."
"Anything worth while requires mutual sacrifice. In the end you will be given something great"
"What might that be Kiba?"
"Paradise..."
"You're really set on finding it aren't you?" Soui asked him gently
"Its all I have to live for, I can't ignore it, there's something inside of me that tells me I have to find it,"
"Then that will be your fate, searching and searching till you meet the salvation you desire"
"Who are you, who are you really Soui?" Kiba asked, his fingers still curling and stroking the side of her cheek.
"Just like I told you, I'm Soui, survivor of Darcia's attack, former alpha, what else is there to tell about me? You think that there's something more?"
"The look in your eyes, there's something locked away, why won't you tell me?" He asked her in the same unemotional voice
"Certain things of my past you are not to know, certain things no one shall know, it is something that I will carry with me, its just who I am Kiba" She told him softly, every word a lie
"I don't believe you, I know there's something you have to tell me, I can feel it in my bones."
"You're starting to talk crazy Kiba,"
"Why am I crazy for wanting to know the truth?" he urged her taking hold of her arm
Soui closed her eyes and let her head sink "You worry about your little flower maiden and the pack, I'll worry about my own past alright?"
"Soui...why?" He asked her quietly, still holding onto her hand, "why?"
"Let me hold onto the pain, let one hold the pain so the others will be happy."
"Why won't you tell me, why are you hiding it from all of us?"
"Its just part of the agreement I made"
"Agreement? With who?"
"The day my family died, I made a solemn vow to myself; protect my new pack if I were ever to find them. Keeping my secrets to myself is the best way to protect you all, trust me Kiba, if you knew, you'd be in more danger with Darcia than you are right now"
"I'm not afraid of any danger, I'm not afraid of anything within this existence, just tell me!" he squeezed her hand tighter
"Kiba I just can't!" She told him looking into his eyes "You can't know! No one can! Leave it along Kiba, please!"
Kiba squeezed her hand to the point it was losing its circulation and he sighed seeing such a hidden pain and fear. She stood up and started walking out of the cave
"Soui WAIT!" He took her hand again this time gentler as he stood up next to her
"What is it Kiba?" She asked in a very tired and worn out voice
"....I...never mind..." he let go of her hand and watched as she disappeared into the forest, just a copper blur as she left behind her four footprints.
That was too close, you're letting him get too close, you're going to cave in at this rate. You can't let that happen, Darcia will hurt him, I can't let Darcia hurt anyone else, especially Kiba. I don't want to leave this pack, I can't live without Tsume....Tsume what am I supposed to do?
Soui trotted to a stop and sat in the snow sniffing and thinking
Tsume....why did fate deal me such a crappy hand?
She lifted her head high and let out a long and sorrowful howl that seemed to echo over the white snow. The rest of the pack arrived home with their kill, Soui didn't return until it was nearly nightfall. Everyone was in the cave, snoozing lightly and Soui brought the fire back to life and nearly screamed when Tsume put his hand on her back
"Sorry Tsume...." She whispered gently sitting down looking up at the stars
"Blue told me you had a little chat with Kiba"
"What's your point?" Soui asked him quickly looking into the flames
"You have to tell him sooner or later,"
"Note that word later. Tsume, its best if he never knows"
"How are you going to live with us with that sort of guilt?"
"Guilt seems to be my only friend, I've gotten used to her company" Soui was quiet when she picked up a sound and she looked into the sky "Do you hear that?"
"What is it?" Tsume looked up at the sky
"I can hear singing, I can hear her singing"
"What are you talking about?" Tsume asked her confused, but was even more perplexed when he saw her scar glow just once
"Its Cheza." Soui got up and ran into the cave "Kiba! Wake up! I can hear Cheza!"
The pack all ran outside and looked up at the sky listening for the sounds of Cheza, and to everyone's surprise, Soui had been right, they could still hear the faintest sound of crooning. Kiba instantly took the head of the pack and they all ran off in the direction of her voice, Soui taking up the rear, and giving one last goodbye to her home.
They ran for almost two days straight until the large flying ship settled itself in a desert complex. They remained hidden against the sand dunes watching the building from afar
"They have at least four soldiers guarding every entrance, and they have men stationed on the roofs too, all armed with heavy weaponry" Kiba told the group as they all watched the men walk back and forth with their radios
"How are we supposed to get in then Kiba?" Toboe asked worriedly
"We need a distraction" Hige stated quickly
"Then we'll do it," Blue volunteered looking at Soui who instantly nodded her head
"Are you sure?" Hige asked "You guys could get killed!"
"When has that ever stopped any of us?" Blue asked standing up straightening herself out "You're not as quickly fire at when you're a girl," Soui laughed "Ready to go?" Blue asked Soui
"Yup, you boys ready too?" Soui asked them as she began rolling up the bottom of her shirt.
The boys nodded, and the four of them broke off into groups of two heading around the side of the building. Blue and Soui walked over towards the entrance, when they were about a hundred yards away from the building two men ran out with guns and turned on their head lights
"What are two girls like you doing out in the desert?" One demanded pointing a gun at them
"We're from the forest down at the foot of Death Mountain, but we got lost sir, we were looking for some place where we could have a little fun," Blue started brushing herself up against the man and he blushed, cleared his throat, and pointed the gun back at her
"You wouldn't know a good place to find some playful boys would you?" Soui asked rubbing her torso up against the second man and he started to shiver with excitement
"We might, if you're interested," The guard told them with a smirk on his face
Kiba and Hige made it to the right side back entrance easily killing the two guards before they could even pull out their guns. They left as little blood as possible and quickly stormed into the building
"Kiba, how are we going to find Cheza, this whole building has an overpowering stench of nothing!" Toboe protested running after him
"I can smell her, clear as daylight," Kiba called back to him as they sprinted through the building
Tsume and Hige were also successful in getting into the building, the two of them, not as neat when it came to their kills but they smiled with joy none the less shaking the blood from their fur. Tsume took the lead running through the many metal hallways until they came out to a huge open room, this room with many wires and generators for energy
"I think we found the generator" Hige smirked
"Up for a little fun Hige?" Tsume asked him pointing to the mob of guards running towards them
"Of course I am, fun's my middle name" He grinned cracking his neck
Tsume was rather happy to destroy a bunch of worthless men, many killed by bites to the throat, and a few he even through off the pathway down into the generators below being shocked or just dying from the fall. They left twenty men dead on the floor and made their way deeper into the perimeter.
Soui and Blue exited the bedroom of the two now unconscious men and threw their clothes back on "Worthless pigs" Soui spat at them throwing her shirt back on,"
"Nice acting there Soui, I must say you even had me convinced for a while," Blue told her throwing her jacket back on around her shoulders
"I think that was the point wasn't it? Come on, let s go find the rest of the guys"
Soui and Blue took of running in their own direction, all three groups all heading to the same place, until finally they all ran into each other in the central room, a large spherical room, hanging from the ceiling, was none other than Cheza in her bubble of liquid.
"CHEZA!" Kiba called to her, and slowly Cheza opened her eyes and smiled
"A..Kiba..." She whispered quietly she smiled too and lifted her head, but her eyes widened in fear "A Kiba behind you!" She screamed, and Soui pushed him out of the way right before a bullet shot hit the floor and bounced off into the darkness
"I see that you've returned to me once again haven't you, baka Soui" Darcia looked at her grinning, a fang sticking out the side of his lip. Kiba got up and stood next to Soui and looked from her and Darica
"What the hell is he talking about Soui?" Kiba urged, but Soui only smiled
"Hey, aren't you supposed to be rescuing the flower? Don't worry about Darica, I can take him, I've got everyone else here to help too"
Kiba nodded and quickly began jumping from furniture item to the next so he could reach Cheza's canister. Darcia was only grinning too pointing the gun and Soui
"I'm surprised you're still alive, I was sure by now you would have gone and killed yourself for betraying your clan!" He laughed paying with his gun
"You know as well as I do that I didn't betray them!"
"Ah yes, I do believe it was me who killed them wasn't it?"
"He's toying with her..." Tsume growled to Hige
"What do we do?" Hige asked clenching his fists
"Of course it was you Darcia, you're nothing but a heartless bastard since you betrayed your own love! You couldn't save her so you decided to go on a killing rampage!" Soui shouted up at him
"How did you know that?" Darica asked surprised, Soui pointed to her scar
"Your touch cursed me with your evil, but it also gave me parts of your memory. Poor Darcia, your only love died and you stood beside her helpless, just like I did. It seems we're one in the same aren't we?"
"Die wolf!" Darcia fired off the gun and Soui shifted her forms and took off racing across the floor, her claws making clicking sounds against the marble flooring as she skidded to avoid the gun shots. Kiba watched from his spot on the glass ball amazed, but Cheza tapped on the glass and he returned to releasing her "Ah you stupid wolf why won't you die!" He shot another round of bullets at her until finally she was close enough to leap right at him, her mouth and fangs opened wide aiming for his throat. In a last attempt he pulled out his sword and shoved it through her, but she didn't stop her charge at him, and bit into his shoulder so they both fell from their spot on the ledge.
"SOUI!" Toboe screamed watching her fall from her spot and hitting the floor again.
"Kiba, free me!" Cheza demanded watching Soui in pain "That one must not die!"
Soui opened her eyes to hear the sound of Darcia loading his gun right in her face and then ripping the sword from her and she coughed out blood
"Such a shame, you are a rather lovely creature, even for a mixed blood," He pushed the gun against her temple
"From you that's a sure heavy compliment, are you sure you want that to be the last few words I hear?" Darcia laughed lightly and kicked her in the stomach where her wound was and she gasped in pain "and here...I thought...I'd die some dramatic way...not by a cheap move like this one...you're getting sloppy Darica...."
"Brave words for the likes of you" He pressed his boot against her rib cage forcing it down.
At that same moment Kiba was able to break Cheza's capture chamber, and the rest of the pack began their assault on Darcia. There was a lot of confusion within this moment, Kiba held Cheza by the waist as they fell to the ground, Toboe and Tsume tackled Darcia, and Blue grabbed the gun firing it off at one of the alarms within the room. Soui stood up as soon as Darcia's foot was no longer pressing weight against her, and watched as Darica threw the two boys off, Toboe getting a sword slash in his right side
Darica pushed Tsume away too, but nothing more than a small slash on the side of his cheek. Darica withdrew his sword and looked at Soui
"We will continue this later Crescent Wolf" Darcia backed away into the shadows and Soui ran after him, down the hallway to find he had just vanished
"Damn...where did he go?" Soui looked around for him.
"Soui, that's enough, he's gone" Blue told her gently placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Are the other's alright?" Soui asked between her tears
"Toboe is being healed by Cheza right now, and Tsume only has a scratch. We were lucky, why did Darcia back down so easily?"
"I don't know...it doesn't make sense,...why didn't he kill me?"
"This one still has things to do," The flower maiden told Soui. Soui turned around to smile at Cheza lightly. Cheza frowned in worry and rested her hand on Soui's stomach and abdomen area "This one will not stop crying the red liquid"
"It's okay Cheza, I'll be fine" Soui told her gently
Cheza pointed to herself "How do you know this one's name, this one does not remember meeting this wolf"
"Stories and legends Cheza, words never fade" Soui told her laughing lightly "This wolf's name is Soui."
"Soui? Scar wolf, you are the one..." Cheza said smiling "It is you."
"Not now Cheza, this one Soui needs to get out of here," Soui smiled at Cheza once more, but looked at Kiba, who was far from smiling. He had an angry look in his eyes, but they all turned and left anyway
"I'm glad that's over with" Hige said aloud with an exasperated sigh, resting his hands behind his head, "I'm glad you're safe" He told Blue, and Blue smiled and the two of them walked together eventually holding hands.
"Soui, you were so brave in there, you weren't even afraid of Darcia! I bet you even Tsume's afraid of Darcia!" Toboe chirped holding onto Soui's left hand, her other side covered in blood.
"That isn't true Toboe, I was scared, oh believe me I was scared, I just, was too angry. I have to get my revenge, I won't die until I know he pays..." Soui told him softly. Tsume took Soui's other hand and draped it around his neck to give her support so she could walk
"You're hurt again..." Tsume whispered to her, Toboe could hear it too and he frowned sadly
"Yeah Soui, one of these days you're not going to be able to get back up like you always do" Toboe added
"Could we not worry about that for right now, I'm telling you I'm fine,"
"No you're not," Tsume contradicted
"Please don't worry about it, when we all stop to rest I'll just curl up and sleep" Soui told him gently resting her head against his shoulder. "I'm just amazed at how easily you all stormed the building, it doesn't make sense it was..."
"It was too easy" Kiba told them finally stopping after they walked for another hour. Soui sat down on the cool sand and curled up, resting her head in Toboe's lap. "Something just doesn't feel you not worry about that right now?" Toboe begged, Cheza left Kiba's arm lock and walked over to Toboe
"What troubles this one?" Cheza asked kneeling down, rubbing Toboe's head
"Soui..." Toboe looked down at her "She's hurt bad, and she won't admit it because she doesn't want us to worry, can you heal her, please Cheza?"
"This one will heal!" Cheza smiled and rested her hand on Soui's stomach. It glowed a violet color and slowly Soui's wound began to heal. Cheza took her hand away and smiled "This one will be just fine," Cheza caressed Soui's forehead "let this wolf sleep for now," Cheza returned back to where Kiba was sitting. It seemed everyone had their own special people they wanted to be with.
Cheza was by Kiba, who still had the angriest look in his eyes when he stared at Soui, of course Hige and Blue were together, but not more than a few steps away from Tsume, Toboe, and Soui.
"She changes the dynamics of the pack so much doesn't she?" Toboe asked looking down at Soui
"More than I thought possible" Tsume answered
"Tsume, what did Darica mean, when he said "Such a shame, you are a rather lovely creature, even for a mixed blood"?"
"I'm not sure, I don't know what he means by mixed blood.... but those two have a connection, because of that scar" Tsume pointed to it, "I wonder if she can see his memories or not, like she said,"
"I think she can...maybe that's why she's so sad all the time" Toboe answered smiling and looking down at Soui "I hope she stays with us for a very long time...."
"Time has a way of leaving us Runt..." Tsume looked to the sky and wondered, what was the truth to the Crescent Scared wolf Soui?