Chapter 2: Leaving

The sound of her sobs could be heard through the forest. She made no effort to quiet her cries, she was too upset to even think of such things. That was how he found her. Her back against a tree, legs pulled up tight against her body. Her face was burried in her knees, her sobs violently shaking her little body.

"Okarina?"

His voice was quiet as he knelt down beside the crying girl. At first there was no response, but after a moment, she turned her head slightly towards him, revealing her tear stained face. Kiba saw his own upset expression reflected in the blue-green pools of her eyes, and forced himself to smile a bit.

"Okarina, what are you doing out here all alone? We've been looking for you for hours." he said, his hand coming to rest on her shoulder. She shuddered, trying to regain her composure. Trying to stop the tears.

"If you don't want to talk, it's fine." He said, sitting down beside her. "I'll just stay with you until you decide to head back." He chuckled. "Maybe they'll all think I disapeared too, huh?"

They sat in silence for a while. Five minutes passed by, ten minutes, fifteen. Kiba's eyes were closed, his head resting against the tree, his hands behind his head creating a barrier between the two.

Without warning, Okarina's arms wrapped themselves around his shoulders, his eyes flew open. Again, she cried. This time her face burying itself into his chest.

"Why did it all have to happen!" she shrieked.

Kiba didn't know what to say. For once, he was at a loss of words.

"Why did mom and dad have to die? Why? Why did they have to leave me? I should be dead too!"

Kiba pushed her away slightly, forcing her to look him in the eyes.

"Don't you dare say that! Don't ever say anything like that again!" he yelled, instantly regreting his tone of voice. He watched Okarina's lower lip tremble. He had never yelled at her before, not like that.

Her cries grew louder, and whatever she tried to tell him, was made unintelligable by her hysteric sobs.

"I'm sorry." he said, standing up, pulling her along with him. "I should probably take you home."

"NO!" she yelled, pulling her face into his shirt. "They're going to take me away!"

Kiba looked at her, puzzled.

'Take her away? How? Why?' he wondered silently. 'What is she talking about?'

As if she was reading his mind, she answered.

"They said Kenji isn't old enough to take proper care of all of us. They said that he can stay with Kei, but me and Kana have to go far away! They're taking me away from, Kenji, Kei, a-and you too!"

Kiba stood there for a moment. "They can't do that!" he shouted, "I won't let them!"

"Y-you won't?" Okarina asked, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.

"Of course not!" he said, smiling at her. "Theres no way I'm giving up my best friend without a fight!"

Okarina giggled, throwing her arms around him in a hug, standing on tiptoe. Even though he was only a year older, he was almost a head taller than his 6 year old companion.

"So, I get to stay with you?" she asked.

"Forever and ever!" he said, with a smirk."But that means you listen to me from now on!"

"But that's no fair!"

"I'm older, it is too fair!"

"Fine..." she looked up at him quizzically. "But you swear they won't take me away?"

"I promise!"

With that, the two laughed, and headed towards home.

"Okarina! Kiba!"

The two were suddenly surrounded by a large crowd. Okarina's siblings and Kiba's family among them. The two were pulled away from eachother as they were showered in hugs and reprimandings. Their family's made it very clear how frightened they had been of the children's dissapearance.

The two were dragged to their homes, without another word, but that wouldn't be their last time to see eachother that night.

About an hour after everyone at home was asleep, Okarina snuck out of the house, small bag in hand, and carefully made her way to Kiba's house. He was already waiting for her as she arrived, and he led her quietly up to his room.

The two helped lay out Okarina's blanket and she sat upon it, a frown on her face.

"I don't think you can keep the promise." she said, looking around the familiar room. " Auntie says she's taking me and Kana tomorrow. She's already packed up my room. This was all I have left." she held up the bag.

The two layed down on their beds in silence. A long time passed in that silence before Okarina finally spoke.

"When they let me come back, will you still be my friend?" she asked, quietly.

"Of course!"

"Even if it takes a long time...even if I'm different."

"I'll be you friend forever, and I don't think clumsy little Okarina can change too much."

"But Kana changed a lot when she grew up, she wasn't as much fun." Okarina sounded worried.

"I swear I'll still be your friend even if you become boring like Kana." he said. "Besides, I could always have fun picking on you."

Okarina giggled slightly, but the laugh died quickly, replaced by silence.

"Hey, Kiba. Do you promise you won't forget?" Okarina's voice was quiet, worried.

"I promise!" he said, frustrated. In his mind, he knew he could never forget someone like her. He looked over at her. He could never forget that girl with dark purple hair, made short after their failed attempt at trimming it. The girl he'd spent every day with for the last 3 years. His best friend. It upset him that she even believed that he COULD forget.

"How about this..." he said, trying to assure her. He stood up and pulled a small chakram out of his drawer. A gift from his parents, his prized possesion. He handed it to her. She looked at it and smiled at the dog painted on it.

"I'll lend you this until you come back. But when we see each other again, I want it back, ok! I'm not gonna forget, so you better not, either!"

Okarina, smiled, then fiddled with the necklace around her neck.

"Then we'll make a switch! That's my mother's locket, so be careful with it!" she said, placing it into his hand.

The two smiled, knowing there was no way they'd ever forget each other, and that no matter what, they'd see each other again. Before long, the two had fallen asleep.

When Kiba awoke the next morning, Okarina was already gone. He looked around and sighed.

"Come back soon." he said to no one as he stared out his window. Alone, for the first time in years.