Vanya: YES! I AM BACK FROM THE DEAD! I am updating! I'm not really going to explain why I was gone so long, but know this: I had a verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry crappy year. And I had lost inspiration, but now it's back and I'm ready to roll. If you've read my LoZ x IY cross over, you'd know I just updated that yesterday. :D Yay for me! Anyway, enjoy this chapter. It's thanks to my reviewers and my friends, especially Kuro-chan and Kage-chan, that this chapter came to be. Also thanks to One-Winged Angel, I love that song and singing praise to evil… Sephiroth! MWAH!
Disclaimer- I don't own either InuYasha or Wolf's Rain, isn't it obvious?
Quote:
'"Paradise"
I doubt it really exists anywhere
Even where the scent of the flower led meThis place I've struggled to reach
Is a long way from Paradise"' –Kiba, the first volume of Wolf's Rain
Finding My Paradise Chapter 3- New friends
'Song lyrics'
'Wolves talking'
'Thought'
"Speech"
In Tokyo once more-
Sota's POV
I blinked and then whimpered at the pain I experienced from that hunters gunshot. 'No wait… I'm not dead?' I thought. My eyes struggled to open and then blearily blinked and waited for the world to take shape.
I was in a cage, and it had a wire door. The pattern was so intricately inlaid I couldn't possibly escape unless someone opened it from the outside. 'Where is Kagome-nee-chan? Oh yeah… I told her to leave…' and whimpered.
'Where am I?' I thought as I looked around. Outside my cage walls I could see scientists bustling about while studying other animals. They had tests being run on them. Some, I could see, were even wolves. I gulped and a shudder went through me.
'Kami what have I gotten myself into? Kagome please find me…'
In the forest-
Normal POV
Kagome walked through the forest, still in her wolf form. Tears leaked from her eyes and she thought murderous thoughts about the hunter. But soon she stopped only to be replaced with numb silence.
She noticed that her wound was bleeding through the bandages, so she just ripped it off her wound and then walked some more. She didn't really care much about it.
Kagome's ears were flat against her head, and her normally bright silver eyes were dull. Shippō yipped in concern. "'Kaa-san, your wound is bleeding! You should put some bandages on it." (Since he can understand her, he can also speak wolf tongue... Okay?)
"I suppose so," she said. She stopped at the base of a tree and set the bag down and let Shippō out. He jumped out and stretched in an amusing manner, and Kagome smiled a little at the kits antics and transformed into her human form.
She reached into her bag and brought out some bandages, as well as an extra long-sleeved t-shirt she had for Shippō. "Shippō-chan, come put this on," she said. Shippō groaned but put it on any ways and said, "Thank you okaa-san." She only hugged him and said, "You're welcome Shippō-chan."
Then she let go, but then she suddenly sniffed the air. Shippō said, "What is it 'kaa-san?"
"Wolf, and…" Kagome sniffed a little more and said, "the scent of a flower believed to be long extinct… The Lunar Flower."
Shippō looked curious. "The Lunar Flower, 'kaa-san?" He was answered with a "Hai." Then, Kagome flinched. "I smell demons. Stay here Shippō-chan, I'll set up a barrier. I'll go take care of them, doubtless the wolf and the Flower are being attacked."
"Be careful 'Kaa-san!" He called, and she ran away to the commotion.
In a clearing, in the Forest-
Normal POV
Toboe shivered. 'It's cold… Where is Kiba, Tsume and Hige?' The rusty colored young wolf thought. His brown-gold (amber, what ever) eyes looked around in fear. (He's in his wolf form) He was alone with Cheza, who was looking lost. Her pink hair billowed in the small breeze, and her dark pink-red eyes searched for the other members of their pack.
He and Cheza had gotten lost because the others had gone too fast for them and apparently didn't hear his calls because they were too focused on finding Paradise.
Toboe was opted to protect her since he was separated from the other members, and it made him nervous because he wasn't that old or that big to be very threatening to other wolves or soldiers, if they found them. He wasn't as strong as the others either, not even as much as Hige, who was always being called 'porky' or 'fatso'. (Poor Hige)
Suddenly the bushes rustled, and Toboe jumped in front of Cheza, snarling as bravely as he could. Suddenly an ugly creature jumped into the clearing. It was grotesque- it seemed to resemble a bear of sorts, but uglier and bigger and stronger looking. Soon another joined its place and another until there was four bear like things there.
"Lookie what we have here boys, dinner," roared one of them. Toboe was astonished; he didn't know they could talk!
Toboe gulped. 'I wish Kiba, Tsume and Hige were here!' He thought and whimpered as they advanced on him and Cheza. He moved to stand in front of Cheza so they would have to get to him first before they ruined their chances of finding Paradise! Then they roared and tried to hit him but a dark black-blue furry body sailed into the fray and viciously tore out the throat of the one who tried to strike them.
It was Kagome, in her magnificent wolf form. Toboe gasped at her beauty- it was breath taking. The sight of the she wolf standing proudly before them, with her tail waving high, and her mouth was dripping crimson blood, yet her gleaming canines were not tarnished by the red color.
Her fur was a marvelous black color with blue shining in it, along with the most beautiful silver eyes he had ever seen. In fact, it was the ONLY pair of silver eyes he'd ever seen. Her lips were curled back in a snarl; her eyes alight with righteous fury, and the love of a kill.
Kagome snarled at the bear demons, which had dared to hurt some innocent pup and the Flower Maiden, which was the key to paradise. And she needed that key. She would not allow them harmed. (A/n: okay let's pretend she knows that)
Kagome jumped at the one she previously injured, it was still alive. With power she never knew she had and her killer instincts she found she possessed, she jumped onto the fallen bear demon and bit into it's chest and it screamed and thrashed in pain, and with one mighty tug she pulled out its heart. She spat it out with much distaste and then jumped off the corpse. (A/n: Heart does NOT taste good… I've had to try cow heart (cooked don't worry) and it was so… gross… )
She growled in victory then she turned to another one. The other two screamed and ran from the sight of the crazy demonic she-wolf (that's what they think snicker). She then nodded to the now un-frozen Toboe and then he got up his courage to help her kill this one. (A/n: you know when you kinda freeze in the face of danger, well that's what happened to Toboe)
This bear demon wasn't as cowardly as the others, nor was it as small as they were. It roared, and used its huge paws to try and club them. (A/n: they dropped all methods of speaking, if you're wondering lol )
Kagome's arm was bleeding heavily and she felt a little faint but she pushed on, and managed to avoid the bear's swipes with its talons. She was glad that the young wolf had managed to avoid them too, it wouldn't do if there was another wolf hurt.
She turned to Toboe while dodging the bear's frantic blows to howl, "Hey can you distract it and make it turn around, then I can take it from behind!" (a/n: It might seem cowardly but it's their best bet, okay?)
Toboe decided to trust this beautiful she wolf and complied, and then he growled at it to get its attention. It worked as the bear turned to hurt him, and then Kagome got ready.
She ran towards the tree by Cheza to get a running start, and then she started to run. She picked up more speed and then her haunches sprung from the ground, front feet brandishing sharp claws, and opened her mouth wide and she jumped onto it from behind. She grabbed it in the back of the neck and viciously attacked it with her claws as she scratched it as much as she could.
Then Toboe struck from the front and tore into it's stomach and blood gushed forth, the bear roared in anger and then started to fall back wards. Kagome jumped off it just in time as it fell to the ground and it couldn't get back up.
Kagome transformed into her human form with an "Ookami Kagome" and then she took her katana and stabbed it in the heart.
With one last guttural roar, it stopped breathing and was left to bleed on the forest floor. Kagome was at least 10 feet away from it and then she said, "Are you okay?"
Cheza appeared fine, and wasn't really scared since she couldn't have seen the blood shed anyway, and Toboe turned back into his human disguise. His amber eyes were sparkling in admiration for the she wolf in front of him. He said, "I'm okay, m-my name is T-Toboe," he blushed as he stuttered.
Kagome laughed and said, "Nice to meet you Toboe. And what is your name?" She asked Cheza.
Cheza looked up from where she was staring at the ground, and her pinkish-red eyes widened as she saw Kagome. She got up slowly and walked over to Kagome, and stared straight at her. She pointed to herself, and said, "This one's name is Cheza… This one has been waiting for you. This one knew you would come."
Kagome looked shocked. 'She knew I was coming? But she looks… Blind. She is a flower after all.' As she stared into those dark pink, almost red eyes, she found herself turning into her wolf form involuntarily. 'What the…?'
Cheza drew nearer, and knelt down to Kagome's level. Then she stretched her arms wide, and Kagome found herself walking closer. Then Cheza folded her arms around her and hugged her. Kagome instinctively leaned into the hug. 'Now I know how dogs feel…'
Cheza drew back a little and then she started petting Kagome's fur. It relaxed Kagome and she lay down on the ground so she could scratch her belly as well. Cheza continued to stroke her fur until she noticed Kagome's bleeding wounds.
She gasped and said, "Please Kagome, allow this one to treat your wound. You are hurt badly." She had tears in her eyes.
Kagome turned back to human form and said, "I have some bandages at my camp… Then you can treat it okay?" Cheza nodded, a bit sad, but stayed close to Kagome.
Toboe said, "Kagome, we were separated from our pack… We were looking for Paradise. Can you help us find our pack after you're healed?"
Kagome nodded and said, "And after you've had some food. You look starved, come on." She gestured towards the direction of her camp and started to walk.
Cheza held Toboe's hand while he walked right next to Kagome.
They walked for a couple of minutes until they reached Kagome's camp and she let down her shield, and then a squealing kitsune kit was heard as Shippō tackled Kagome. She fell backward with an "oof" and said, "Shippō!"
"'Kaa-san I was so worried about you!" He said. Kagome only hugged him and said, "Thanks Shippō-chan but I'm okay, and look I even brought new friends!" And pointed towards Cheza and Toboe. Toboe waved a bit with a small grin while Cheza had a gentle smile on her face.
Shippō was very excited and Kagome said, "This is Toboe, he is a wolf like me except younger." Shippō immediately took a brotherly liking to Toboe, and vice-versa. Then she introduced him to Cheza, who immediately cuddled Shippō, delighted in the small pup. Shippō thought she was nice and smiled, hugging her back.
Then Kagome sat everyone down and found the bandages, and said, "Cheza here," and handed them to her. Kagome changed into a wolf then because she wanted to and plus Shippō was scratching her back for her, and she was happy.
Cheza smiled a little and began to clean Kagome's wounds. She got some warm water and put some on it and Kagome flinched. Then Cheza took some herbs and wrapped some bandages over that and the wound.
Cheza smiled and said, "Kagome, this one has finished." Kagome bowed her head in thanks and said, "Thanks Cheza. Can I do anything for you?" Cheza shook her head and said, "This one only wishes to know where Kiba is. Do you know where Kiba is?" She had sort of a painful look in her dark magenta-ish eyes.
"I'm sorry Cheza… I don't know," she said apologetically. Then a smooth, masculine voice said, "There's no need. We're here."
Out from the bushes stepped a man that any girl would obsess over. He had shaggy, handsome chocolate brown hair. He was tall and very muscled, and was perhaps a little bit older than she was. He wore pants, a dark jacket, and a shirt underneath that. However, Kagome could still see a clear outline of his six-pack and blushed. He also had beautiful dark sapphire eyes. She gasped a bit as she could see his wolf form, a magnificent white wolf with golden eyes.
From behind him came out a taller man with light platinum blonde hair, almost silver, it looked to be. It was tied back into a small ponytail. He wore all black leather, and in some places like his shoulders, it was a bit torn. On his chest she could see a large sort of x-shaped scar. Over his golden eyes he wore a pair of black shades. (HAHA, he got them back… He looks better with them on.) He was a gray color with the scar across his chest. She was instantly reminded of InuYasha and her eyes wavered a bit and looked away, this time spotting another newcomer.
This guy had brownish hair and brown eyes (I think… sorry I didn't get to see the anime T.T), and he was a little bit on the heavy side, but not that much. He wore cargo pants (well they look like it) like Kiba, and a jacket as well. He wore a big collar around his neck, and she could see that he wore it in his wolf form too.
'How come I didn't notice they were here?' She thought.
Toboe leapt to his feet. "K-Kiba, you guys found us!" He cried happily.
"Yes we did, it took us long enough, damn runt." Muttered the white/silver-haired wolf.
Kagome felt the fur on her back bristling (she's still in wolf form remember?) because she could feel Toboe step back in shame. "Don't you talk to him like that!" She barked at him, anger apparent in her sterling silver eyes. She was already attached to Toboe and thought of him as son of sorts, and plus Shippō really liked him too.
The wolf looked at her and said, "What do you know, she-wolf!"
"Awww come on Tsume… She's a total babe. You should be welcoming her, not snapping at her," said the one with the collar. Tsume looked away and snorted.
Kagome blushed a little bit, but grew angry because of Tsume's insult. "My name is Kagome Higurashi," she told them.
The one called Kiba nodded and said with a small smile, "It is nice to meet you. My name is Kiba."
She nodded and then the slightly heavy boy grinned at her and said, "Hey I'm Hige! It's wonderful to meet a beautiful wolf like yourself."
Kagome blushed a tiny bit but you couldn't see it, because she was a wolf, but they could smell her embarrassment. "Thanks…"
He grinned in welcome. Kiba twitched a bit, but nothing else happened. Kagome decided to change back to her human form now, and did so.
Immediately Hige's mouth hung open, while Kiba looked a tiny bit dazed and Tsume even looked at her. She immediately went up to Kiba and waved her hand around his face. "Ano… Kiba-kun, are you okay?" She didn't know what effect she had on people, she was able to stop a lot of men in their tracks, but she didn't know that.
He snapped out of it. "Yes, fine," he answered shortly and his deep blue eyes looked to the side for a moment. 'She smells like the air after a rainstorm. She smells of rain and lily flowers…' Somehow in his mind, she even smelt better than Cheza, which was pretty damn good in his opinion.
He then looked back at her, studying her a bit before saying, "How did you come upon Toboe and Cheza…? And how come that boy smells like fox?" He pointed to Shippō.
She laughed a little nervously. "Well, that's a long story and all…"
"We have time," he interrupted.
"I thought you said we had to get to Paradise as fast as possible?" Tsume, smirking.
Kiba gave him a look to silence him, but Tsume still kept the smirk upon his face. Kagome looked between the two, a bit confused. Hige, out of his stupor, chirped, "I wouldn't mind staying with a beautiful lady." Toboe sweat dropped. "Of course you wouldn't, Porky," said Tsume.
"At least I LIKE girls Tsume," he shot back at Tsume.
Kagome had a weird look on her face. "You don't like girls, Tsume-san?"
Tsume had a funny look on his face. "It's not like that. I just don't feel the need to try and hit on them every minute," he defended himself, clearly aiming the insult back at Hige and his womanizing ways.
Kagome giggled a bit. They reminded her of Miroku and InuYasha, well when InuYasha wasn't so much of a JACKASS.
They looked at her and both said, "What!"
She shook her head. "It's nothing. You just remind me of people I know… Anyways you wanted to hear the story, Kiba-kun?" She said politely.
He nodded. "Yes, please."
So she began her tale and finished right up until the point where they were now. "My mother told me to find Paradise with my brother, Sota… but he was taken away from me. I don't even know if he is alive or not… I heard gunshots so…" She looked away, feeling tears well up in her eyes.
A cool hand rested on her shoulder and Kagome looked back into dark sapphire eyes. "We will help you avenge your brother. Would you like to come with us… to Paradise?"
She was lost a bit in his eyes. They were so guarded, but in the same way so uncovered. She could see herself reflected in them… But she heard him ask the question and inwardly gasped. Her heart leapt in joy and she felt that perhaps she would now be able to fulfill her mother's wish. And perhaps she could now get revenge for Sota's death… "I would love to go," she said sincerely.
He smiled a little bit. "Okay, we'll set out in the morning."
"I will get a fire going," said Kagome, noticing that it had burnt out earlier. 'They must be so cold!' She immediately thought and jumped to start it. The others got what little things they had together. She had it going and noticed they didn't have a sleeping bag or anything. Her lip trembled a bit and then she decided she would unzip hers and spread it out all the way (you know so it's like a big square… lol) so they could sleep on it. She also got out the blankets and such. "You must be cold," she said with a shy smile. "You can sleep on here."
Hige grinned and said, "Thank you Kagome!" He immediately settled on it, considerably warmer. Tsume muttered something about not being cold, and sat by a tree whilst the others settled on it, all warm and snug. Kagome had Toboe on her right side, and Shippō on her left. Next to Toboe was Cheza, and then Kiba. Hige was nearby Shippō's right side.
The night cast a dark shadow over the world, and all was calm. All active creatures in the day turned to their homes to keep them safe as they slumbered, washing away the weariness accumulated throughout the day, and they slept in peace. All but two.
Tsume was very cold, and shivering. He looked at the happy sleeping wolves and felt a bit of jealousy, but kept it to himself. After a bit longer, he finally gave in and curled up on a spot by Kiba and Hige.
Unknown to him, one of Kagome's blue eyes opened, and saw this. She closed it, and smiled. 'I have a new pack, a new family… We will find Paradise together, I just know it.'
End of Chapter Three
Vanya: How was that? This chapter was okay, I liked it. I hope you all did, and please review… Or face my wrath :3 #Grins evilly#