Disclaimer: Didn't own, won't own. That's what I am.
Warnings: Spoiler for the end of Wolf's rain, Shounen-Ai, Violence.
A/N: Hello to everybody! I've really tried to make this story in only two chapters but it seems to me there will be three. Damn those classes:)
Special thanks to: nannon, Kotome Yubake Shimizu (Yeah! They definitely rule! I've fell in love with them both since first saw them:), nicola-235, darkmoon1202, blackangle for reviewing!
Back to the chapter... There will be some bad language. Not that bad for me but anyway I felt the urge to warn:)
I'll stay with you...
Chapter II
"Find yourself"
Down, I am down
On the ground, sad and tired
I'm down, it's over now
Yes, I'm down, should I like it
It's deep and dark
Deep down in my heart
It's deep and dark
Since we've been apart
Is this love that comes around
That takes me up
Light years higher
'Cause I wanna feel love once again
It's deep and dark
Deep down in my heart
It's deep and dark
Since we've been apart
It's deep and dark
Deep down in my heart
It's deep and dark
Without someone's love...
"Deep and dark" by Scorpions
His paws ached, his wounds scratched, his eyes didn't see anything.
But he was still running: stambling, falling and getting up again and again.
But running anyway.
Bleeding, breathing heavily, caughing.
Catching...
...the wind...
...of Darcia's hell...
IIII
That smell wasn't letting him breath. Blood and sweat, dirt. Never did he saw such places. Never did he imagine himself in such situation. It was even worse than being Darcia's prey.
Toboe fell on the floor, desperatly wishing for a gulp of fresh air. The brown wolf was all wet - from blood and heat, filling the cell with every minute. Someone cried behind him, someone shouted, others moaned in pain, cursing the Nobles.
And suddenly it was all too much for him. His breathes became heavy and hursh. He clutched his hands in the shirt as if wanting to tear his chest and let the oxygen in.
But then he was gripped by shoulders and pinned to the ground. He saw blue eyes upon him. Hands captured his wrist.
- Toboe, can you hear me?
But he only could struggle. How don't they understand? He has to breath. He needs oxygen. He tried to wriggle out of that strong hands but didn't succeed. So he started shouting.
- Toboe! Toboe, stop it! It's me! It's Blue, Toboe! - the woman tried to calm the brown wolf but it was useless. Toboe continued struggling.
- Kiba! He's not listening to me! Kiba! - Blue turned her head to the white wolf who at the moment was making an attempt to wake Hige up.
Kiba thought the situation over and jumped to Blue immediately. He took Toboe's face in his hands.
- Toboe! Look at me, Toboe!
But the madness wasn't going to leave the boy.
- Kiba! What should we do? How is Hige? - obviously Blue too was on the verge of breaking. Her speech was fast, loud and hysterical. Kiba threw her a cold calming gaze.
- Calm down. Hige will be OK. Brace yourself.
Trembling Blue clenched her fists and nodded.
- How can we help Toboe?
Kiba gritted his teeth and turned away.
IIII
From the abyss of darkness she was thrown into merciless reality. Not that she really wanted to be back but that voice... kept calling her.
As she opened her eyes she felt it. Blood. Pain. Fear. Of wolves.
- Kiba... - whispered her lips automatically. Sometimes she thought that these four letters were all she was. Because even if you are a flower maiden that doesn't mean you want to be the key to Paradise.
True, being a flower gave her powers. But if she could she would gladly become a wolf, even a human. Because powers were nothing compared with the knowledge. Of what will happen to this world when Rakuen will be opened. That weight... was the reason she wanted to fall into darkness and never return. But still... she hasn't drowned. Because of his voice.
Because his voice made her life worthy.
I must do something to get out of here. I must... I will not surrender... He's calling for me...
Tears fell from Cheza's eyes as she tried to break the fetters which held her crucified in a large glass pool. But no matter how strong her attempts were, no matter how hard she wished to be free she couldn't do it.
Again Cheza felt the urge to surrender. She closed her eyes almost greeting the calmness which darkness brought.
...Cheza...
She tossed her head.
...Please, help us... Wherever you are...
...I know you can hear me, Cheza... Please... please... sing for Toboe, Cheza...
She felt as if wind carried these words to her. She couldn't feel it but still... she heard.
Her eyes filled with calmness. They were together, they were united, finally their thoughts became one.
I can hear you, Kiba...
She let her body relax.
I will sing for him...
I will sing until my powers leave me...
IIII
- Arghh... - Hige grasped his head and started swinging back and forth. Blue immediately jumped to him, catching his wrists and making him look at her.
- Hige! Hige! Stop it! How many... no... how many eyes have I got? - Blue asked desperately as her hands were busy holding Hige.
Hige blinked several times and then fell on the floor laughing hysterically.
- Hige! Hige! Stop it! Do you remember me? Do you remember who you are? - the woman hung over brown wolf. Hige sat back and answered in a serious tone.
- Of course I do remember everything! You are Kiba, I'm Cheza, Toboe is leading us to Paradise, Tsume is the pup of the group... And... Oh, you have definitely seven beautiful blue eyes!
Tears appeared in the woman's eyes, she rushed forward and clinged to Hige like he was a lifeboat.
- Hey, babe, what happened? My head is killing me! I remember we saw aircrafts and went back to the city.
Blue wipped her eyes and sighed.
- You got a pretty serious blow on your head. I was afraid you won't wake up.
Hige embraced Blue with one hand, the other he used to support himself in a sitting position.
- Hmmm... I thought... I heard Cheza singing... and then I woke up.
Blue nodded casting a glance at now peacefully sleeping Toboe. Kiba was helping Mor and other wolves.
- We... we got caught... - continued she - ...It seems that Jagara's people are now under Darcia's supervision. I don't know if Darcia knows that we are here. But we saw him from a distance.
Suddenly Blue growled.
- I'll kill him. It's his fault that you are hurt. I swear I'll kill him.
Hige's eyes became filled with warmth.
- Everything's gonna be allright, babe. I promise you. Yeah, we made a choice that evening. And we'll be together... to the bitter end.
Blue smiled and their fingers entwined.
IIII
...Damn, he collapsed...
Tsume rolled on his back ignoring the urge to cough. He felt that if he starts to do so his lungs will probably tear apart, for he was breathing so hard that could hear only wheezes of his throat.
Definitely he was on the verge of giving up. The wind changed its direction and now was carrying the scents away. There wasn't any traces on the ground too, for the obvious reasons.
Where are they now? Where am I to go? Jagara's city destroyed, Darcia's castle lies in ruins also...
Tsume clenched his fists.
Darcia, you son of a bitch, I'll rip your throat apart...
The thought made him smile evilly. He lay on his side, breathing heavily. Against his will, his eyes closed and he fell into deep restless sleep.
IIII
Toboe, even though he had come a long way, even though he saw how cruel and merciless people can be sometimes, still couldn't get rid of his love to human beings. So every time he saw how a man hurts an animal he felt his heart filling with sadness and rage.
And now he was standing among other wolves in a tight dirty cell, once again full with the familiar feeling of unfairness. He watched how soldiers herded struggling wolves to separate cages. Cages with snakes, acid and sharp tenons. As if these weren't enough they laughed at poor bleeding wolves and thrust their spears in their sides.
Toboe squinted and covered his ears with his hands. Blue again was near him grabbing his shoulder and slightly squeezing, making him a sign to hold on a little, to bear it somehow.
At the same time Hige and Mor tried desperately to gold Kiba up from jumping onto the soldiers. Whether it was Mor's "Your pack needs you" or Hige's "Cheza needs you too" which calmed him down noone knew. Kiba sat in the corner from where started sending dark glances over the humans. He was obviously ready to use any chance given to tear their supervisors to pieces.
Toboe sat in the other corner not wishing others to see his pain. He knew Blue wanted to stay with him because she was worried but he also knew that she, herself, needed Hige at the moment. And Kiba, he guessed, was not in the right mood or perhaps was speaking with Cheza in his mind. Toboe couldn't quite understand the connection between the two. Maybe it was because Kiba was the chosen one. But Toboe rather preferred to think that it was love which bonded them. After all Cheza always was in his thoughts...
Toboe suddenly felt himself very lonely. He wished for Tsume to be here. Then when he understood what he was wishing for, his body filled with sickness. He was glad Tsume wasn't here, in this hell. He really was.
But why in the next moment the egoistic voice in his head told him he was a liar?
IIII
He woke up because of the rain falling lightly on the ground, washing the dirt from his face away.
When he finally managed to stand up on his trembling paws it was already raining cats and dogs. He made a step and fell in the just-formed puddle. He cursed Darcia, Jagara and whatever Nobles existed.
He stood up again and moved forward, only after a few steps to fall one more time. This time on his ass, splashing water around him.
- Oh, fuck! I'm never going to find them! - Tsume grasped his hair and looked at his reflection in the water. Whatever looked at him back was not Tsume, he thought. Not the proud, strong, sarcastic wolf, who never let his pain be seen. He was truly and perfectly lost.
He stood up again, this time slowly and turned to the forest not far. He decided he would wait until the rain would be over there. Truth to be said, he didn't know where to go. No scents, no traces.
He sat under a big oak with spreading branches. Sometimes raindrops reached his face and he gulped them greedily. He sat wishing for rain to stop but at the same time wished the opposite because he didn't know where to go. He sat and clenched the bracelets in his right hand, remembering how he always pushed Toboe away, the last time he pushed him away. He should've let the boy stay with him. He should've been caught with the others. In his mind he knew he wasn't the one to be blamed for this, but his heart kept telling him otherwise.
You have feelings for him... And you didn't tell him. If there's something you should really blame yourself for, this is it... You didn't tell him...
Yes, it was true. So many chances he had. He could ask Toboe to stay with him, when the one decided not to leave the settling of people where Kiba's soul was returned to his body. He could tell Toboe when the one could easily die fighting with the beast in the ice sea. He could tell him when they were trying to free from the cells because he felt then that the battle would start soon. But still he couldn't... even when Toboe was almost killed by Darcia.
I could tell him... when he awoke. I was sitting near him. I opened my mouth even, but then... just called the others...
Tsume leaned his head against the tree and closed his eyes.
I wonder what will happen if I get the chance again... Fuck, didn't know I was such a coward...
- Look what we have got here! A pretty little wolf...
Tsume lazily opened his eyes. He knew it couldn't be a human. The scent was of a bird.
- ...Uff, a very stinking wolf. Mine! Have you ever tried to take a bath?
The grey wolf finally noticed the speaker. It was a big black raven sitting on a branch in front of him. The bird was beaming with excitement.
- Sod off...
The raven jumped a little.
- Plus a very impolite one. What do we have? Pretty stinking rude wolf.
- Sod off, I said. - snapped Tsume. He was getting irritated. That damn raven very much looked like the damn crazy owl they met in the Forest of Death.
- That's right! I've decided! - the raven happily began swirling on the branch ploding his paws - I'll go with you!
If not for his tiredness that darn raven would have had to run from him faraway if he wanted to stay alive, of course, thought Tsume, making an attempt not to pay attention at the bird.
Obviously, the raven took his silence as an agreement. He flew over the place where Tsume was sitting and found a comfortable place on one of the branches. He sat and started babbling as if his mouth hadn't the ability of closing. Tsume was barely listening. He noticed though that the rain reduced.
When Tsume got up to his feet the raven closed his mouth and soared in the still dark sky. Leaving the forest Tsume had a few long minutes of considering which way to choose. Finally gritting his teeth he decided to follow the direction he was running yesterday. He started moving, stambling here and there from time to time.
Everything was almost quite acceptable until the bird showed himself again and started babbling.
- You know what I hate 'bout this world, ha? Nope, I guess not. It's because you stink.
Tsume sent a deathful glare to the bird.
- Don't be so nervious, my friend. But you really-really stink. Stink is what I hate... Of course, I also hate rain, humans and annoying babbling creatures... I'm glad you're not like that. D'ya know why I hate humans, ne? Because they stink! Those who passed not far from here two days ago were stinking greatly! I can only remember one time in my life...
Tsume stopped dead in his tracks.
- What did you say?
- I said I can only...
- No! - Tsume impatiently growled - Something about humans who passed!
- Oh, those stinking beasts. Yeah, they were flying... Few of them, though, got off to take some water from the river not far.
- You know where they are now?
- Sure I do! There's a city...
- Guide me there! - growled Tsume again.
- What? - the raven hyperactivly began shaking his head - In that breeding ground of infections? No! Never!
Tsume bared his teeth.
- You'll take me there or I swear I'll tear you skin off!
IIII
Deep within the mountains that surround Darcia's Den lies a beast. Born from the fire of constant wars and grown in the darkness of his masters' hearts no mercy he shows to his enemies.
Deep sleep covered him many centuries ago but every now and then he wakes up to fill his stomach or punish the trespassers. He doesn't remember his name, he doesn't know whatever for he was born. No soul he has. No soul, but honour.
He woke up from the quite almost unnoticeble rythmic sounds of someone running. The wind carried him the flapping of wings. Scents rushed into his nostrils. He stood up, head high into the air, black bony wings that long ago forgot how to fly touching the wals of his cave.
Smelling... searching...
Trespassers...
Definitely, the prey.
- It's time to hunt, hunter! - he told himself, all body trembling from anticipation inside.
He left the cave and hid himself in one of the many pits that cover mountain's foundation. He longed for time to run faster.
He didn't need to wait long. Several minutes after a strange scene appeared in front of his eyes. A black raven flew high in the sky, right behind him ran a grey wolf.
He grinned, his hunter's instincts awakening.
He jumped out of the pit right behind the wolf, causing a little earthquake. The wolf lost his balance and fell, tearing his skin off of a stony ground.
The beast didn't waist time for words, like many warriors do. He moved forward - to break the wolf's neck, but the animal jumped aside in the last moment.
The beast smiled sincerely, for a century or so, his prey would be dead within one minute. This one was obviously more than just his food. He was his entertainment. For the hunter long ago had a real enemy.
Not stopping he changed the direction and turned to wolf. Surprisingly enough, his prey, instead of being pinned to the ground, thrusted his sharp teeth in the beast's paw and stayed there, helping himself with the claws.
They changed hits not paying attention to the flying raven above their heads. The bird didn't try to help, only muttered something like "...you, too, stink, darling..." and "...I told you so...".
Finally the beast lost his temper. He growled, trying to throw off the wolf from his wing and in the next moment deliberately fell on his back weighing down his enemy.
The wolf managed to jump away and from the upcoming paw with big and sharp claws but anyway got a pretty big wound in his left side. In his human form he fell on his knees, covering the wound with his hands, gritting teeth and readying himself for the next attack.
Any other would definitely surender at this moment. The beast stopped, amazed.
I've seen... long ago... people who fought until their deaths. People... who had things to do before... before they could let themselves leave the world...
The beast stared into those golden eyes.
- Why is it you are fighting still? I can see it in you. You fight to survive.
Breathing heavily the wolf answered:
- I have... someone who is waiting for me. He... needs me. I need him... I must... find him.
Several minutes passed in silence, then the beast stood up straight.
- Then go to him.
The wolf obviously shocked didn't move. High in the sky the bird for a moment forgot how to fly.
- I have honour, wolf. I had purpose too, once. Go, before I change my mind.
The hunter watched as his prey turned away from him and continued his path. Right before vanishing, the wolf stopped and looked at the beast. Their gazes met and the wolf nodded. The beast nodded in response.
Go, find the one you are searching for. Find yourself, grey wolf...
End of the chapter
A/N: Another four hours of typing... I'm definitely crazy. Hey, people, I will not update till I get at least 15 reviews:) 30 would be better... I know, I'm a bad girl, but, I'm sure you'll agree with me that when you see about 100 hits and only five people review... It saddens a little. I do not have hopes that all people who looked through the story liked it. But I'm sure 1/3 is definitely reading. See you!