Paradiso: Chapter Four-Temporary Paradise

A/N- Thanks to LukiDimension and Lurker for reviewing. When we started writing this it wasn't much more than a vague idea of what would happen when Kiba's pack met Count D. It's been developing nicely, if slowly. Too many projects on the burner, you know. Also special thanks to Sesshy81 and her desire to borrow our OC characters from the "Wicked" (Which will continue, we promise!!) run for a lovely fic that Kita's been Betaing for her. If you haven't read it, check it out! The title is Predator and Prey and it involves Lee Sinhg, Coyote, and Entai. She won't tell us where she's going with this, but it's sure to be a fun ride.

Luki-sama, This chapter could conceivably end the story, but Kita and I have a few ideas, so should we go on with it or not? It seems you and Lurker are the only ones who like this story at all.

Kiba woke with a start out of disjointed dreams of when Darcia had stolen Cheza, her scream still ringing in his ears. He shook his head and sat up. Where was he?

Memory came rushing back and he scrambled to his feet. The last leg of the journey and Toboe's death, his body cradled in the arms of the human, Quent Yaiden. The attack of Darcia, now transformed into a black wolf twice Kiba's size, and Hige and Blue falling to the madman's fangs. Tsume's desperate attempt to slow Darcia and his fey snarl as he told Kiba to go on. The fateful last battle with Darcia and the mad Noble's attempt to open paradise himself. Cheza's promise and walking, aching and weary, through the snow, the withered flower that was Cheza held gently in his teeth.

Kiba flung his head back and howled, full of despair.

"Shut up, dammit. You're giving me a headache." The basso growl was right out of his memories, and Kiba leapt a foot in the air, landing and whirling ungracefully.

"Some of us are trying to sleep here." A second voice complained.

Kiba stared in disbelief at Tsume, watching him with an irritated snarl. Hige raised his head from where it rested on Blue's flank and yawned lazily at him. Blue stirred and greeted Hige with a playful nip. Behind her, Toboe was the last to awaken, looking groggily for Tsume. "Tsume? I had a nightmare. Cheza was screaming and …"

Toboe shook his head. "What happened? Where's Cheza?"

Tsume shook his head and looked at Toboe with shock in his amber eyes. "Wait. Was that all just a dream? It hurt too damned much to be a dream!"

"No dream."

As one the entire pack turned to face the Chinese man in a silk robe that glided soundlessly over the grass toward them.

"Who are you?" Kiba growled.

"Don't you remember?" The man asked with a small smile playing on his thin lips. "You would not rest until you were certain they were safe."

That woke memories of a hazy, pain-filled moment when he had found himself in a darkened, incense-scented room. "You were there, you and the other one. Who are you people? Your scent is strange."

"I am called Count D. What I am is harder to describe. Suffice to say, I am a friend."

Tsume growled low in his throat. "You smell funny, but you look like a damned Noble!" That shot alarm through the rest of the pack and Hige flashed to his feet with a snarl. Blue echoed him a moment later.

A second voice, rough with weariness, startled them all. "He may call himself Count, but trust me, he's no Noble. He's just Count D. He's been called a lot of names, but the one you might understand is Kami. He's a nature Kami." The voice came from a man sitting beneath a tree, resting his back against the trunk. His scent was so thick with fatigue that they relaxed almost as one. He was no threat, even though his scent was strange as the one who called himself Count D.

Toboe perked up. "Granny used to tell me stories of Kami. How they protected the animals and made people 'see the error of their ways.' She said the last Kami went away a long time ago."

D nodded. "Yes. The earth was dying and it would have killed me faster and surer than a bullet. My kind is bound to the earth and the creatures upon it. So I took my chances and fled, hoping to save those I could."

Tsume stalked toward him, stiff-legged. "What you call yourself doesn't matter! How did we get here? What did you do?" His voice was a raw howl of anguish. "We were dead! I know! I howled for Toboe, dammit! And Hige-" He broke off, glancing at the tawny-furred wolf sitting next to Blue. Hige nodded, understanding why he didn't want to say more. Not in front of Toboe. Never in front of him.

Toboe shivered. "I remember defending Pops, but…" His ears tilted back and he let out a confused whine.

D stepped forward and rested a hand on Toboe's head. "I heard your dying cries. The despair and longing for a better place, too."

The man beneath the tree laughed harshly, lifting exhaustion-shaded eyes to stare at Tsume. "He went down there to get you guys. It almost killed him." His blue eyes darted back to D. "I would have gone."

"It would have killed you." D reprimanded gently. "You are nowhere near strong enough yet to have borne it. You would have died and they would still be down there, frozen in the ice." He turned his attention back to the wolves. "I found you and brought you here, while the last stubborn spark of life still lingered. Here you may safely wait for paradise."

Toboe shivered beneath his hand and his tail thumped the ground. His expression was full of bliss, and he looked up at D with adoring eyes. "He feels like Cheza, but stronger. Tsume, you've got to come try this!"

"Cheza!" Kiba jerked to his feet. "What about Cheza?"

D smiled at them and Toboe quivered harder under his hand. D turned and lifted his other hand. "See for yourselves."

They turned and Kiba's jaw dropped open as a slender she-wolf loped easily towards them. Her fur was a luminous white; so translucent it was limned with blue, like the full moon. She bounded toward them on slim legs and her eyes were a strange shade of red. As she reached D's side, she stopped and became the Cheza they had known so long. "Kiba! Tsume! Hige! Toboe! Blue! This one is glad to see you! So glad to see all of you!"

Toboe peered at her from around D. "Cheza? Is that really you?" He asked uncertainly.

She smiled at him. "Toboe. This one is happy to see you well."

Toboe approached her on trembling legs, quivering in eagerness. He sniffed the air. His head came up and his tail flagged. "Cheza! It is you!"

She knelt and welcomed him with open arms. Toboe wriggled in her arms like a puppy, tail pounding the grass and trying to lick her face. Cheza laughed delightedly before looking up and stretching a hand toward Kiba. "Kiba?"

He broke. His aloof manner died a sudden death and he leapt toward her as eagerly as Toboe. Cheza welcomed him with a broad smile and an embrace that was like coming home. After a long moment she drew away, shifting back to the delicate she-wolf and licking Kiba's face. That was the signal for all of them to crowd around her, welcoming her into the pack with abandon.

When they had calmed a little, Kiba sought D where he had joined the man under the tree. "Thank you. How did you…?"

D looked up and smiled. "It was what she desired. It was what you desired. I only provided the power."

"Hey!" The other man protested.

"We provided the power." D amended with a slight smile for the man beside him. "She had the will and most importantly, the desire. She wanted to run with you again. I made it so it was possible for her to do so."

Kiba looked back at where the pack had gathered around Cheza, plumed tails wagging and teeth bared in foolish grins of happiness. "You brought them back to me. I never had a pack until I met them. I never wanted or needed one, but I wouldn't have gotten so far as I did without them. You saved them. Thank you for that too."

The man beside D chuckled softly. "He was thrilled to find you all. He's been searching for the wolves for a damned long time."

D laughed, shushing him gently. "I confess, I had forgotten how well you could hide yourselves. I did not think to look for you among humans, disguised as the same. There you outwitted me."

"And that's the last time you'll ever hear him admit that," Chuckled the other wearily. "He's so sure of himself. But you all surprised him." He turned his blue gaze on the pack. "Until you joined the flower maiden, he didn't have clue one that you were still alive. The appearance of such a… diverse pack thrilled him, you can bet."

"Leon, shush." D reprimanded softly. "How was I to know that one member of a race that was believed to be extinct, even by myself, would show up now? It was rather a surprise."

Kiba stared at him without comprehension. "What?"

D sighed. "Never mind. Just know that your pack is very special. That is all that is important."

Kiba looked back at the pack as Cheza loped to join him, moving easily in her new form. Behind her, Hige had started an impromptu tussle with Toboe. Blue joined the fracas and then to everyone's surprise, Tsume leapt into the middle of the brawl. He shouldered Toboe and deftly twisted Hige's tail. He dashed away, the rest of the pack following him in delighted, carefree play.

Cheza came to Kiba's side and stood beside him in her human guise. Wordlessly, he slipped an arm around her waist and watched the others trying to catch Tsume. "Yes," he agreed. "That is what's important. That and being together again."

Cheza smiled at him. "Yes. This one is glad too."

Suddenly, Hige bolted over to knock Kiba head over tail. With an indignant yelp, Kiba sprang after him, followed by Cheza.

Leon leaned tiredly against D's shoulder as they watched the reunited pack play. "Why didn't you tell them?"

"They are content. What would it do to tell then that one of their pack is of a strain of wolf that went extinct long, long ago? As long as they are here and happy in the shop, I am content too."

Leon sighed. "Maybe. But I have a feeling there's more to him being here now than any of us know."

"Perhaps." D smoothed Leon's blonde hair with the fingers of one hand. "You should rest. You are exhausted."

Leon nodded, but didn't move. "Just let me watch them for a little while longer."

"Of course."

D watched the wolves until Blue collapsed next to Hige, panting happily. Cheza and Kiba nuzzled each other affectionately while Tsume pinned Toboe and licked the smaller wolf's ear with fierce affection. D glanced at Leon, unsurprised to find he had fallen asleep. He rose and easily gathered Leon in his arms, leaving the wolves to their temporary paradise.

A/N- So what do you think? Comments and criticism welcome. Do you hate it? Do you love it? Does it annoy you? (Do you think Akita is an annoying spaz who should keep her hands off my computer?) Subu-chan, that's not nice!!!!!!!