Kyouya's eyes narrowed. He had never seen such a creature but had read a few texts describing the natures of this secretive band. While werewolves are social creatures, they are rarely loved by humans. Some travel in packs while others who aren't fortunate enough to find a pack live in solitude, though a dogged curiousity sometimes pushes them to invade human towns which hardly ever ends in a pleasing manner. Myths usually refer to the moon as a source of power for this creature, but that part remains foggy as some books deny this profusely. It seemed as if Kyouya would now eventually learn the truth, if any, behind such myths. He searched Tamaki's eyes for any hidden ill intent. Like wolves, these counter parts were also rumoured to be dangerous.

Tamaki shrank back farther from the fierce Elf with a whimper. He had known from birth to fear humans and even more so when his parents had perished in a trap as they fled from the human who had discovered their secret. It had never been a wish of his, nor any werewolf to the extent of his knowledge, to have their heritage revealed. It may have been beneficial to have the Princess know of his unfortunate condition, though having this man with the all too calculating gaze was not such an improvement on his previous existence. He layed his ears back in a way that made his large blue eyes much more visible.

The Princess then came to his defense. "Kyouya," she scolded, "how dare you?!" Her motherly instinct had instantly accepted the very large puppy far quicker than good sense allowed, but she elected to blame her sudden good hearted ways on her own experience under Kyouya's microscope which probably played a part anyways. It had not been pleasant. The way that his eyes and face made her cheeks hot and produced an odd mixture of longing and defiance. She turned to smile at Tamaki. "It's all right," she said gently before turning back to Kyouya. "Stop examining him! Just because he is a bit different doesn't mean he'll try to hurt us!" She felt a tug on her pants.

"I wouldn't ever hurt you," said a wide eyed Tamaki.

"Hmph!" Kyouya crossed his arms irritably. It displeased him greatly that his Princess was staring at that golden werewolf. The Dog is probably infested with fleas and, Kyouya noticed with a wrinkled nose, needs a good bath! He glanced once more at Haruhi's gentle gaze that she never turned upon him. It seemed to him that the whole situation was quite unfair. He had known the Princess her entire life yet this unknown and smelly stranger was aquiring her affection quicker than he had in all the time he had been with her.

He stuck his nose up in the air once more as he applied his most in charge manner. He smiled inwardly. Despite the disadvantages of the past morning, he could still successfully keep his head held high. "Weren't we heading to a town?"

Tamaki and Haruhi looked up from their happy laughter to view the haughty Dark Lord. Haruhi sniffed. Just what did he think he was Lord of anyway? She couldn't figure it out. It was she who ranked over the haughty figure. Not that it matters here, she reminded herself. It was always good to assess the facts so that you could get to the heart of the matter in her opinion, so she made a point of keeping the facts foremost in her mind.

She looked up at Kyouya with her eyes half-lidded. "Yes, we are," she stated in a silky voice that hinted at her uncertain superiority. She gestured to Tamaki. "Let's go."

Tamaki sat with wide eyes for a moment before scrambling up on his feet while adding more grass stains to his all ready innumerable collection gracing his trousers. "Yes! Shall I lead, my Princess," he laughed cheerily. It was probably a mistake, but his personality refused to let him acknowledge how comfortable he was around the Princess. She calmed his frantic suspions before he even realized he had them. It was the trust of one who hadn't yet been betrayed or had chosen to forget the betrayal entirely.

--

Tamaki grasped Haruhi's hand tightly as they walked through the small town. He had led the unlikely group bravely to the sheep village nestled in a small valley between a few especially large hills but had felt quite intimidated to be surrounded by the village's population. He was not one of them and had no right to invade their territory. He squeezed his eyes shut and swallowed. "I shouldn't have come," he whispered fearfully to himself. Then, he felt a gentle squeeze on his hand that caused him to open his eyes fearfully only to be greeted by the smiling face of Haruhi.

Her smile softened at his expression. "I think you belong just as much as anyone else," she whispered so only he could hear. "Besides, I need you. If you hadn't come, I would've wandered for days with Kyouya before I found this place." She grimaced. What exactly would wandering with Kyouya for days be like, she mused inwardly and immediately recieved an image of her carrying him day after day and basically becoming a servant. She began to get a sickening feeling in her stomach.

Tamaki smiled tentavely. "Thank you," he said gently. No one has told me they wanted me around since. . . He shook his head to free himself of such thoughts. They were beneficial to his situation in no way. He turned to Haruhi to see her looking possitively bright in an angry sort of way.

"I was talking to Tamaki. It's none of your business," she said in a formidable voice.

"What did you say about me?" Kyouya crossed his arms irritably. It wasn't like he would ever hurt her or anything. She stuck her chin out and put on her most defensive face. He sighed. It was getting late and his feet hurt from walking all day long. He had never had to exert himself so at home. He put a hand to his forehead where his glasses would've been perched had they not broke. "Nevermind," he said in a defeated voice. He would bother with such trivial matters in the morning after he had a glorious sleep.

Haruhi blinked in amazement. Kyouya hadn't backed down so easily since their childhood days. She at first only assumed he was ginuenly tired but caught herself. If Kyouya had proved anything this trip, he had proved he was unpredictable. Hadn't the apple incident reminded her to keep her guard up? "What is really wrong," she asked blankly.

Kyouya looked up quickly. His first thought was 'Why?' but then a glance at her face told him that she was not concerned for his condition but more for her part in some scheme of his. It embarassed him that he had let his own hopes run away with him. "I. . . I'm just tired," he said as a blush swept over his cheeks. He turned his head away from her to hide this embarassing evidence of his emotions.

Haruhi watched Kyouya practically spin away from her with absolute awe on her face. She couldn't even remember a time when he had stuttered, not to his father or even the King. He was always so sure of himself. It astounded her that she would be the first person to see his perfect guise slip. She smiled as she accepted the fact that Kyouya was just tired. She took his arm in one of hers. "Let's find somewhere we can rest," she smiled gently.

Kyouya looked at her in surprise. It was different from the way she had looked at Tamaki, but he preferred it that way. Somehow it made him feel special. "Yes," he said as he straightened his shoulders in an atempt to regain his dignity that he felt he had drastically lost. He shrugged her arm down his own till he was able to grab at her hand, but he missed. It's just the stress, he told himself patiently.

Haruhi smiled happily with pure relief. She knew now that Kyouya was truly fine. Only then would he have reacted so to her sudden friendliness.

Tamaki looked on curiously as his two companions engaged in a quite dramatic display. He had never seen such a thing, seeing as alone as he had been throughout his life, so he couldn't make anything of their interactions. He smelled Haruhi's happiness and relief along with Kyouya's embarassment and unusual pleasure. He felt a tightening in his stomach that made his breathing suddenly come fast. His lips parted partially as a growl escaped his lips. Haruhi turned to look at him with a startled expression while Kyouya looked on with a rather similar expression to Tamaki's own.

Immediately Tamaki jerked his head back and covered his mouth. "I don't know what. . . I-," he felt something close to shame as he stood there looking curious and worried at the same time. He looked sheepishly at Haruhi once more. "I'm sorry! I really don't know what came over me!"

Haruhi was troubled by the stricken expression on her companion's face so she took his hand in her own for a moment. "It's okay," she said as she patted his hand before letting it fall and turning to Kyouya. "Let's find a rest spot." She wandered in front of the two boys while in search of the local inn or tavern.

Kyouya narrowed his eyes and stared with an emotionless face at Tamaki for a while. How dare he. . . growl at me? The absurdity of this struck Kyouya quite hard right then, and he began to chuckle which turned into a full laugh however brief. He clapped Tamaki on the back and grinned. "Are you gonna growl at me again if I insist on staying with my Princess tonight," asked Kyouya with a sideways look as if testing the waters.

Tamaki's eyes widened and he began to curl a lip involuntarily at the implied notion before he realized his action. He sniffed the air and registered Kyouya's scent, but it was muddled, and he couldn't tell his emotions. "I don't. . . like that idea," he said slowly.

Kyouya laughed once more before he held up his hands defensively. "I was just kidding! No need to get agitated about it!" He turned to continue after the Princess. "You know," said Kyouya wonderingly. "When I started out on this journey, I just thought of it as another job, but I don't think that way now." He turned to look at Tamaki's astounded eyes and chuckled. "I certainly never thought I would be traveling with one such as yourself."

Tamaki was a little startled at Kyouya's sudden revelation, but even more so that he would confide in him of all people. He hadn't thought he had done anything deserving of such friendship, but he still vowed halfheartedly to be careful of this relationship. Kyouya was still unpredictable and intimidating, but he had always wanted such a friend. He watched Kyouya walk on ahead of him with a soft look on his face. Perhaps I had better learn to control my. . . growling, thought Tamaki with a wry grin on his face.

Haruhi walked along the ever darkening street as she became more and more agitated. She had assumed if she followed the main road that an inn would certainly appear. Her eyes swept the cobbled street and it's wooden cottages with a sense of longing in her heart. No doubt the cottages were filled with families that were sitting down to dinner or crawling into a heavenly soft bed. She blew a sigh up her face that made her bangs flutter in the short puff. She walked over to a storefront with a man cleaning the windows vigorously. She tapped her fingers on the windowpane. "Hello?" She peered through the glass at him.

He glanced up suddenly and a look of fear came into him. If it was fear for himself or for her, she could not tell. "Can we come in," she inquired curiously. The man's actions had intrigued her. He glanced toward the back of the shop quickly before turning to look at her fearfully once more. She blinked her eyes at him. He rounded the countertop and began to wind his way around the various goods until he disappeared from view. Haruhi sighed once more. It really felt to her that it had been a silly thing to hope for directions from a stranger. Suddenly, a door rattled and the man stuck his head outside to look at her.

"What are you doing out here at this time of night," he demanded harshly.

"Should I not be," asked Haruhi easily.

He sighed in an exasperated way and placed his forefinger on his forehead before looking up and replying, "You're not from around here. Are you?"

Haruhi shook her head vigorously with wide eyes. The man's eyes widened as she felt a hand on her shoulder and another one slip into her own. She looked around to see Tamaki and Kyouya standing over her. "What's wrong, Kyouya," she asked nonchalantly.

The man's eyes widened. "Are they with you?" His disbelief intrigued Tamaki dispite his other experiences with humans.

"Is there something wrong," he asked curiously. His ears pricked forward under his hat in anticipation.

"Don't pester the man," Kyouya chided before turning back to the man. "Do you know where the nearest inn is?"

The man sighed and rubbed his head. "I guess you really aren't from around here. Come in." He seemed to have dropped his hesitant exterior but couldn't help glancing nervously around the door before closing it. He turned toward the back of the shop. "Abigail," he called loudly. He looked at the trio for a moment before speaking. "We have no inn here," he said unhappily. "It was once a prosperous town, and the inn used to always be full of life and lights, but-"

A robust woman entered the room. "Eddie, what is it," she sighed with her eyes closed in an exasperated manner. She threw the dishrag over her shoulder and wiped her hands on her apron.

"Guests, dear."

Her eyes flew open at once. "What kind of guests," she asked as her eyes narrowed in their direction. She leaned closer as if to sniff the group. Tamaki could sense her unease and distrust.

"Travelers," Eddie said as if that explained all. "They were looking for the inn." He sighed. "They can at least spend the night here."

Abigail circled the three as if inspecting them. Haruhi stood still for as long as she could handle. She spun around to look Abigail defiantly in the eye. Abigail leaned in so close that Haruhi could feel the warmth of her breath. "What's wrong, dear," she taunted with a laugh.

Haruhi stuck out her chin and drew her brows together. "If you don't want us here, we'll leave on our own accord. We know where the door is." The two stared defiantly at each other for a moment before Abigail's face turned to total amusement.

"Eddie, you've certainly found some travelers," she laughed and tossed her arm around his shoulders. "Only an ignorant person or a fool would go out there with them."

The large woman and the thin man both clad in nearly matching brown outfits would've quite amused Tamaki and Haruhi if they hadn't been concentrating wholly on the idea of 'them'. Kyouya, of course, took no notice of the odd couple but had instead been watching their movements and actions to possibly give him a hint as to what might be going on in this odd town.

Abigail waved at the group. "Dinner will be ready soon. Eddie will take you to your rooms." She chuckled more as she disappeared between the stacked shelves once more. Kyouya frowned. Her behavior was just wrong and unnatural in his mind. There is something odd going on around here. He glanced at Eddie's nervous posture and noted his frequent glances out the window. Perhaps having to do with them?

--

Haruhi stretched happily. She reveled in the feel of dry clothes against her own clean skin. The hot bath had been exactly what she had needed. She lay back on the bed and propped her head beneath her arms where she could watch her toes wiggle. She smiled. It had been a long few days. She rolled onto her side and began picking absentmindedly at the quilt beneath her. She realized how strange this couple was that they were staying with but had no other solution to the problem of a bed and bath other than do without. She wrinkled her nose. It wasn't a pleasant aspect in her opinion especially considering Abigail and Eddie's distrust of the outdoors. She honestly didn't see how this sheep town could survive being afraid of the night. Aren't shepherds suppose to sleep under the stars with their sheep?

A knock sounded at her door. "Yes," she questioned.

"Can I come in," asked a troubled voice that she would recognize anywhere.

"Yes."

Kyouya opened the door and walked straight in while closing it behind him. Haruhi had only seen Kyouya perfect this technique with such skill. He began to pace back and forth restlessly with a hand pressed to his forehead. "Princess-" He stopped all of a sudden and his face seemed to be more carefully composed than usual.

Haruhi cocked her head to the side. Kyouya was certainly acting strange today, she thought to herself. "Yes," she prompted once more.

Kyouya frantically tried to grad onto the odd emotions deep inside his stomach. Haruhi looked so adorable sitting on the bed in the nice white dress with puffed sleeves and a light blue ribbon tied on the hem and under the chest. He blinked slyly. "I see you're wearing my house's colors," he said lazily while rolling his eyes to see her reaction.

She looked down uncertainly at the gown and picked at the fabric. "It's not much," she noted. It was also much cooler than her court apparel. She assumed a disgusted expression at the thought of the oppressive clothes she had freed herself from earlier. "I hope Abigail will see fit to take it back. The colors are quite impractical."

Surely she just meant that strictly from a wardrobe aspect, he tried to reason with a barely contained expression. "Ah. . . I was hoping to talk to you about our rather unexpected innkeepers."

Haruhi looked up with a much more keen expression. "I have my suspicions about them," she said with narrowed brows. "But I suspect them less and more them."

Kyouya smiled. His Princess may be indirect and ignorant on matters of the heart or, in his case, particular arrangements, but she was quick to see something wrong in others. She had been the best practice for him to learn to assume his mask when they were children. "I'm not at all sure we should stay here," he frowned speculatively. "Pehaps they aren't so bad as what is inside these walls?"

A scraping sound was heard outside their door. Their heads turned quickly as the handle began to silently and carefully turn. Whoever was on the other side didn't want to make a sound as they entered the now occupied guest bedroom. Kyouya looked at the Princess, and she nodded. He slid over the bed and ducked down on the other side so as to be out of view. Silently, Kyouya vowed, that if whatever came through that door tried to hurt the Princess, he would certainly protect her. He smiled in spite of his grim thoughts. What a shame it would be to ruin that dress, he chuckled to himself.

The door swung open silently as a disheveled golden head popped in the door. "Princess?" He saw her unclench her hands and sigh. Suddenly, his eyes became liquid and hot as he recognized the other scent lingering in her room. "Princess, why is Kyouya in here with you," he all but snarled.

Kyouya stood up as soon as Haruhi opened her mouth to answer. "Please shut the door, Tamaki," he said as he brushed his trousers off nonchalantly. He cut a daring glance of his own at the werewolf. "We were just discussing our. . . hosts. Any enlightenment on the subject?"

Tamaki easily shed his growing temper as he shut the door behind him. "I smelled something when we entered this town." His eyes grew troubled as the fire in them cooled. "I marked it off as unease at the prescence of people, but. . ." He shifted uneasily to the other foot and back.

Kyouya started to interrupt his thoughtful movement, but the Princess held her hand up and gave him a look that told him to keep his mouth shut. He nodded. The Princess did understand this strange creature better than himself. Tamaki promptly plopped down in a cross legged position on the floor. During his frantic pacing, his fluffy golden tail had escaped from his trousers to swish behind him. He now swished and tapped it aimlessly on the floor behind him.

He looked up suddenly. "It was blood."

Kyouya rolled his eyes. "You're a werewolf. Didn't you realize this when you first smelled it? What do you eat?"

Tamaki looked incredously at him. "I don't eat my food raw! I cook it!" He resumed his thoughtful pose with his chin cupped in one hand. "Anyway, this wasn't normal blood. I haven't smelled this before." He wrinkled his nose. "It was cold and. . . dusty. Old." He rubbed his head frantically between both hands as if it could magically enable him to give a clearer answer.

A knock sounded on the door. "Um. . . Abigail has supper ready if you're hungry," stammered a hesitant Eddie's voice.

The group exchanged a look. "Might as well eat our fill before we make a decision," said Kyouya in a low voice so Eddie couldn' t hear.

Haruhi nodded. "I'll be down soon!" She stood up from the bed and the white material draped down to rest only inches from her feet.

Kyouya looked at her with a smug grin on his face. "You should keep that dress," he said slowly. "It makes you seem taller than you really are."

Haruhi narrowed her eyes. "Get out of my room." Her voice was almost deadly in the silence. "Now."

The two boys quickly got up and exited the small room. Kyouya chuckled happily when the door clicked shut. Tamaki looked at him curiously with a question in his eyes. He didn't really understand the humour of the situation. Wasn't it normal for a female to be shorter and more fragile than a male? The thought had crossed his mind before while he watched Kyouya and Haruhi bicker.

Kyouya saw the quesion in his eyes and smiled a friendly smile. "It's the irony," he explained before explaining his own statement almost to himself. "She may be small and delicate looking, but she has the spirit of a great leader." His eyes softened. "Anyone would be lucky to have her by his side."

--

I'm sorry it took so long! T.T It was mostly the rewriting bit. I had it halfway done but became unsatisfied and had to erase most of it. I am really wracking my brain for a way to resolve this conflict, but it would take such a long time. I'm even still trying to work in a place where they can open the container she recieved from Ranka, but it don't seem to be working due to all the points I'm trying to cover right now. Please! Please! Review! Your reviews will get the next chapter out quicker more than anything else! Thank you!