Disclaimer: I don't own Wolf's Rain

Chapter X

"Kiba?"

"Yeah..."

"Don't make me look into your mind again"

"Why?"

"It's those memories, and those experiences that helped to make you into the wolf that you are right now before me. I don't want to steal those away from you. I know you want someone to relate, but we aren't supposed to understand each other one hundred percent like that. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, I do. Will you ever let me look into your mind?"

"Maybe one-day, when I begin to handle all the things I've seen."

Top of Form 1

Soui and Kiba had a silent agreement to end the conversation there, but that did not stop Soui from having the horrible dreams.

Her dreams were jumbled, with clouded memories from multiple people. She whimpered against the cold stone of the cave when she felt Tsume shake her shoulder. Most were about Lord Darcia. In the depths of her dreams, she felt sympathy for Darica as he cried constantly for his love who Jagara had killed. But in her dreams, she constantly saw what looked like a holy relic and herself, a piercing light and her own life flashing before her eyes. Did that mean her death was coming?

"Soui?" He called out to her worried, a frown on his face as he watched her twitch and squirm against the cave floor as she dreamed. Tsume knew she'd been doing this a lot, since the day she returned from Darcia's Keep. He never really asked her what had honestly happened, he figured he was doing her a favor by not bringing it up. However, since then, things were getting worse for her sleep, but her lust for him grew stronger. Was this his blessing or his curse? He couldn't stand seeing her this way. "Soui?" he called her again

Soui twitched once more, and her eyes slowly opened up again. Tsume was looking down at her, worry portrayed on his usual stern face. His eyes softened, seeing her finally leave those dreams. Her hand weakly reached out and rubbed the side of his face and she smiled. "Good morning Tsume, I'm sorry. I scared you again didn't I?"

"Feh," Tsume looked the other way "You were having those dreams again." He finished quietly.

Soui frowned and sat up. "I'm sorry Tsume, I can't control that. I...keep seeing Darica's past...and Kiba's too. Those horrible memories, bad things stick around with me. I told you that from the beginning, despair is my shadow."

"Don't say that Soui..." He told her quietly looking back at her "Why are you seeing Kiba's past?" he asked her suspiciously

"He asked me to peek into his mind a few days ago. It was the day he was running from Darica. He'd been looking for a wolf caught in the Keep, and nearly died in the process."

"He really asked you to look into his mind? I'm surprised you're this calm, that guy has a lot of issues. That's why he is the way he is now, his past really screwed him up," Tsume laughed lightly

"It's because he had no family back then. He lived with an Indian man, when what he really needed was his pack. But we had to leave him behind for his own safety, I feel as though I've failed him"

"Don't think that way Soui. It was just fate." Tsume told her quietly and pulled her to her feet. "Come on, the sun's rising. Kiba wants us to get out of here. Springs over, Darcia will be back soon, that's what he's claiming"

"Oh alright Tsume," She smiled and held his hand walking outside. Even though no one had said aloud that Tsume and Soui had become mates, everyone seemed to know it anyway. Everyone was content with their rolls in the pack anyway, and day by day Toboe became more and more like a son for Soui.

Kiba was already awake, and smiled by the fire seeing his sister. Sister, that term never ceased to send shivers up his spine. She walked over to him and ran a hand through his hair, having him know was one of the greatest gifts in the world. "Good morning Kiba," She whispered to him quietly.

"Good morning to you too Soui..." he whispered back. Cheza appeared from a clearing, skipping along happily. She ran up to Kiba and latched to him. "Good morning Cheza" he smiled down at her

"This one is happy. This one is happy we are going. This one likes to travel" Cheza smiled and looked to where Soui and Kiba were, she could sense them "Good morning Soui and Tsume"

"Good morning Cheza," Soui smiled sweetly

"Hey are we going to get going or what?" Hige asked stretching, Blue beside him blushing and Toboe walking up to them with a wave.

"Where are we going Kiba?" Soui asked

"Besides to paradise?" He teased

The group smiled sweetly and the seven of them took off towards the east, leaving behind only some dying ashes in their fire place and a few bones from dead carcasses. The group walked on for days heading towards...well...no one really knew.

Soui's nightmares grew worse. But slowly, she pieced them together. Jagara had attacked and killed Darcia's love, and Kiba had ran from Darcia's palace. That hatred was directed towards Kiba with Darcia's idea of poetic justice. But Soui couldn't understand why she was in the book still, it bothered her.

They were walking together side by side when Soui stopped.

"What's wrong?" Kiba asked quickly. Soui stared up at the sky, her ears twitching "What's wrong?

"Silence..."

Everyone closed their eyes and listened. "You're right...it is quiet..."

"We're in a forest...where are the birds...where are the animals...I can't even hear the wind..."

"Something's coming," Cheza told them quietly looking around "This one feels it"

Soui shivered, feeling it creep up her spine like a darkness that floated like mist. She turned to her left and heard something through the woods. It was coming fast, piercing the wind. Soui turned and pushed Kiba to the ground, letting out a grunt as a huge harpoon/arrow like object pierced her shoulder.

"Soui!" Kiba looked at her from the ground

"You all have to run!" Another harpoon came from the forest and hit her leg pulling her to the ground. More arrows came and everyone scattered, Kiba grabbing Cheza, and Tsume grabbing Soui and carrying her away. Tsume pulled the arrows out of her and she only muffled her screams. He wrapped her close to him.

"I won't leave you Soui," He cooed softly squeezing her tight, listening to a humming sound in the distance.

"They've come for me, Cheza, and Kiba. The three links to the gate," she told him slowly

"No...I won't let them take you," He squeezed her tight again. He could hear the sound of foot soldiers belonging to Jagara.

Soui took his hand and rested it against her lower stomach. "They're in there you know. Waiting for their time. I was trying so hard, and so grateful to Darcia for keeping away,"

"Do you mean?" Tsume's eyes widened and his eyebrows lifted up

"Our children..." She whispered quietly, "I'm sorry that I have to be targeted. I would love nothing more than to have your children safely"

Tsume's hand still rested on her stomach, but he stared into her eyes. "Run away with me Soui. We don't have to go to paradise. We can hide and we can raise the pups," He looked desperate, pleading with her. But he knew the answer anyway.

"Oh Tsume..." She leaned up at him and kissed him softly "You know a thousand times over I'd rather be with you. But...I can't run away anymore..." Soui turned around and saw Jagara's men staring down at them. She stood up quietly, and they took her by the weak shoulder walking her away. She turned around once to look at Tsume, and she mouthed to him "I love you" and Tsume sat there helpless again. He couldn't take on all twelve of the men, and above all, this had been her final decision. He covered his mouth and cried. Toboe finding him eventually sitting down in his 'father's' lap, and cried too.

Kiba had hidden with Cheza in a thicket nearby, he tried so hard not to snarl and lunge. Darcia had finally given them peace, and now Jagara's men had emerged. Kiba watched, and saw that Soui was being escorted away. They did not harm her, just simply nudged her along, must unlike the men.

"That one...has decided..." Cheza told Kiba quietly, her voice just barely audible

"What?" Kiba asked looking at her

"That one...has accepted her fate. This one will accept her fate too..." Cheza stood up in the bushes, and walked quietly after them. The guards knew she was there, but did not capture her. For some reason, their intentions were primarily on Soui. Kiba followed too, but the other's stayed behind.

Blue bit her lip and looked at the ground. "Hige?"

"I know..." Hige looked ahead at the three disappearing. "I think it's time we try to help for once. Even if it is out of our hands, we can still go down trying," he looked over to her. Blue lifted her head surprised, and a gentle smile crept across her face.

"Let me go find Tsume and Toboe, you stay here Hige," she kissed his cheek gently, which of course made Hige blush.

Toboe had finished crying and looked up at Tsume. Tsume's face was vacant as he stared out into the lifeless forest. Toboe shook him gently "Tsume, Hey Tsume. We should go find the others. I'm sure they're looking for us," Toboe frowned poking him "Tsume let's go!"

"She's come to accept her fate, and I'm so afraid that accepting her fate will be her death," Tsume told Toboe gently

"No. We can change our destinies if we want to Tsume. Are you really just going to give Soui up without a fight?" Toboe's voice was filled with desperation as he stood up "Maybe our destinies are to protect her until she does die. Maybe her destiny is to die. I don't know what our destiny's are, but I'm not going to let that rule my life! Tsume, we both need her, this whole pack needs her," Toboe urged him again.

Blue walked up behind Toboe and rubbed his head gently, "Nice speech kid. Soui, Kiba, and Cheza were all taken away. You ready to go?" Blue looked down at Tsume. "You ready to save them?"

With Soui, Kiba, and Cheza

Soui's eyes were darting around, counting the soldiers, and examining them carefully. Each had their usual sword, armor, and shield's with the piercing sound. There were twelve in total, three in front, three in back, three to her left, and three to her right. The one behind her would constantly push her forward to keep up the pace, and her upper lip would flare with a growl.

Cheza and Kiba followed them from a distance. Kiba was fighting his instincts to run in and save his sister, but he was also the one who had to protect Cheza. He had never felt so torn, but also understood that this was what Soui had warned him about. Constantly she would remind him, his first obligation was to paradise and protecting Cheza, and she would protect herself.

"Ah Kiba, where is that one going?" Cheza asked worriedly

"Jagara's Keep. I don't know what Jagara wants with Soui, but it isn't good," Kiba told her calmly, leaning over around a tree. The men had approached an air carrier and were boarding Soui onto the plane. Kiba frowned as they shoved her on and she snarled and snapped at them

"How will we get on the plane Kiba?" Cheza asked

"Let's go," Kiba grabbed her hand and took off running. Kiba didn't even explain a plan to her, frankly he didn't have one. Swiftly he ran up and attacked one of the men that had Soui, the remaining eleven turned around to face him.

"No Kiba!" Soui shouted, but she was hit over the head and fell unconscious, being dragged away by her back leg against the cold metals. Kiba was furious now, seeing Soui hurt like that. He managed to take out two more of the guards but was hit with one of their sound blasts and skidded against the soil.

"Kiba!" Cheza ran up to him, trying to provide relief, but instead by the back of her outfit she was pulled off the ground by another soldier. "Kiba!" She screamed again flailing her legs.

"Cheza...Soui..." Kiba struggled to get onto all four feet, shifting, but the soldier simply blasted him again, and down he fell unconscious. From her ship, Jagara smiled, now all three pieces of the puzzle were in her hands.

Soui's eyes fluttered opened, she instantly tried to stand up and move, but she found herself pinned to a wall, her two legs brought together, her two arms spread out like a limp T. Soui struggled to free herself, but stopped hearing a feminine demonic laugh as her eyes searched the room.

"What do you really want with me? Who are you! Where's Darcia!" She screamed hysterically.

"Oh dear, I am Jagara. Darcia's lover's sister. Pleasure to meet you sacred scar she-wolf," Jagara appeared from the shadows and bowed in her full uniform. "What do I want with you? Why you're the key to it all don't you know? The flower maiden gives the path to paradise, the white wolf can see the path, but sacrifice must be made."

"Cheza...Kiba..." Soui looked around, and to her surprise, yet relief, they too were pinned to walls, their unconscious bodies sleeping.

"Don't worry, those two are only sleeping. They will wake up soon enough, the full moon is tomorrow night. That is when all of this will take place," Jagara told her cooly

"Leave them out of this...why am I going to be sacrificed when I'm nothing but a wolf tainted with Darcia's hell?" She asked struggling in the bindings

"Paradise and hell are closer than all others may perceive it to be. Inside of your womb you carry the purest of the wolves for the next generation, born from the love and intimacy between you and your mate. You have experience the world's pain, from the pain you learn the good. You were destined to be good but was constantly burdened with the bad. Your blood is tainted with the evil, but evil forgiven by your good. You cancel out to be the most pure and understanding of them. Your blood at the alter will open the gates," Jagara explained

"I won't let you...get into paradise..." She told Jagara struggling, her growls and snarls waking up Kiba and Cheza. Kiba looked around, startled to be captured. He saw Cheza was safe, but Jagara was approaching Soui.

"Soui..." Kiba called to her as Soui struggled and shook her head until Jagara took it into her hand.

"You will be our sacrifice...scarred wolf...and we will be the one's to enter paradise..."