She rubbed her eyes, and looked again. There he was, still. She could hardly believe her eyes. But then, she remembered the words she heard last night.

'This is why we don't trust humans. We did them no harm, and yet, they attacked us.'

Torn by those words, and Tori's smiling face, she closed her eyes to hide her tears. But one fell onto the blue one's back, making her look up, then behind them. In shock, she roared, stopping the entire group. The Mightyena confusedly shook their heads. The thunder one turned back, and shouted in his scratchy voice,

"The human! What's he doing here!?"

Electricity began to surge around his back, making the scene tense. He bared his fangs, but the boy didn't flinch. He hopped off of the horse, let it run off, and faced them quite seriously, his expression calm and sharp. He told them,

"I will not fight you, beasts of great power. I just wish to know the girl in your possession."

He looked at Sakura, who was in shock. Who was this boy?

The beasts looked at each other with uncertainty. Could they trust this young man? The blue one turned to the boy and asked,

"Why do you wish to know Sakura? How is she of importance to you?"

"I... I... I think..."

"Are you uncertain?"

He shook his head.

"No. I'm certain."

"Then what is your reason?"

"I... I want to..."

He gulped.

"I want to marry her."

The beasts looked rather alarmed. Marry off their cherry blossom?

Sakura looked a bit confused.

"But we just met," she told him. "How can I marry you so soon?"

"Because... I'd much rather marry a girl like you then who I'm supposed to."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I'm supposed to marry some hideous girl so I can lead my village. I'm the leader's son, so he gets to pick who I get to marry."

"Oh."

"But, in my village, we can only have one wife. If I marry now, then I won't have to marry her."

"Is that the only reason you want my hand?"

"No! Of course not! I want you because I..."

"You what?"

"I think I, I love you."

Sakura blinked. Did this near stranger really want her to marry him?

"How can I know your not lying?"

"Well... there's one way to tell."

"How?"

"Come closer, and I'll show you."

Sakura looked at the beasts, then at Tori. The beasts gave different responses. The blue and yellow ones nodded, but the brown one gave none. She decided,

whats the risk?

She hopped off of the blue one, and slowly inched her way towards the boy. When she was close, he did the unexpected.

He kissed her upon her cheek.

Not even Tori knew where it came from. Everyone was in shock at the kiss. Sakura looked up at his face, and smiled.

"So, you do care."

He just chuckled. He took her hand, and bent down on one knee. He told her,

"Sakura. I know we just met, but I know your the one for me. Will you marry me?"

Sakura smiled a huge smile and hugged him.

"Of course," she told him, burying her head into his chest. Tori smiled down at her, then looked towards the pack.

"What will happen to you if Sakura leaves?" he asked. Surprised,

Sakura looked up at him, then at the pack. The brown one answered,

"If Sakura leaves..." he sighed. "Then we shall have no leader. The three of us will have to lead."

With those words, a little Poochyena suddenly burst out of the crowd.

It squeaked,

"Wolf mother! Please don't go! We love you!"

Sakura was surprised by the pup's outburst. She turned to Tori and told him,

"Tori, I'm not sure I can leave my pack. It would be disastrous without me."

Tori looked into her misty blue eyes, and said,

"Then can I join?"

Sakura, unsure what to say, turned to her 'parents.' she asked them,

"Can he join?"

The beasts looked unsure, but even the fire one nodded. The couple just smiled, and a week later, they began a new life, together.

Sorry if the ending was a hunk of junk -_- It wasn't easy to write! I had a hard time coming up with a happy ending, so... Anyway, thanks for reading! :)
Sheimi