Chapter 22:

The white wolf was big and heavy but she managed to drag it all the way here on her own.

Until they could figure out what to do with it, she decided it was best to lock it up somewhere out of the way and the prison cells seemed like the most logical place. She tossed the wolf inside one of the cells and shut the door. She flipped the latch on the cell door but didn't bother putting an actual lock on it, figuring a wolf wouldn't be able to pull the pin out and flip the latch itself, especially from the inside of its cage. Making sure the door wouldn't open by pulling on it a few times, Momo confidently stepped back and removed the Kido binding the wolf.

It stood up, shaking itself and put its front paws on the bars of its cell in a very human-like fashion. It barked at her a few times, pleading with its yellow eyes. "I know you want to be let out but you're gonna have to wait until morning when we figure out what to do with you."

Morning? What happened when he changed back? What would happen when they found him in the cell where the wolf had been? How would he explain that?

He whined loudly and tried to get her to understand that he couldn't stay here. All she did was pour him a bowl of water and slide it into his cell from a jug near the window. He was too worried to be annoyed at being treated like a stray she brought home.

Momo left the room, leaving him all alone.

Hitsugaya paced his cell and tried to will himself to change back but he couldn't do it. During a full moon, he had no choice but to be a wolf until daybreak. He tried to reach the latch with his paws but he couldn't bend that way anymore and even if he twisted himself painfully to reach the latch, he had no thumbs to pull it out.

"What do I do?" he whined, tapping his feet in place. What if she was on her way back here with someone she ran into on the way home? What if they found him in the morning? Even if he changed back into a wolf to maintain his cover, he still feared for what they might do to him. He couldn't plead his case. If they decided he was a criminal, that was it. Rather than release him, they might kill him. In their eyes, he was only an animal.

He circled his cage restlessly. He looked out the small window of his cell at the dark sky.

He needed help. He didn't care what it took. He could not stay here.

Hitsugaya aimed his voice out the open window and howled a distress call. He needed them to come.

As planned, Shinji and Hisagi met outside the forest at sunset. The original plan was for all three of them to walk over together but since Hitsugaya had yet to return, they each went their own way. Hisagi waited in the office until he couldn't anymore and followed Shinji who left earlier. Together, they waited under the trees but Hitsugaya still hadn't arrived.

"You think he got held up?" Hisagi asked.

Shinji lounged under a tree with his arms folded behind his head. "Probably. He better get here soon, though. It's getting dark."

As the sun slid further and further below the tops of the buildings, Shinji and Hisagi found themselves feeling increasingly weird. It wasn't painful, just strange. Their limbs began to tingle and being upright felt uncomfortable. Before they knew it, they had turned into wolves.

"The transformation wasn't as bad as I thought it would be," commented Shinji. "You know how those movies tend to depict things."

Though the transformation wasn't much of an issue, their mental and emotional states were. They knew someone was missing from their pack but the call to hunt distracted them from their concern. Every animal they saw looked tasty to them. Hisagi had too much pent-up energy to sit still and began to dig. Shinji wanted to run and that was what he did, running in a wide circle through the open field by himself until Hisagi joined him.

Eventually, they became aware once more that someone was missing and decided to look for him, their reason for staying away from the buildings long forgotten.

They started sniffing around for Hitsugaya, his scent strong around his office but he wasn't there. They went to the barracks but, despite the strong scent, he wasn't their either. They got distracted multiple times, digging through trash to get at the discarded food filling their nostrils and wandering after anything that made the slightest noise. Or smelled familiar.

Kensei sat in one of the yards, still thinking about Byakuya. He was starting to not care whether or not Byakuya inspired the feeling he was chasing. If Byakuya ignited this desire, this feeling of bliss, he wanted Byakuya.

"I sound like a freaking idiot," Kensei said to himself. He had been in a daze all afternoon because of that Captain. Even now he couldn't concentrate on anything but him, which was why he didn't notice the wolf watching him until it approached.

Kensei jolted, startled and fell off the step he was sitting on. The wolf came closer, undaunted. It was acting like a tamed dog but Kensei knew this was a wolf. He tried to shoo it away but it kept coming, its head cocked. Kensei yelled at it and the wolf stopped, ears twitching at his loud voice.

"I said get!" Kensei took a swing at the wolf with his bare fists and its nose twitched as the air between them stirred. Kensei took a step forward and punched the wolf in the side of its muzzle. "Get!"

The wolf bared its teeth and snarled at him. Kensei ordered it again and the wolf leapt at him. It deliberately missed, landing behind Kensei and circling him.

This was his friend. The short-tempered Kensei was his friend. He knew his scent anywhere. Yet Kensei was threatening him. Why? Friend or not, he wasn't going to take this.

Shinji circled closely around Kensei's legs so he couldn't get away or throw a punch. He tried to kick him but Shinji avoided most of his blows. Kensei managed to land one kick to the wolf's stomach and another to its face.

Then the sight of a second wolf distracted him. It came from the other side of the yard and was closing in. The wolf circling him took advantage of his distracted state and headbutted him in the back, knocking the already dazed Kensei to the ground. He started to stand and Shinji scratched him across the chest, cutting his kimono. The other wolf stood nearby, growling and watching.

Shinji snapped at Kensei with a bark, daring him to get up. Kensei grabbed the wolf by the ear and tried to throw him but this wolf was strong and managed to free itself and pushed Kensei's arm aside with his paw. Kensei sprang up, launching himself at the wolf and the wolf lunged at him.

To his immense surprise, the wolf knocked him off his feet and pinned him to the pavement. The back of his head hit the bottom step and Kensei was seeing stars. He held the back of his head, wincing in pain, forgetting that there was a wolf on his chest for a moment.

Bite him, something told Shinji. He wanted to. Kensei was strong. He would make a good addition to the group. Kensei was his friend. He should be a part of their group. Kensei would understand him. They could be together again, just like old times.

He had to bite him. He wanted to bite him.

Shinji closed in, giving in to this feeling swelling inside of him. It felt natural. He wanted to do this. It made sense. His arm was right there, waiting like a juicy drumstick on a plate. It made his teeth ache with desire. He had to sink them into something.

Shinji opened his mouth as Hisagi stood and watched, indifferent.

A sound. A howl reached his ears.

Shinji's eyes began to glow yellow. A new feeling took over. Someone was calling him.

He and Hisagi turned towards the sound and quickly left the scene to answer.

Kensei felt the wolf get off his chest and sat up but there was no one in the yard but him. "I know I didn't just dream that," Kensei said to himself. "What the hell was that?"

Hitsugaya sat in his cell and waited. He was sure they heard him. They did last time. It would take them a few minutes to get here from the forest.

He wondered how they would get here. Would they be able to open the door? Would they make a scene? As long as he got out of this cell, he didn't care.

His ears perked up, hearing a noise. He smelled two familiar scents and stood by the bars of his cell. The door rattled and shook then opened revealing two wolves with glowing eyes. They entered and stood in front of his cell, sniffing.

"Guys, help me get out of here," Hitsugaya told them. "Pull the latch on the door."

In unison, they looked at the cell, spotting the latch. Shinji tried first, poking it with his nose. The pin under the latch jiggled but that was about it. He tried to get it with his teeth next but he couldn't grip it. Hisagi stood under the latch and poked at the pin with his nose, lifting it up. Able to get a grip on it, Shinji grabbed it in his teeth and pulled it out. All that was left was the latch itself. He scratched at it with his paws but couldn't lift it up.

Hitsugaya watched nervously from inside the cell. His eyes flew to the open door to what they were doing, worried someone was going to come in at any second despite his senses telling him they were alone.

At last, success. Shinji pushed the latch up just enough to get his teeth around it and pulled it up with a clank. The metal barred door swung outward and he took his teeth off it, stepping back. Hitsugaya squeezed through the opening and led the wolves down the hall and out of the building.

He never felt so happy to feel the wind on his face and smell the fresh air. He tore down the street as fast as possible and the two followed faithfully. It felt so good to run. He led the way back to the forest and once on the grass of the field, he looked back to check on them. They followed happily, panting and playfully pumping into the other's shoulders. Hitsugaya shoved them lightly in play and they yipped joyfully.

Hitsugaya forgot all about Momo and the cage she put him in. He didn't know what Shinji had almost done and he didn't think about any of his responsibilities. It was time to play and he enjoyed every second of it.

It was just like his dream only better. He jumped through the air, almost flying across the field. He zoomed through the grass faster than he knew was possible. His legs felt so powerful. He made sharp turns and pounced off tree trunks like diving boards. He played with his friends, wrestling them in the field and racing them. They found a large stick and tried to pull it from the other's mouth with theirs. They competed to see who could catch more wild game.

Hitsugaya threw back his head and howled and they joined in, celebrating their freedom.

Kensei went looking for the wolf that attacked him but couldn't find any sign of it anywhere. If it hadn't been for the slash marks on his kimono, he would have believed it was just a dream. He had been so out of it today, he would have accepted that possibility.

He was about to turn back when he saw something fly overhead. He followed it, knowing it wasn't a wolf. It was a man. He chased it to a different street, then jumped onto a roof to get a better view.

Before him, hovering it the air was Byakuya. He looked so majestic, his body silhouetted by the full moon. He had no words.

Byakuya saw him and flew towards him. He hovered in front of Kensei for a moment before touching down on the same roof. "Good evening," he greeted coquettishly.

"Yeah, hi." Kensei managed a causal greeting, not calling into question the fact that Byakuya had just been flying. Not standing in the air, but flying. He knew Soul Reapers were capable of a lot but flying wasn't one of them. Not like this.

Byakuya slid his hand under Kensei's chin and batted his eyes teasingly. "It's awfully late. Why aren't you in bed, Kensei?"

His eye twitched, hating being treated like a child. It was insulting. And yet, when Byakuya did it, it was kind of nice. Almost endearing. Kensei pulled away, trying to resist. "I was just on my way there when I saw you," he told him.

Byakuya smiled knowingly. "Is that right? Can't sleep?"

Kensei turned his back to Byakuya. "Sort of. It's nothing."

"I can help you with that," Byakuya offered slyly.

What was with that voice? It was alluring but chastising. If he didn't know better, he'd say Byakuya was mocking him. But that honey-dipped voice was so appealing. Byakuya could be tearing him a new one and he wouldn't have cared. But it was resistible. Without those eyes accompanying it, there was only so far Byakuya could get with voice alone.

Both men realized this at the same time.

"Can't get me off your mind, can you?" Byakuya asked him smugly. He knew he had charmed the ill-tempered man. It was enough to make him interested but not enough to make him his. One bite would fix that. "Look at me, Kensei."

Kensei kept his back to him. "It's nothing," he said defensively.

It would have been easy to pounce on his from behind but Byakuya was enjoying himself. This was also the perfect test to see how well he could win someone over. Getting the results was going to be fun.

"Kensei," he said slyly, finding this tone worked best on him. "Do you like it when I say your name, Kensei?"

In truth, he did, but he liked anything Byakuya said as long as he said it like that.

"Forget it," he told Byakuya. "I'm going to bed."

"Just a moment."

Kensei's foot froze where it was. He had every intention of leaving but as soon as Byakuya called out to him, his body stopped. What power did this man have over him?

"Look at me."

Kensei didn't obey, frozen. He couldn't do anything. He couldn't leave and he couldn't turn around.

"Look at me," Byakuya repeated, sounding close to him.

Kensei slowly turned.

The full moon behind Byakuya's head made his red eyes stand out even more. Those beautiful, hypnotic eyes.

"It's been a stressful day for you, hasn't it?"

Kensei could only nod.

"You work so hard, Kensei. You deserve to relax a little." Byakuya cupped Kensei's head in his hands, bringing his face closer to him. "I can help you forget all of that bothersome stress of yours. I can alleviate any unpleasantness you may have."

Kensei couldn't think anymore. He didn't know where he was or what was happening. All he could do was stare at Byakuya's eyes.

"All you have to do is allow me." Byakuya moved closer so their foreheads were almost touching. "Will you allow me, Kensei?"

Whatever Byakuya wanted, he would allow it. He would allow him to do anything.

"What do you say, Kensei?"

"… Yeah… Sure…" he answered distantly.

Byakuya smiled, enjoying this. He kept one hand on Kensei's chin and the other he ran down the side of Kensei's neck, slipping his thumb under the collar of his kimono. His hand travelled to his shoulder, collar hooked by his thumb, exposing Kensei's neck.

"Very good, Kensei." He licked his lips hungrily.

"Do… Do whatever… you… want." Kensei mumbled, enthralled by Byakuya's charms.

Byakuya smiled. "With pleasure." He opened his mouth wide and bit down on Kensei's neck. Getting through the muscle was the hardest part. It was like biting into a tough slab of meat. But the reward was even better. Kensei tasted delicious.

Kensei winced and started to come around, feeling pain. "W- wait. Wait, stop. Ow! Stop!"

Byakuya dug his hands into Kensei's torso and drank. Trapped in a bearhug, all Kensei could do was thrash and complain.

"Stop it! Get off me! That hurts, dammit!" Kensei tried to throw Byakuya off but couldn't. He had no idea Byakuya was this strong. "Stop it! Get off! I said that hurts!"

Kensei threw himself backwards, pulled Byakuya off his feet and into the air. Panicked, Byakuya flew straight up and away from Kensei before he could finish his meal. He frowned in disappointment. He thought for sure he had Kensei under control. Everyone else he bit was rendered helpless in seconds. Instead of submitting, Kensei rejected him and fought back. He wondered if he had done something wrong to cause this.

Kensei pressed a hand to his neck to stop the bleeding and ease the pain at the same time. "What the hell was that, Kuchiki?" He took his hand away and looked at it, seeing a blood smear. When he put his hand to his neck again, there was no blood. He couldn't have healed that quickly.

He looked around but Byakuya wasn't there. He was alone on a roof.

He sat on the edge of the roof, wondering if he was losing his mind.

Byakuya took off to find other means of amusement and a meal.

He did bite Kensei. He would just have to wait and see what happened.