Chapter 3

Luna cracks the door open to a room Ms. Kirigakure said she could change in at the field office guardhouse. The tiniest crack would allow her wolf a way to get out if she needed to. She strips and neatly folds her clothes on the pillow that she won't be using tonight. She thinks about where her wolf can go so she's not at risk of being seen. The change comes on to quickly for her to decide. Confused by its new surroundings Luna's wolf slips into the night. Usually Luna would scope out where she was going to go days in advance and leave her scent along a path for her wolf to follow. There was no chance for that this time though. They had just arrived in Kyoto today. Her wolf aimlessly trots along a path following a scent that her wolf's nose couldn't place. It led up to the cemetery of the Myodha temple.

She sees someone kneeling at the foot of a grave. She carefully hides in the bushes to avoid being seen. A breeze blows towards her across the person praying.

'They smell of milk and ink. Konekomaru?' She softly walks up to investigate. Concluding that it is indeed Konekomaru she quietly sits next to him.

"Wah! Oh, Luna!"

She paws at his knee. Then looks at the grave stone he is kneeling in front of.

"My parents lie here. I'm paying my respects."

Wilk's wolf whimpers.

Konekomaru ruffles her ears making Luna pant. "It's okay. I don't mean to hurt your feelings Luna but I'd like to be alone right now." He pats her head. "I know you're mad at Bon but you should go visit with him. He always seems to smile when you're around."

She feels disheartened by that statement. 'Me or my wolf.' She howls, "Ryuuu!"

Konekomaru is startled by the sudden noise. "Yes, I mean Ryuji."

'Did I say that?' Luna's wolf sneezes.

"Someone's talking about you."

A faint shout can be heard in the distance. "Luna?"

Luna sneezes again.

Konekomaru pats her again and pushes her on to go to the person calling her. "Go on, that was Bon. He heard you so you can't back out now. He's had a lot on his mind lately."

Luna reluctantly goes to the sound of his voice. She finds Suguro sitting on a porch eating a bento and drinking from a can.

He sees her come around the corner. "Luna, I thought I heard you."

She jumps up onto the porch and sits next to him.

He slumps an arm over her. "Ya know. You're okay Luna. In your wolf, and in your human form."

She sniffs his breath. 'Is he drinking?' She sniffs the now empty can. 'Holy shit! He's drunk off one beer?' Luna looks down at his bento which had not really been touched.

He leans harder on her as if he were falling asleep and starts to drool a bit.

"Ryu!" She barks with a small growl at the end.

Suguro jumps up with a start. "Huh! What?" He smacks his mouth together. "Man that was the worst tasting soda ever. I had to chug it just to get it all down."

'Innocent little Suguro that was definitely not soda.' Luna shakes her head.

Suguro picks up his bento and starts to pick at it. "Here." He pulls out a piece of meat from his bento with his chop sticks and gives it to Luna.

She eats it and he tries to give her another one but she turns her head away.

"Not hungry huh? You had too much ongiri with Moryama I bet." He takes a bite of his food.

Luna's wolf has no recollection of what he is talking about.

"You know I didn't mean to eaves drop but that was a cool story about your mom and dad you told her. My dad used to chant sutras with me in his arms when I was a baby. I always loved going into the temple to quietly sit and listen to him chant, even though I wasn't supposed to. Things aren't that simple anymore." He sighs lifts up his forearm to his mouth and burps. "Excuse me."

Luna lays down next to him. He puts aside his bento. "My dad was pretty mad at me when I decided to leave to become an exorcist, and even though it's been hard I'm glad I did." He looks down at Luna's wolf. "Because if I hadn't I never would have met you." He starts leaning down towards her.

Footsteps come around the corner and Luna shuffles away around the side of the building.

"Ryuji!"

"Uwabami"

"Were you just talking to someone?"

"Yeah my girlfriend."

Uwabami crinkles his forehead. "It looked like a dog that just ran off but if you say so." He clears his throat. "We are going to have a meeting to see how the security was breached. It will be at the conference room at the inn. Your presence will be needed as the heir of Tatsuma."

"I'll be there. Make sure my father is as well! Drag him in if you have too."

"Understood. Eleven sharp Ryuji." Uwabami starts to walk away.

"I mean my friend that's a girl!" Suguro shouts.

"Don't worry Ryuji. I won't tell your mother that your girlfriend is a dog." Uwabami disappears around the corner.

Suguro sighs and says under his breath. "A wolf actually. She's really cute."

Luna comes back around the side of the building.

Suguro is leaned up against one of the supports on the porch.

Luna sniffs at his ear.

"Whah!" He jumps up on his feet.

Luna is startled and runs away.

"Luna? Wait, don't run away! Damnit!" Suguro kicks the can, grabs his food and walks inside.

Luna runs all the way back to the guardhouse. Finding her room her wolf stays there for the remainder of the evening. 'Well that was strange.' She thinks to herself. 'I hope he doesn't remember any of it in the morning.'