"Ao!" Ao almost dodged the attack but was knocked down at the last second. He lay on the ground a moment. When his attacker didn't move, Ao peeked an eye open though he already knew who it was.
"Ketu, do you have to do that every time?"
The other wolf moved off of Ao, allowing him to stand. "Of course, dummy. You gotta learn to take care of yourself."
"I can take care of myself." Ao snapped back.
"Really?" Before Ao could protect himself, Ketu kicked him on the left side near his ribs. Ao growled and tried to make Ketu pay for aggravating his wounds.
"See?" Ketu asked.
"How did you know?" Ao questioned.
"You threw your other side into the attack instead of fighting or retreating. I figured it was because you couldn't take another blow to that side." Ao looked away. "Who did that?"
Ao glared at the wolf. "You are not fighting my battles Ketu."
"I never said I would but I did say I would fight alongside you."
"Against your own village?"
Ketu nodded. Ao looked away. He knew Ketu would fight, even if it turned everyone against him. He really did not understand why Ketu had chosen this friendship. Ao was descended from a rival clan that had been slaughtered out by ninjas. Ketu's clan however had very close ties with ninjas and often pledged their loyalties to shinobi in order to support their clan. So Ao was the black sheep of the village. Except, indeed he was a wolf.
"Let's race." Ketu barley had a chance to blink before Ao took off through the woods. Ketu had just caught up when Ao asked, "Okay, are you ready? Go!!"
"No fair, Ao!" Ketu yelled, laughing. Ao grinned and shot past the other wolf. The meadow was quickly coming into view. Ao burst through the clearing, winning their race. Ketu entered, out of breath. "Slowpoke," Ao teased.
"Wolf." Ketu shot back. They both laughed and lay in the sun.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was a full moon tonight. Kakashi climbed up onto his roof for the best view. It was one of the few good things about his apartment. Feeling the presence of another, Kakashi glanced over and saw Ao sitting a distance off. He was gazing up. Sensing Kakashi staring at him, Ao turned to him with his characteristic glare and said, "I don't do that howling thing." Kakashi chuckled lightly. Of course Ao wouldn't.
Kakashi continued to watch the wolf, mesmerized by the strength and pride the wolf always carried with him. But looking at Ao tonight, there was something different. For the first time, Kakashi felt that the wolf had let his defenses drop a little in the presence of the night sky. It was a clear night, with every star visible.
"What are you waiting for?" Kakashi turned to see that Ao was addressing him. "What are you waiting for out here?" Ao repeated. That was an unusual question. But Ao had had very little contact and didn't always understand the simple situations.
"I came to see an old friend." Kakashi answered.
"The moon?" Ao guessed.
Kakashi shook his head. "No, not on a night like this." Ao perked his ears, curious as to the comment. Smiling, Kakashi decided if anyone could understand it would be Ao. "My old friend gave me a gift."
"As did mine," Ao agreed, " He told me that only I would have stars that could laugh. So- you also have stars?" Kakashi was moved by the wolf's words, "Yes, Ao. My friends gave me that gift too. But they are unique to me. What I see and what I feel when I look at the stars is not the same as you. But very close. The laughter I hear is of an over energetic, clumsy boy, and the gentle laughs of a girl who died long before her death."
"I hear the sound of my friend, laughing as we race far away from the village that hates me." Kakashi looked over at the wolf. Everyone has their troubles. Ao looked again at the moon.