Flight to Paradise

Author's notes: DUN DA DUN! LAST CHAPTER! -maybe- Gods, it's been forever since I updated I better to get work on my other fics as well. Enjoy the fic.

Tsume felt his ribs being poked with a stick. He growled, warning whoever it was to stop, lest he kick their ass. The poking stopped for a moment but started again once his growls subsided. His growling intensified as he sat up.

"What do you want!" He found Hige laughing his ass off, the stick right beside him. Toboe was close to tears, he was laughing so hard. Kiba was silent. Tsume growled at Hige. Hige wiped his eye of the tear that had formed.

"Sorry, Tsume. But that was funny." Hige stifled his laughter. Tsume glared but decided not to mess with him. He looked around the camp. Kiyoi was gone.

"Where's Kiyoi?" He asked.

"I think she went to get a drink." Toboe answered. Tsume nodded and left.

Kiyoi limped as she neared the stream. Her body was racked with pain. She could hardly stand it. Then again, she was used to this sort of pain. It didn't matter much. For the past year and a half, Gentaru had made her his personal punching bag. She'd suffered broken bones, blood loss, unconciousness, and many near-death experiences. All of it was pure torture, and because of that, she no longer cared for anything. Her heart had become a dark void, filled with nothing but malice and hate. Then again, Tsume had helped her when no one else would. The thought made her feel loved, but she couldn't get rid of the memories she had. Sighing, softly, she kneeled down at the river bank and drank her fill. A twig snapped. She quickly turned, nearly falling over.

"Who's there!" She growled. Tsume stepped out from behind a tree. The raised fur along her spine lowered as she stopped growling. "Oh, it's you. Thought it wa...nevermind." She returned to drinking. Tsume walked down to her and sat beside her. When she finished, she looked up at him. "Why are you here?'

"Came looking for you."

"Afraid I was going to run off?" Tsume said nothing as she smirked and looked into the dense forest. "Where can I run? I'm an outcast. No one cares for me. I've been abused most of my life. It seems pointless to run anywhere. Especially when no one would bother to give me any food."

"You're a wolf. You can hunt." She looked at him like he was crazy.

"Hunt? Hunt? I don't know how to hunt. Gentaru never taught me anything of hunting. He was afraid I'd use the skills to kill him and escape." Tsume listened, taking in every word. Finally, after fifteen minutes, she stood up. "We should head back. They're probably worrying."

"Knowing Hige, he's making some joke about it." Tsume muttered. He walked by her side, both silent as the grave. She limped and, occasionally, nearly fell over. Had Tsume not been there, she would have fallen to the ground. "You're wrong, you know."

"Huh?" Kiyoi looked at him.

"You do have someplace to go."

"Where?"

"You can come with us to Paradise. Those wolves probably think you're dead. You're free to go. As soon as you feel better, we'll leave." Kiyoi smiled at him, her pale crimson eyes holding a gentle and caring look for the first time since she was a pup.

"I would like that. I would love that." She replied softly. Tsume nodded as they continued back toward camp.

"Damn her. She's still alive? Guess I have no choice now."

"Sir?"

"Bring her back to warehouse. I'm gonna finish her off once and for all."

"Sir."

Kiyoi stopped and sat on a log. Tsume looked at her.

"You alright?"

"I just need to rest. Not that easy to walk with these wounds." She chuckled. He smiled and sat on another log across from her.

"Where did you come from?" He asked. It was something that had been bugging him since her met her. She sighed softly.

"I don't remember anymore. Gentaru's beatings have actually caused me to forget some of my past, but I still remember my mother. What I can't remember is my home, my sibling's names, or what my mother told me of father. I only know that he's out there somewhere. Probably dead after so long."

"Hmmm..." A twig snapped. Tsume's head whipped around as a wolf jumped out of the bushes, knocking him to the ground. Two other wolves jumped out. One fought with Tsume along with the first one, while the third stood in front of Kiyoi.

"Gentaru's been missing you. Says he's got something real special planned for you."

"Kiss my ass! I'm not going back." Kiyoi yelled and attempted to get away. Before she could get away, a sharp pain in her stomach caused her black out. The wolf smiled, removing his fist from her stomach and, throwing her over his shoulders, he ran off.

"Kiyoi! Get out of my way!" Tsume's way was still blocked by the two wolves.

"Heh, heh. You'll have to come get her if you want her to live." Once more, they knocked him to the ground and ran off as fast as they could after the other. When Tsume got to his feet, they were gone.

"Damnit. I gotta help her." Tsume ran for the camp.

(Well, I guess this isn't the last chapter. I can think of nothing else. Anyway. Hope you enjoyed. No flames. Next chapter is definitely the last.)