Disclaimers on everything that I don't own.

By Winterwing3000

-Interlude,

Shadow and Light

The winds whistled in the valley and the green grass swayed to the side. The darkness cloaked the surroundings. Trees stood looming above everything. The water could be heard, rushing in a tranquil melody with the wind.

She stood on the rim of the valley, her hair loose from the white hair tie and her iris tucked safely in her ear. The sun had set many hours ago, and the moon was in the middle of its glorious moment during the night. It was round; she noted absentmindedly, the full moon, where mating phases are extremely powerful for the wolves. The closer to the time the pair mated, the stronger their bond would be through their lives.

It had been three years since that war with the eastern lord. Many were killed and countless were wounded. It was a miracle that the wolf tribe was still strong and intact after such a short period of time. She still did not understand why the north and the west joined forces to take down the power-hungry east, but it happened and that was that. The southern lord entered the battle much later, during the second year, where the times were most devastating. She heard that at first, the lord was reluctant in engaging a battle with one of his closest allies since his family became connected with the east, but somehow… the western lord, if she remembered correct, an inuyoukai offered some type of treaty to ensure that there would be no troubles facing the southern lord after the war. But she did not care; it had nothing to do with her.

At first, she wished to remain neutral in the battle, hoping that it would slowly die on its own but soon, things got heated. The eastern lord threatened the wolf clan's land and people, attacking any wolf-kin who would pass by the eastern land. It was just plain cruel and merciless. Her fist clenched, a dark look drawn upon her face.

How could someone kill without a second thought? Especially when they could settle things more peacefully, without fighting or shedding blood?

Why…? Why… "WHY!" she screamed out her building frustrations, the word came off in waves in the large basin, the birds in the trees ruffled indignantly in their sleep and started bickering at her, but she paid them no mind.

Sniffing, she slowly sank to her knees, wrapping her arms around herself, pulling her fur cloak closer to her body. There were sounds of footsteps approaching her from behind but she needn't look back to know who it was. The scent was more than enough to distinguish the wolf.

"What are you doing here?" she asked in a miffed voice, starring down at the center of the green valley, trying to ignore his comforting presence.

"I was worried. You shouldn't be out so late." He said, standing next to her, his hair whipped in the wind. "Training begins tomorrow and we'll be leaving before dawn." He reminded her.

"So what? We've done it a million times, so why worry?" she asked uncaringly, setting down on the ground, drawing her knees to her chest. He frowned down at her change in attitude. "What's wrong with you? You're still thinking about the war, aren't you?" he said flatly.

"So what if I was? How can I not? It changed our lives completely! You know that! So why don't you care!" she snapped at him, whirling her head back to meet with his eyes. His eyes narrowed at her. "Don't assume that I don't give a damn. You know that I do. How could I forget? So many died and I was partially responsible for it!"

"Whatever… half the time, I don't even know if you still have a heart in you." she muttered bitterly, turning her head away.

He growled in annoyance. "Damn you, I'm wondering if you really give a shit about our tribe, with your flaring attitude like that."

She stood up abruptly, colliding shoulders with him. Her troubled face became a snarl, eyes glinting red. "Bastard, don't got spouting off like you know me because you don't anymore! Not since you became leader! I'm nothing to you now! You barely spend time with me, always employing yourself in tribal affairs when you could've put them off for a couple hours! It's not like they run away when you leave for a couple minutes!" she hissed poisonously, shaking in rage.

"Don't you think that I want to? You always avoid me whenever I come close and whenever I even try to talk to you, you'll just turn away and visit the healers! Do you still think I don't want to spend time with you! I even skipped a meeting with the Elders just to look for you, to talk to you, to have fun with you, and where were you! Off at Kami-sama knows where! And you worried the shit out of me when you came back the next day, bruised and bloody!" he glowered, starring so hard at her that his eyes nearly turned crimson. "How was I supposed to look out for you when you just leave like that, without a word and without a notice!"

She fumed silently. He was right at that, but she would not back down. It was his fault. He started it. He… he… he doesn't care about her. He never did… He was always busy… never there for her… she felt so, oh so lonely during the many days… so lonely… Her eyes started tearing, and her lips wavering. She dropped her head, chin against her chest. All that anger dissipated and sadness washed up on her heart.

"You wouldn't have cared… no one would've care. Not since they're gone…" she whimpered like a lost child as the horrid memories resurfaced her mind's eye. Her arms sought to comfort herself, and they did, shaking terribly.

His eyes softened, as did his expression, feeling guilty now. He stepped closer to her and drew her into his embrace. To make her feel this way, it made him feel rotten. He was supposed to protect her, keep her happy, and not watch her dissolve into tears and heartache. Tucking her head underneath his chin, he secured his arms around her back. "I… that's not true. They do care. You just can't see it." He said unsurely.

"Yeah, sure… eyes full of pity, you don't think I see it? I hear them talking about it all the time." she scoffed, hiccupping on her tears. She leaned into his warmth, though.

"Che, as long as I'm alive, I care, okay? You should know that by now." He chided her lightly, stroking her long hair. Her sobs resided.

"I want to, I know that you do… but you're not around anymore… I barely feel you around me anymore, even though I see you every day and night." She croaked out, tightening her hands on her forearms.

He sighed. "Even though I can't be there for you every waking minute, I promise that if you ever need to talk, see or need anything from me, just call my name, and I'll be there in a flash, okay?"

She hiccupped again, brushing away her dried tears. "Promise?" she asked, holding up her right pinky.

He scowled. "Aren't we a bit too old to be doing that kinda stuff? Don't you trust me?"

"I do, but still… pinky promises work the best, you know that they do!" she insisted, holding it higher. She bit her lower lip. "Please?"

He heaved a sigh. "Fine," he hooked his larger pinky with her and shook it. The stars started fading out from the darkness, as it receded. The first few tell-tale signs of day light were showing as the sky started turning navy blue and somewhat light purple.

She stepped out of his comforting hug and stared at the horizon above the rim of the valley. She chuckled dry. "Guess this means no rest before we set off, huh?" she nodded to the dusty yellow underneath all the blues and purples.

He rolled his eyes. "Guess so. We can rest on the way. Come, let's head back. We still have to pack some rations and I need to make sure that the co-pack leader really knows what he's doing." He held out his hand.

She slipped it into his and walked in a slow pace behind him, allowing him to drag her back home. "… Will we always be together?" she mumbled quietly, almost to no one in particular.

"Silly you, of course. Why else are we born twins?" he teased, looking back at her with sparkling eyes filled with happiness and assurance.

A satisfied smile gathered on her lips. "You're right. Twins never leave each other and will always be with each other forever. Till the end of time, right?"

"Till the end of time and beyond." He pulled her up next to him so that they were walking at an even pace. "So let's go and conquer the day, with you as my light…"

"And you as my shadow." She grinned at the pun. "Yami and Hikari, forever and always the shadow and light."

"Aa." He smiled. "Like okaa-san and otou-san."

AN: -sobs- I loved this. And I would like to thank everyone who has supported me so far! I'll be working hard on finishing the next REAL chapter. No, this is merely an interlude, somewhat of a future foreshadowing chapter. And cookies for anyone who could guess who their parents were (although, it has to be pretty obvious by now). And I bet that some of you that they were Kouga and Ayame. Mwhaha…. Enjoy!