Disclaimer: Me no owny Kannazuki no Miko.

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Chapter 3

"Hey, Hime! My favorite little sister!"

That was all Himeko heard before she was tackled by a ball of reddish-brown fur; with a snorting laugh she rolled easily, batting at Makoto's ear as the other female chewed playfully on her neck. "I'm your only little sister," the golden wolf gasped, trying to control her giggles. "And I'm not even your sister!"

"Oh, hell, you just enjoy ruining my fun don't you?"

Himeko gave Makoto's ear one last swipe before sitting up. Makoto flopped on her side, resting her muzzle by Himeko's front paws; her fur was a unique dark brown, almost auburn color, with just a tint of red. As she tilted her head to gaze up at her, her golden eyes gleamed with good humor; Himeko felt a rush of affection for her cousin and lowered her head, gently licking the other female's muzzle. "How was your patrol?"

"Boring, as usual." Makoto yawned. "Most of the prey animals are asleep for the day, save perhaps a few rabbits and a couple deer. Even those are hard to come by." She rolled her eyes skyward. "The great and mighty Chikane Himemiya was riding through today with her personal maid in tow, and the noise was enough to send any animal running for cover." She narrowed her eyes and sighed. "I figure tonight's hunting is going to be hard."

"Now that I think about it, she's been out a lot recently hasn't she?"

"Yeah, and she's scaring the prey everywhere she goes. Tonight's going to be rough."

Makoto's cousin said nothing, gazing quietly at the rock wall. It seemed lately that Chikane Himemiya was going out for rides more and more often, almost as though she was patrolling. A shiver ran down her spine, and she shook her head. "We'll be able to find enough for the pups, won't we?"

"I'm sure we will." Makoto sat up, giving her chest a few quick licks to settle her ruffled fur. "They never eat much anyway." She flicked her ear briefly and sighed. "Still, it seems like that girl's just trying to make our life difficult."

"It's not like she knows we're here…"

Himeko muttered the sentence softly, gazing at her paws; Makoto sighed before gently bumping her shoulder with her nose.

"Hey," the reddish-brown female murmured. "Don't get soft with herof all humans, Himeko. You know who she is. She'd shoot you first and ask questions later."

"I know, but…"

"Human lover."

The affection in Makoto's words took the sting out of the gentle insult, and Himeko gave her a sheepish look. "Oh, by the way, Mako…" Her eyes gleamed. "Souma was looking for you."

Makoto's eyes lit up. "He was?"

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It was raining.

The rain fell in silent silver sheets as she moved quickly through the dark trees, her trusted weapon gripped tightly in her hand. "Stay here, Sakura-chan," she ordered, flashing a quick glance at her best friend and only companion. "I thought I heard something up ahead."

"Are you sure it's okay to go by yourself?" The short-haired girl frowned, tightening her grip on the reins as their horses danced nervously from hoof to hoof. "There are wolves in this forest…"

"I know, but I definitely heard something that's not a wolf. Just stay with the horses. I'll be right back."

Sakura looked as though she would have liked to argue, but she slipped away before she could open her mouth, moving low and fast through the shadows. The rain dampened her clothes and made them cling to her skin, but she ignored the mild discomfort and plunged on. After a moment she glimpsed a clearing and paused in the shadows; her eyes widened in shock, and she just stared.

A young pale-skinned woman sat in the clearing; her long, dark hair fell down her back and blood dripped from numerous cuts and slashes on her body. The clothes she wore were ripped and torn, and even from the distance the other woman could tell she was shivering.

Then she looked over her shoulder. The woman's breath caught in her throat.

Her eyes were blue, dark and deep like the sky itself; in the rain, she could just make out the gleam of a pale pink shell hanging around her neck.

She couldn't just walk away.

She was moving before she was even aware of it, tugging off her jacket and gently draping it along the other's shoulders as she knelt beside her; the dark-haired woman stiffened in surprise and jerked her head up, but slowly relaxed when she realized she wasn't being attacked. "Who are you?"

She sounded weak, the other woman thought grimly. How much blood had she lost? "My name's Kannazuki Orihime," she murmured. "Were you attacked by wolves?"

The other woman shrugged and looked at the grass. "You could say that." A small smirk curved her lips. "We had a difference of opinions."

Briefly Orihime wondered how a human and a wolf couldn't have a difference of opinions, but waved it aside. She gently touched the other woman's shoulder. "Let me take you back to camp," she said. "Those cuts need to be looked at."

"They aren't that bad."

"They'd feel better if you let me treat them."

For a moment she thought the blue-eyed stranger would protest; then she sighed and closed her eyes. "It won't make things worse," she decided at last, and let Orihime help her to her feet.

"Do you have a name?" Orihime asked. "Unless you just want me to keep calling you 'you'." Humor gleamed briefly in her eyes, and the other woman chuckled.

"Tsuki." She tilted her head back and gazed up at the moon, ignoring the rain that fell all around her. "My name is Tsuki."

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Himeko awoke with a jolt, blinking groggily and lifting her head as Makoto nipped her shoulder, drowsily muttering that Miyako wanted her. Slowly she stood, stretching leisurely as Souma slipped in and gently brushed noses with Makoto. What an odd dream, she mused. She'd certainly never had any like it.

It didn't even feel like a dream… it felt more like a memory…

Shaking her head and deciding to forget it, Himeko trotted out of the den and loped easily to where the Heads had summoned her the day before. It was still early; the sun was only just beginning to rise into the sky, gently lighting the dark sky above.

There were only three Heads present this morning; Miyako, Corona, and Reiko. Feeling slightly apprehensive, Himeko stepped into the clearing. "You, uh… you wanted me?"

"Yes." Sympathy and regret gleamed in Miyako's eyes. "I'm sorry, Himeko, but the plan is for me to bring you into town under the guise that you were attacked by wolves…"

She trailed off as understanding lit Himeko's eyes. A soft "Oh" escaped her. After a moment she slowly sat, wrapping her tail tightly around her paws and lifting her eyes to meet Miyako's gaze.

"Be quick about it?" Her voice was weak but held a trace of humor. "I'm not that good with pain."

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"Himeko?"

With a soft groan the golden she-wolf shifted; she felt a warm hand run through her fur, gently scratching her behind the ears. Dazed, aching and feeling the blood seep through her fur, she slowly opened her eyes, wincing as her vision spun and dimmed. "Ow," she rasped.

"I'm sorry. I really am." The hand lifted away, and Himeko slowly shifted her head to look—and stared.

Some part of her knew she was looking at Miyako, an instinct really, because she recognized the gleam in those golden eyes. But she had a hard time looking away. The Second Head's human form seemed to her just as regal as her wolf form; her skin was the same rich, dark brown of her fur, and the purple markings that she bore around her eyes as a wolf colored the hair that fell in a long ponytail down her back. Miyako adjusted her glasses and chuckled as Himeko continued to stare, not even bothering to hide the fact that she was.

"That's right, you've never seen my human form have you?" Humor gleamed in the older woman's eyes. "But I'm sure yours can live up to mine."

"Miyako!"

Had she been human, Himeko would be blushing right about now; Miyako laughed and waved her hand, turning away, struggling to maintain the dignity of the Second Head the young wolf knew so well. "Listen, I have to go get the horse from the stream; I left him there to drink so he'd be good to go when you woke up. Borrowed the fellow from a farmer who lives nearby. I'll come back, so don't move… you might just lose more blood and pass out again."

The older woman made her departure; shaking her head, Himeko slowly staggered to her paws, fighting another wave of dizziness and wincing as her bruised muscles screamed in protest. While Miyako, Corona, and Reiko hadn't succeeded in killing her, they'd certainly done a great deal of damage. She'd probably feel sore for another week, maybe two tops.

After a moment, she got down to the business of assuming her human form, closing her eyes. It was a bit harder while injured, and it definitely hurt more and took more concentration, but Himeko's patience was rewarded as she felt the familiar heat course through her veins, warm but not hot, almost like liquid sunlight.

"So you can still take on your form while injured," Miyako murmured as she returned, leading a black gelding by the reins. "That's very good for a pup your age, Himeko." This time, because she was capable of it, Himeko did blush. Her eyes, now a soft, clear purple in human form, lowered to the grass as she tucked a loose strand of golden hair behind her ear. A special bonus for assuming one's human form was that one took it on fully clothed; they just had to imagine the clothing as well. "Thanks," she whispered. "I've had a lot of practice."

"I'm sure."

Miyako's eyes gleamed good-naturedly, and she gripped the saddle and swung easily astride the horse, tugging the reins to turn the gelding so she could offer Himeko her hand. The younger wolf just stared for a moment, eyes filled with surprise. "You ride pretty well," she said uncertainly after a moment, taking Miyako's offered hand and letting the older wolf pull her on, sliding her free arm around her waist and letting Himeko lean back against her.

"I must have ridden a lot of horses in a past life."

Soothed, Himeko settled back against Miyako and closed her eyes, blowing out a long breath. Truth be told she was still in quite a bit of pain, and her clothing only accented it, carrying rips and tears were teeth and claws had ripped. Miyako's grip was firm, and Himeko knew she wouldn't mind if she slept for awhile.

So as Miyako clucked her tongue, gently digging her heels into the horse's side and urging him on, she did just that.

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Himemiya Chikane was… bored.

Completely, hopelessly bored.

It wasn't exactly her fault. There was only so many times a person could practice their aim with a bow and arrow; and if you kept hitting the target again and again, you were bound to lose interest in it.

Normally Chikane would have gone and asked her father what he wanted her to do next; God knew the man was a devoted wolf hunter, and determined that his daughter follow in his footsteps. But as circumstances would have it, both her parents were currently attending a town meeting and wouldn't be home until sundown at the very latest. The blue-haired girl sighed. Oh well, she thought ruefully.

A gentle knock on her door made her glance up. "It's open," she called; the door creaked open softly and she sat up a little straighter as her maid peeked in. "Otoha-san? Is something wrong?"

"Forgive me for this, Ojou-sama, but your presence has been requested by a young woman downstairs. There's another girl with her, about your age, and, well, according to the woman who brought her in she was attacked by wolves…"

Chikane's eyes slowly narrowed. "Is that so?"

"Yes… but Ojou-sama…"

"Yes?"

"That woman… she bears a striking resemblance to… Kinjo Miyako."

"… I'll be right down."

This just got interesting.

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Miyako watched with interest as Himemiya Chikane walked down the stairs. While it was a wolf custom to refer to humans using their first name (Chikane Himemiya instead of Himemiya Chikane, for example), it was all too easy for her to lapse back into a human mindset. "Himemiya Chikane, I presume," she said, dipping her head quietly in greeting.

"Kinjo Miyako." Chikane returned the gesture. "I'm surprised to see you. You all but vanished a few years ago, didn't you?"

"I had a change in lifestyles, Himemiya-san." Miyako paused to shift her grip on the still sleeping Himeko. "I found this girl unconscious in the woods. By her wounds, I'd guess she was attacked by wolves, maybe two or three by the look of it."

The girl switched focus instantly, stepping closer to survey the sleeping girl Miyako held in her arms. "Her name is Kurusugawa Himeko. She told me that before she passed out." Mentally she sent Himeko a small wake up call, causing the younger girl to shift in her arms and murmur sleepily. "That's all I know, I'm afraid. I figure you could take better care of her, being the resident wolf hunters of this area."

"We could." Chikane was already reaching for the other girl; smirking a little, Miyako gently deposited her sleeping cargo into the dark-haired girl's arms, feeling a brief surge of protectiveness as Himeko's warm weight left her.

From here on, the pup was on her own.

"I can't stay long." Miyako took a step back, wanting to make her escape as quietly as possible. She'd slipped back into the ways of a human more easily than she liked to think about, and wanted nothing more than to run back to the trees, to her mate and young pup back home. "I'm afraid my husband will be missing me."

"Husband?" Chikane tore her gaze from Himeko's face to look at the older woman. "Is that why you—"

"Good day, Himemiya-san."

And with that, Miyako was gone.

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That was odd…

Sighing a little, Chikane shook her head and settled back in her chair, propping her chin in her hand and studying the sleeping girl that currently lay on her bed. "Kurusugawa Himeko, huh?" she murmured, sweeping her eyes over her. She frowned and leaned closer, studying the girl's wounds.

This was indeed odd. Miyako's prediction had been correct as far as Chikane could tell; Kurusugawa had been attacked by more than one wolf. But the placement of her wounds was unusual for an attack. While she certainly bore cuts and teeth marks along her arms, there was also blood along her sides and stomach, and a thin cut quite close to her throat. The wounds indicated that the wolves had been quite close to the girl—perhaps closer than they were supposed to be.

I'll have to ask her about it when she wakes up, the young wolf hunter decided, and without thinking reached out and brushed a loose strand of golden hair out of the other girl's closed eyes. A small jolt of warmth shot through her hand, and as she sat back she noticed a pale pink shell that lay against the girl's steadily rising and falling chest.

And then the girl's eyes opened. A small smile curved Chikane's lips.

"Good morning, Kurusugawa Himeko."

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At the sight of one of the most dangerous wolf hunters sitting right at her side, Himeko reacted the way any wolf would; she instinctively shot back with a startled yelp, but as she did so her hand plunged into thin air. Her eyes widened as she began to fall.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Her companion rushed forward, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back from the edge of the bed, her other arm sliding along her back as she held Himeko close protectively. "Easy," she soothed. "Don't move around so quickly yet. Your wounds have barely been bandaged."

"My…? Oh, yeah…"

Himeko winced, slowly pulling away from Chikane's arms. "Sorry," she whispered, blushing. "You just… you startled me." Her eyes uncertainly met Chikane's. "You're, um… you're Chikane Himemiya, aren't you?"

Chikane raised a brow at the unusual way of saying her name. "Yes. Though people usually call me Himemiya Chikane."

"Oh… oh! I'm so sorry, I didn't…"

Knowing that if the girl went on she'd start laughing, Chikane leaned forward and gently touched a finger to her lips to silence her; Himeko froze, her face turning an even deeper shade of red. "First of all," Chikane whispered, "don't apologize, it's not a big deal. You can call me whatever feels comfortable."

"Well… what do people usually call you?"

Chikane frowned, pulling her finger from Himeko's mouth. "Usually I'm just addressed as Miya-sama or Himemiya-san, depending on if it's the girls at school or friends of my parents…" She blinked at the confusion in Himeko's eyes. "What?"

"That sounds complicated…"

"Don't you…? Never mind, I'll just explain it. –Sama and –san are both terms of respect. It's a way you'd address someone of higher rank than you or someone you don't know that well."

Himeko appeared to mull this over, tilting her head back and gazing at the ceiling with a thoughtful frown; Chikane waited patiently, waiting to see what the other girl had to say. Finally, the golden-haired girl said, "What would you call someone as a friend? I mean…" She blushed for a third time. Chikane was actually keeping count. "We're kind of friends, right? Since we're the same age."

"Yeah, we are." The words left Chikane's mouth before she had time to think about them. "You'd use –chan for a girl, -kun for a boy."

"So… then I'd call you… Chikane-chan, right?"

For a moment, Chikane could have sworn her heart skipped a beat.

"Yes. You'd call me Chikane-chan."

Himeko repeated this softly a few times under her breath; she straightened slightly and grinned. "I like it!" she declared, then winced and touched her shoulder. "Ow…"

"Careful." Chikane leaned forward, gently covering Himeko's hand with her own. "We just cleaned your wounds and bandaged them. You got hurt pretty bad." She frowned. "What were you doing out in the forest alone anyway? Don't you know a wolf pack lives there?"

"I was just… trying to get home… and I thought I could beat the wolves before they came out to hunt…"

"You know when the hunt?"

"… I took a wild guess?"

Chikane sighed and shook her head. "Apparently that guess cost you," she muttered, pulling her hand away and rising. "I'll go ask Otoha-san to start a bath so you can get cleaned up… I'm sure you don't like the feeling of blood and dirt on you. Just stay there and rest." She started to walk away. A soft whimper escaped Himeko before she could stop it. "Wait, Chikane-chan," she called weakly.

The other girl paused at the door, looking over her shoulder. "Yes?"

"You'll… you'll come back, right? I mean… I won't be all alone here, will I?"

Chikane's eyes softened slightly. "Of course I'll come back, Himeko. I won't leave you alone if you don't want me to."

"Thank you…"

Chikane nodded briefly before slipping outside; Himeko couldn't help but notice that the girl had left the door open, so she could hear if the golden-haired girl called for her. Smiling tiredly, Himeko leaned back against her pillows and closed her eyes, sighing heavily.

"Chikane-chan, huh?" she murmured, running a hand through her hair. "I always imagined her being a bit… colder."

Briefly she glanced at the clock. She'd only been in her human form for a few hours, but she was still wary. This was her first time as a human while injured, and she didn't know how long she could last before her body started feeling the effects.

Which brings up an interesting question… Himeko's smile slowly faded.

If I don't want to be alone, how will I get away from Chikane-chan to become a wolf again?

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God... between introducing Makoto, getting in a bit about Orihime and Tsuki, foreshadowing a bit to Miyako's past, and getting Himeko and Chikane to meet for the first time... this chapter turned out hella long. But maybe that's a good thing...?

The Tsuki/Orihime bit is left open to interpretation... but after some thinking, I definitely know where I want to go with it. Fun fun fun.

Read and review, please!