Too Close To Tell You

AN: I don't own it… still wish I did though

Chapter 7 – Wolf Cub

Halley had given up on his train cursing himself for losing control like he did. Doctor Maya picked up her old and tattered bag and ushered for every one to follow her, stopping only to rest her hand on his shoulder. 'It could have been worse.'

Halley spat at the woman tied up on the ground. She had recovered consciousness an hour before, but refused to talk. To his surprise she spat back at him, hitting him squarely in the forehead. She smiled smugly at her victory, but it was cut short as he tugged on the chain around her neck. She gasped for breath as it got tighter when she struggled.

'Here puppy.' Halley called taunting her. 'That's a good puppy. Time to go for a little walk.'

She growled. 'I hate you.'

'Don't worry sugar.' Halley answered pulling on the chain again, smiling when she coughed for air. 'The feelings mutual.'

Kurando and Anastasia walked alongside one another behind all of the refugees. The chatted quietly amongst one another about what they were going to do now.

'I think we might rest a bit in Zurich, we would have time to think more.' He answered smiling as she chatted away about nothing in particular. It was just good to hear her laugh again. It felt like an eternity since she had smiled, but it had only been a day and a half.

Halley ran forward dragging the assassin coughing and spluttering behind him, 'Hey this is fun I should walk the dog more often.' He laughed running pulling her to run faster, but with her hands tied behind her back it made it difficult for her to keep that pace. She looked to the ground instead of what was ahead of her, made it a little easier. Halley ran as fast as he could, making her keep up with him. He ran until they were out of sight. Suddenly Halley stopped as he had reached the end of the bank and she ploughed into him, the two of them rolled down the ditch and into the river. They began to sink into the deep water; the icy water was piercing every part of her body. She fought desperately trying to pull her way up to the surface, but the chain just dragged her down.

To her surprise he pulled her into his chest and began swimming back up to the surface instead of letting her drown. She kicked her legs franticly trying to help him get her to the bank. Drowning was her biggest fear in the world and she had no plans to die like that. They lay there on the bank side by side.

'Sorry.' Halley muttered.

She said nothing and stared at the sky. There was nothing she could say even if she wanted to. Her masters would have let her sink to the bottom and thought it was a fun game, but he had helped her even though she was more than willing to slit his friend's throat. Being dark now it didn't help stop the icy feeling. Halley helped her up and walked towards the road. Kurando and Anastasia had gone about setting up the camp with the help of Maya. There were small fires lit every where and he graciously led her to one. They sat by the fire and warmed themselves until the unpleasant cold was gone. She knew that he didn't trust her. That was fine she didn't trust any one either, but she respected him now.

Kurando put the small blanket that he was given from the salvaged wreck of the train flat on the ground and folded it over so that he and Anastasia could stay warm. She pulled her knees up to her chest and shivered, the night grew even colder and much quicker too.

'You must be tired.' He asked her sitting on the rug and pulling one side of it over; he tapped the rug and motioned for her to join him. She didn't hesitate; it was going to be a long night. She snuggled in alongside him and rested her head on his arm. He looked at her laying there, her eyes getting too heavy to keep open. She was smiled gently at him as she drifted off into a peaceful sleep. 'Sweet dreams Anastasia.' He said closing his eyes and drifting off to his own dreams…

The howls of the souls never seemed to stop. He stood up and glanced around noticing that it was colder in the graveyard. 'I'm here again… why..?'

'What did you wake me up for?' Yuri said sitting on a tombstone yawning. 'I was busy… What do you want?'

'Huh?' Kurando asked confused.

Yuri stared at him. 'You came here on your own…' He stood up. 'That means there's something you need to resolve or maybe you just wanted to talk.'

Kurando said nothing instead he stared off into the dark clouds around him.

His cousin stood up, 'Come on something freaky might be going on in your soul. No harm in taking a look though is there.' He followed him to a dark door made of stone with a carving of a spider on it.

'Spiders? Yuck… and I thought your graveyard was cheerier than mine.' He shuddered leaning on the wall. 'Well what are you waiting for? I can't open it, it's your mind.'

Kurando touched the door tentatively; something didn't feel right about it. He hesitated as it swung open and in the middle of the room stood one of his enemies. The woman that had helped corner them in the Gallery of the Dead. 'Ah samurai you have arrived.' She said in a sing song tone, though her evil smirk never once left her face. Her leather skirt was really revealing as she stepped around him. 'I can see what Anastasia sees in you…' She glanced at him up and down, and he followed her with his eyes.

'What am I? Chopped Liver!' Yuri yelled looking at her and 'admiring' her short skirt and top. 'And what's your name?'

'Lania, but…'she laughed. 'You are not my concern ghost.'

'Ghost! Where!' He yelled looking around franticly for the creature that he feared the most. 'Where is it? Make it go away!'

'Why are you trying to kill us?' Kurando asked ignoring his cousin flailing around behind him.

She laughed again louder. 'I thought you would have been smart enough to figure it out. We want her dead because she killed our father and you, we will kill for fun.'

Yuri stopped and laughed this time. 'You think that Anastasia killed Rasputin?'

She stared at him, 'Yes, who else could have done it? Hmm?'

He grinned. 'I did!' He laughed. 'That mad monk went down so quickly he was hardly a challenge.'

Lania paused, 'You lie!'

'Me? Lie? Never!' He said putting his hands on his hips. 'I killed him, his soul, his blood was on my hands, she did nothing except expose him to her father. I'm the one that beat him to a bloody pulp.'

She stared at him. 'What makes you think that you had the power to defeat Asmodeus? The soul of that demon was so powerful not even Astaroth stood a chance!' She was angry now. This ghost was saying that he, a mere mortal could best the soul of the god of chaos. 'How could you possibly defeat my father?'

He looked at her disgusted now. 'Wait..? You're related to Rasputin? But how he was so ugly and you are like so fine!'

She hissed at him. 'Tell Anastasia if she ever wants to say goodbye to her baby brother… I'll let her, for a price…' She laughed this time so loudly that shivers echoed around the graveyard.

'I don't think she would want to,' Kurando said smugly.

'Why would that be little samurai?'

'Because she has no memory of Petrograd… she hit her head and can't remember a thing… not even me.'

She paused. 'You are serious? No matter, we will finish what we started. The world will burn the way our father planned it to, and you and that little princess will be eliminated soon enough.' She disappeared in a puff of white smoke and left Kurando standing there.

'Well, you know what you have to do, don't you?' Yuri said standing beside him.

'Yeah.' Kurando answered touching the pendant. 'But not until Anastasia is safe.'

'Kurando,' Yuri said. 'You know your mother never told you you're fate did she?'

He shook his head in a no. 'I would prefer to make my own destiny.'

Yuri grinned. The world was turning white again… 'That's the Hyuga spirit, fight for what's right!' He yelled. 'And fight when you feel like it.'

Kurando awoke with a start; he looked around to see Anastasia resting peacefully beside him. Her chest rose and fell with every peaceful breath she took. Quietly he stood up, careful not to disturb her and walked out of the campsite.

He walked through the woods following the paths of the animals. It made a small pang in his chest, how this forest was so like Katsuragi. Owls cried out in the distance and other little creatures played their song in the woods. It was so peaceful and peace was something he really needed. He didn't really know where he was going but he stumbled on a small clearing. Six wolves stared at him suspiciously through their dark eyes, surprisingly though none of them made a threatening move. He had always had a connection with wolves and dogs, for as long as he could remember and he had always treated them with the dignity and respect they deserved. His father had told him long ago that wolves each had their alpha and to be courteous to him could one day save his life.

He sat on the ground and kept his head low, looking at the dirt calmly. The wolves stayed back and contemplated him. Suddenly out of the bushes ran a little black and white wolf and leaped onto his lap. It sniffed him up and down making him laugh out loud as its cold wet nose touched his chest. 'Arwooo!' It cried out finding his little bit of bread and munching on it. It was a strange wolf, its chest and feet were silver and the rest of him was as black as the night. Suddenly a big black wolf stepped forward and stood in front of him, it was obviously the Alpha. Kurando nodded his head slowly, allowing the big wolf to see he was not after his territory. The wolf sat down and watched him. 'Welcome Harmonixer.' It said.

Kurando nearly leapt into the air. 'You just spoke!'

'Yes. But you are the only one that will understand us.' The wolf answered.

'But… How?' He answered standing up again. 'I could never understand wolves and dogs before.'

'That pendant shows that you have a Harmonixer's soul. We welcome you to our clan because the Harmonixer dynasty is the friend of all wolf kind. Do not question why because I can not answer it.'

He nodded. 'So the Periphat is the reason that I can understand you now?'

The wolf nodded, 'Yes. Does it frighten you?'

'No.' Kurando answered shaking his head. 'Actually I kind of like it.'

'Good.' The wolf answered. 'My name is Lupin, I am alpha of this pack.' He shook his large black head.

'I'm Arubna I'm the daughter of the pack.' The pup said. 'And I like you.'

He smiled warmly at the pup. 'It's nice to meet you Arubna. My name is Kurando.'

She flicked her head playfully and wagged her tail. 'Daddy?' She asked looking at the black wolf, 'can I take him back to the humans?'
The wolf nodded, 'Of course daughter, but be wary there are hunters this year.'

'I will!' She cried running around Kurando in little circle. 'Kurando? Shall we go?' She asked trotting to a stop. 'Don't worry bout me either cause them hunters can't catch me!'

He laughed and followed her as she bounded off into the woods beside him. 'Why are you out here?'

'I'm traveling with a friend.' He answered as they weaved through the trees. 'She hit her head and doesn't remember any thing.'

'Do you like her? Is she pretty?' she asked her bubbly personality showing on her little cub face.

'Yes.' He answered as if he were talking to a little sister. 'She's very beautiful and I love her very much.'

'What's her name?' Arubna asked curiously sniffing the air.

'Anastasia.' He answered following her along the small path. Sure enough within minutes they were back at the campsite. She yawned as she turned back on her path.

'That's a pretty name! Well good night, I will come and see you in the morning before you leave.' Arubna said running off into the woods again.

'Good night.' He trotted back to his bed. His fear for Anastasia's safety was still there, but he knew that he could sleep safely with her tonight, and he would make sure there were plenty more safe sleeps to come. Besides the wolves would warn him if any thing was wrong, that thought was enough to let him lull into his own peaceful dreams…