Previously, Zakuro had just turned into a wolf. Set just after #2, this chapter continues Zakuro's story.
Zakuro sat, dumbfounded, in the middle of the staircase. What had just happened? How could she just have turned into an animal? Why wasn't anyone freaking out? Zakuro got up onto her paws, and she started to walk forward. Maybe this was just a dream, and she was just very deep asleep. Zakuro looked around at people, and she found that they looked different. Maybe it was because she was short now, but they all looked a lot more terrifying now. Zakuro walked into her dressing room, and she jumped up onto the chair. She looked in the mirror, and saw a large grey dog. It looked very pretty, and it had strange purple eyes. Zakuro whimpered, and she laid her head on her paws. This couldn't be happening, she said to herself. People didn't just turn into animals, and that was a fact. How could her powers do this to her? Someone walked into the dressing room, stopping when they saw Zakuro. "A dog?" The person questioned, walking up to Zakuro.
Zakuro looked up at the person, and saw that it was one of the back-up dancers for her upcoming concert. She couldn't remember his name though, strangely enough. The boy pushed Zakuro out of the chair, and grabbed the back of her neck. He started to pull her out, even though Zakuro tried to stop herself. Zakuro yelped, trying to get the boy's attention. Zakuro saw that he wasn't listening to her, and she knew that something had to be done. Quickly, Zakuro turned to bite him. The boy dropped her, and Zakuro ran out of the dressing room. She ran out into the studio, trying to get away before she was caught again. But everything looked so different from down here, she wasn't sure how to get away. Zakuro tripped over a cord, getting her paw tangled up in it. Zakuro pulled a camera down, and she knocked a cardboard wall. The camera men ran up to Zakuro, trying to grab onto her. Zakuro tried to scramble up, but her paw was completely tied up.
Then, someone walked up to the cameramen. "Leave it alone, guys!" Someone exclaimed, pushing aside everyone. Zakuro looked up, and she saw Mari. It was strange, but she looked very friendly from this angle. Mari knelt down by Zakuro, and she untangled her paw. She patted Zakuro's head, and smiled kindly. "Hey, little puppy. You must be lost, I'll get you some food." She asserted, rubbing her head softly.
Mari got up, and she started to walk away. Zakuro, with a strange feeling, got up and followed Mari. She didn't know why, but she seemed like someone she could trust. Mari walked into the break room, keeping the door open for Zakuro. Zakuro trotted in, seeing the rest of the back-up dancers of her concert. They all looked tired, and they didn't appear to be happy. Mari walked up to a small fridge, and she took out a sandwich. Zakuro sat down by the table, and she looked around at everyone. They didn't seem to be trying to hurt her, but they stared angrily at her. "It's just a stupid dog, I don't see why we have to take care of it." A girl muttered, taking a drink from her soda.
Mari walked over to Zakuro, and she handed the sandwich to her. "There you go, we had an extra." She explained to her, sitting down by Zakuro.
A boy nodded, and he leaned back in his chair. "These practices have been brutal, and it's not like Fujiwara has been to these rehearsals in forever. She acts like she's the best, and it's getting annoying." He complained, stirring his food slowly.
Zakuro remembered the rehearsal dates, and she knew that each time they had been on, she had been fighting monsters or resting up. She opened her mouth to say something, but she remembered that she couldn't say anything. She shut her mouth, and started to eat her sandwich. Mari started to pet Zakuro, and she chuckled. "I'm sure that it'll be fine, even if Fujiwara-chan messes up. We'll just get a big boost in popularity, and Fujiwara-chan will be taken down a peg." She joked, pushing herself up from the ground.
Zakuro looked up at her, noticing the hate in their voices as they said their names. It was strange, but she couldn't help but think that they wouldn't be sad if she broke her leg at that concert. Zakuro continued eating, a bit irritated that they'd think she was so callous. Another girl got up from the table, and she walked over to the fridge. "Sometimes, I think that Fujiwara-chan is one of the few people I can't stand. I wish she had never been an idol, she sucks." She stated, taking out a jar.
Zakuro stopped eating, and she looked up at everyone. They didn't want her around, did they? It was strange, but she knew that. No one really liked her, she had tried to distance herself as it was. She didn't find it easy to trust people, and it was getting harder with her powers. Not only was she talented, but she was different. Zakuro got up from the floor, and she walked over to the door. Mari took a drink from her soda, and she stretched back. "I think that Fujiwara-chan is just strange, she never fits in with everyone else. I'm beginning to think that she's going to have a nervous breakdown soon." She said, making everyone else laugh.
Zakuro growled, and she ran out of the break room. She didn't need their praise, she was strong enough to survive by herself. People needed to be protected, and it was up to Zakuro. All alone, she could protect the whole world on her own. Zakuro ran up to the studio door, but it was locked. They were filming again, weren't they? No one would let her out, so she'd have to get out of here herself. It might not hurt to never come back, even if she stayed a wolf. People would stop bothering her, it might just be better. Zakuro growled again, and she jumped up to grab the doorknob. Her paws couldn't wrap around it, but she wasn't going to get stuck in here. No one wanted her here, and she was determined to get away. Zakuro jumped at the doorknob again, but it was locked shut. Zakuro panted, and she backed up. If she made a running start, she could probably break it down.
Just as Zakuro prepared to run, someone walked to her. They stood there for a bit, just staring at her. Zakuro looked up at them, ready to run in case they tried to hurt her. The person was wearing a trench coat, but a long brown ponytail was laying across their shoulder. It looked like a man, but Zakuro couldn't quite see past the trench coat. The man chuckled, and he bent down to pet Zakuro's head. She stepped away from him, and she snarled quietly. The man sighed, and he knelt down by Zakuro. "Poor little girl, you got lost again." A man whispered to her, reaching out for Zakuro.
Zakuro snarled, and she backed away from him. "Just leave me alone!" She shouted, although she knew he wouldn't be able to understand her.
He looked surprised and a little hurt, but he didn't reach out for her again. Zakuro stared at him, wondering why he wouldn't just leave her alone. The man dropped his hands into his lap, and he smiled. "You're very pretty for a dog, Fujiwara-chan." He commented, his face still obscured by the coat. Zakuro grunted, and she stepped closer to him. How did he know who she was? The man reached out for Zakuro's head, and this time, she didn't move. He patted her head, very gently and relaxing. "Don't worry, we'll be here for you in a bit." He told her, looking around quickly. Zakuro wondered if he was supposed to be here, but she figured that it wasn't important. The man sighed, and he sat up straight. "You're not alone, there are others. If you'll just wait a bit longer, you'll see how many people there are like you." He said, speaking quickly and nervously. Zakuro looked up at him, and she tilted her head. He was just staring down at her, acting as if he could understand anything she said. Zakuro didn't like what he was saying, it was stupid. She didn't need anyone, all they did was get in the way. The man chuckled softly, and he kissed the top of Zakuro's head.
Zakuro gasped, and she shut her eyes. A strange light began to come from her, as if she was changing again. Zakuro scrambled to get up, and when she opened her eyes, the man had gone away. Zakuro looked around, and everything had gone back to normal. She looked at her paw, and saw that it was now a hand. Zakuro got up from the ground, and she pushed her hair out of her face. She hadn't expected to ever go back to normal, and now...what had happened?
A cameraman ran up to Zakuro, and he sighed. "Zakuro, what are you still doing here? You're supposed to be at your apartment by now, getting some rest." He commented, pushing on her shoulder.
Zakuro stared at him, and she nodded slowly. "Right...I'll be going now." She mumbled, putting her hand on the doorknob. That man knew who she was, and he claimed to know that there were others like her. But...where? Zakuro unlocked the door, and she walked out of the studio.
Several days later, it was time for Zakuro's concert. Everything was ready, and people were running around. Zakuro was sitting in her dressing room, thinking about what her back-up dancers had said. They didn't like her, and she was about to go on stage with them. Zakuro got up from her seat, and she sighed. She didn't need people to like her, but it might be easier to work with them if they did. Zakuro walked over to the door, and she looked out at the stage. It was so bright out there, and her back-up dancers were still practicing. Zakuro shrugged, and she walked out to them. They all stopped dancing when they saw her, just staring at her as if they hated her. Zakuro crossed her arms, and she smiled sweetly. "You're doing great, guys." She muttered, pushing her hair out of her face.
Mari crossed her arms, and she nodded. "Thanks, Zakuro." She said, although her voice showed that she wasn't too happy.
Zakuro sighed, and she put her hands on her hips. "I know that I haven't been here much, but I'll try to make up for it." She stated, twirling her hair around her finger.
The back-up dancers stared at her, and they all walked away from her. Zakuro scoffed, and she rubbed at her arms. She had tried to be nice, and then they had gone and been so stupid. What was with them? What was the point of trying to be friends with someone, if all they did was expect you to do everything. Zakuro growled, and she shook her head. That wasn't going to be her, she was going to be strong on her own. She only needed herself, others were unimportant.
Inside the cafe, the two men were watching the T.V. Playing on the T.V. was Zakuro's concert, and it was going great. She looked so happy, but the men looked as if they were watching a depressing documentary. The man with the ponytail sighed, and he took a sip of his tea. "Well, it shouldn't be long before the rest of them are at equal levels." He commented, putting more sugar into the tea.
The other man nodded, and he kept his eyes on the T.V. The door behind them opened, and a young girl walked in. "Hey, Shirogane-san, Akasaka-san!" She called to them, running over to the T.V.
The other man looked up at the young girl, and he scoffed. "Your hair is dripping wet, Ichigo. What happened?" He questioned, leaning back in his chair.
Ichigo chuckled, and she picked up a teacup from the tray. "We found another teammate, and she's super nice! I fell in a pool, which is why I'm wet." She explained, taking a drink from the cup. She sighed, and shook water onto the man. She looked at the T.V., and tilted her head. "What you watching, anything interesting?" She inquired, looking down at the man with the ponytail.
The man with the ponytail turned the T.V. off, and he got up from his chair. "We were just watching the news, then we were too lazy to turn off the T.V." He asserted, picking up the tray. Ichigo sighed, and she walked out of the room.
The other man looked at the first man, and he took a deep breath. "They better find her soon, I'm getting a bit annoyed of always lying to them." He complained, getting up from the chair.
The man with the ponytail groaned, and he walked out of the room. "You're telling me, you didn't have to talk to Fujiwara-san." He said, shutting the door behind himself as he left.