Author's Note: Sorry about the long delays with the chapter updates. I'm having fun writing this story; I'm just having a little trouble keeping up – because of school. --'

Also, you will be seeing many 'interludes,' similar to this – where I see them fit to be. The information and the story line in these are of no importance and do not relate to the story greatly.

Response to Reviews: Right, sorry about that I Be Guest. As I said in the AN, -points above- I'm having trouble finding the time.

Also, the question about the end of the chapter, it was a quote inserted that fit the mood of the story. I think so, anyway. –nodnod- Yes.

Disclaimer: See chapter four.

Wolf's Rain :00: An Other Story
Interlude – Family

-

"I suppose it would have always been fun to have a family." A small boy murmured, throwing a rock against a nearby empty trashcan.

"I guess so…" His friend murmured, scratching her head in thought, "But then we wouldn't be able to do what we want!" She giggled, and smiled at her friend.

"Blanke, you're so weird." The boy rolled his eyes, his tousled black hair and bright green eyes twinkling with amusement.

"But then…" Blanke began, chewing on her lip and fingering her overly large collar thoughtfully, "Why don't we have parents Jamie?"

Jamie sighed, and threw another rock against the trashcan as hard as his ten-year old body could manage.

"I told you already – my parents left me a long time ago and you came here as an orphan a year ago! You numbskull!" He admonished her weakly.

The girl shook her head, her white pigtails flying this way and that, "Oh you be quiet Jamie! You know what I mean!"

Jamie sighed, and got up from his position against the wall over to Blanke, holding out his grubby hand, "C'mon. Let's get back to The Home. I hear they actually are serving good food today!" He grinned cheerily, and Blanke grabbed the hand as he swung her up.

"Okee dokee! But I bet I can beat you there!"

"You're on!" He responded, running through the street ahead of Blanke, "But I get a head start!"

"JAAAAAMIE!" She yelled, running after her friend and laughing all the same.

-

-That Night-

Jamie tucked his young friend into bed, taking a few stray hairs out of her face, and his fingers floated down to the collar that his friend was constantly wearing.

"Why?" Jamie whispered silently.

It had always been there, as long as Jamie had found Blanke. She never took it off – despite its inconvenience and obvious annoyance to Blanke. Whenever Jamie asked about it, she simply responded with a small smile, saying, "It's just there, 'kay?"

Jamie had to admit, he often worried about the small girl. There was something strangely different about her – her soft grey eyes, her white hair, the collar, and the strange appearance of her at the town as well

It was bad enough that she didn't realize he was a wolf as well. There was something wrong about her… maybe she was weak. Jamie had often thought of showing himself to her in his real form, but decided that would be too bad for the small girl to comprehend. It would probably terrify her as well. Besides – he was a weak thing, as it was.

There was trouble in the city – soldiers had begun to walk the streets. There weren't a lot, it was just enough to make the young boy wary though.

Treols had always been a bad town, despite its usefulness for fresh water. Prostitution, gambling, drugs… you name it – this city had it.

Maybe that was why there was now a constant patrol here of Lady Jagara's troops…

Jamie sighed, and shook his head, going off to his own bed.

"I'm too young to think about all this…" He murmured, slipping quietly into his bed and off to slumber land.

-

-The Next Day-

"Jamie! Jamie play with me!" Blanke giggled, as the two walked through the streets of Treols, Blanke holding tightly onto Jamie's hand.

Jamie sighed, blushing at his friend's behavior.

"Not now Blanke. We have other things to do…"

"Like what?" Blanke retorted, "You're my big brother now, Jamie! You HAVE to play with me!" She beamed up at Jamie, who in return managed a small smile.

"All right, fine. We'll play, little sis. What do you want to play this time? Tag? Hide-and-go-Seek?" He asked.

"No! I wanna go 'sploring!" She giggled, and let go of Jamie's hand, darting among the crowd of people, lost almost instantly.

"Try and fine me, Jamie!" Jamie bit his lip as he heard his 'little sister's call – crap. Where could she be?

"Blanke! Blanke come back! It isn't safe to run away like that!" He called, pushing through the groups of people desperately looking for the younger girl.

'If anything happens to her…' Jamie looked fearfully around, before starting off again, 'I'll never forgive myself.' He thought and ran faster than ever, calling Blanke's name as loud as he could.

"Blanke! Blanke! BLANKE!"

-

-Sunset-

Jamie was out of breath and tired as heck, hands on his knees and doubling over for breath.

"Where the heck is that girl? I've checked everywhere – from her usual hiding spots to The Home – nothing!"

He paused, Blanke's previous words ringing through his head, 'I wanna go 'sploring!'

Oh no.

Jamie's head jerked back up, and he began to run for the bad part of town – of course she was there! Jamie had always forbidden her to go in the part of the town, because of the bad things he had heard.

-

-Slums-

"Lemme go! No! Let me go!" Blanke writhed pathetically in the older man's grip.

"Settle down little girl, I just wanna play! You said you wanted to, right?" The man's buddies chuckled nastily, their breath reeking of alcohol and drugs.

Blanke whimpered, before biting the man savagely on the hand, and twisting out from his grasp.

"Little wench!" The man held his hand, blood dripping from the surprisingly deep wound.

"Get her!"

Blanke's small body was no match for the older men, as they blocked off the entrance to the alleyway and one of them kicked her harshly in the ribs, sending Blanke sprawled on the ground, in extreme pain.

"You little girl… You don't know who you're dealing with, do you?" The leader leered at her, and still holding his hand, kicked the small girl on the ground again.

Blanke yelped and gritted her teeth in pain, tears welling up in her eyes.

Why were these men hurting her?

Why were they being so mean!

The man kicked her again, Blanke's face now bloodied.

She whimpered again, her eyes crossed and unfocused. It hurt… so much.

"Leave her alone!"

A voice – familiar. It was Jamie – here!

Blanke turned her head weakly, to see Jamie break through the body barrier of men, his face flushed and his teeth bared in anger at the men.

"What did you say, boy?"

"I said: Leave. Her. Alone." He growled in his small human voice, her fists trembling as he stepped over Blanke's still form, looking around to see how many men he would have to fight.

Four, including the leader, who was already bitten by Blanke. But he would probably fight, anyway. But they were all still intoxicated – right?

"Fine. Looks like the girl has a big brother, eh? No matter, we'll just have to kill you too." The man laughed, and pulled a switchblade from his jacket pocket – as did all the rest.

"GET HIM!" The leader called, and the four men began to jump young Jamie.

"Don't be scared, Blanke." Jamie whispered to the small girl, before he lunged at the men.

-

-…-

-

Jamie whimpered on the ground, his four legs trembling from exhaustion. His pink tongue lolled out of his mouth, while his normally black brilliant fur was mangled and dripping with blood.

He lay in a pool of his own, along with the men he had just slaughtered. He couldn't die yet, though. Not yet.

He whined, and his emerald green eyes faded and dimmed.

"Jamie?" A small pup padded to the fallen wolf, who was not much older than she, and nudged him weakly with her snout.

"Blanke, I'm so… so glad you're all right." Jamie attempted to wag his tail, but instead shuddered again, as he felt the blood falling from his veins from the knife cuts the men had made before they died.

"Aside from a few bruises… yeah!" Blanke yipped happily, before nudging Jamie again.

"But what about you? Can't you get up, Jamie? Can't you get up?" She asked weakly, lying down on her stomach to look at Jamie in the eyes.

"I… I can't. I'm sorry I wasn't able to get to you in time… I was so stupid." The wolf growled weakly, before Blanke shushed him.

"No, you saved my life Jamie. I'm really grateful. No one's ever done that for me before."

Jamie chuckled, "I'm glad. I'm so… so glad. …Blanke?"

"Yes?"

"I'm your big brother, right?"

"Right!"

"And you'll always remember me, right? Because I love you, little sister."

"Okay… but why are you talking like that?"

"Lemme finish, okay?"

"Okay."

"Blanke… little Blanke. I do love you like a sister, I really do. So promise me… you'll – "

"I'll what? I'll what? Jamie!" Blanke yipped, and shivered, getting up and looking down at her brother, before lying back down again irritably.

"…You'll always… remember your family. I know you can find the rest. I'll see you in later, okay Blanke? Never forget me…" He licked her weakly on the nose before collapsing, his sides contracting for the final time as his last breath left his body.

"Jamie." The wolf pup got up abruptly, her paws drenched in the blood of her brother's.

"Jamie!" She whimpered, and she shook.

"JAAAAAAMIEEEEE!" She let out a howl – a heart-broken and desperate howl of the loss of a loved one.

-

-

-…-

-

" Something is pulling me -

I feel the gravity, of it all… "