Author's Note; I'm really sorry about the wait, but my Christmas exams only finished today and as I'm 16 we have 5th year tests and they were fair hard!! Even after my studying I only scraped by on a few!! (Hehehehe, flew past my Englsh one though...:-)

"This way!"

As everyone made to follow Hige, who had sniffed at the air, trying to locate the obvious scent, Karusuke pulled up short and pressed the button on the wall of the man's cell, allowing for the door to slide open and Hubb to be freed of his imprisonment.

"If you're in here, then who's gonna catch me next time, huh?"

It was all the ex-detective could do but to half-laugh as the girl ran off in the same direction the four boys had just disappeared…Yaiden…why was that name suddenly ringing the bells of recognition within his memory?

Corridors upon corridors…why did all the Keeps of the Nobles have to be so labyrinthine all the time? If it wasn't for the faint scent of what she could only assume were Lunar Flowers the teenage-looking girl would have easily become lost in no time at all, but she made it to the hall in time to see there were more present than initially thought, but no Lady Jaguara in sight.

"Kiba, watch out!"

That was Tsume's bark of a voice that alerted the youth to move back as a gun was pointed his way and Blue strained at her collar…there was someone standing behind him though; a young girl with light pink hair and a pale complexion and yet something deep inside told her who this was; Cheza…the Flower Maiden. And suddenly, the gun was heard cocking as Blue rushed forwards, her bite aimed at the youth standing before the girl and so she did the only thing that made sense and moved like lightening.

"Stop it, Blue!"

The pretty black dog stopped itself short as this blond wolf, with its almost translucent cerulean eyes stood dead centre in front of the lad with the young girl…had it just said her name? As this scene continued, a movement behind caught the attention of the hall as the girl moved out from behind the older lad and kneeled down before the black dog, smiling quite serenely as she did so, before speaking in a sweet and peaceful voice, whilst running a hand through the dog's fur.

"This one knows what you are…"

"Grab that wolf! I knew it; the scanner must be broken!"

As the half-dozen troops made to advance on her, Karusuke suddenly became aware of two individuals standing before her; a white wolf with striking golden irises and a steel grey wolf with a noticeable scar upon his chest. The fore of these two turned his head slightly as a deep growl emanated from the other, aimed at the armoured troops who seemed so keen to capture the newest member of their pack.

"Take Cheza and go; we'll follow!"

Taking on her human form, Karusuke nodded her head and grabbed the young girl's hand, feeling a slight tingling as she did so…and then ran for the door, pulling the seemingly-child after her…only to be stopped as they almost ran into the newest element of the fray.

"Return to me, Cheza."

Tall, imposing and impossibly undertone voice…why the hell did Darcia the Third seem so familiar to her? The ex-thief had no time to ponder this as she instinctively ducked and skidded beneath his tall frame and expertly managed to regain her footing on the other side; years of evading police forces did have its perks.

"C'mon Cheza…we need to get you away from here!"

She didn't know why, but it seemed, almost felt right to be taking this girl; she belonged with them, she belonged with wolves…just like they belonged with her. For years now she had lived on the streets of this old and stinking town, making a living by stealing from those who seemed to have more than her and she'd always assumed that was all her life would amount to…all she was expecting it to amount to and everything had felt totally in place…until today; when her hand had made contact with Cheza's skin, that was the instant she noticed a change; there was more to life than scavenging and living off others…what if they could open Paradise? She'd always just assumed it was an old tale you told to pups as the night fell, but didn't fairytales, always have truth rooted somewhere within them?

"Here, put this on…"

Karusuke deftly unzipped her hoody and draped it round this girl's frame as they walked through the streets, subconsciously making their way to the edge of the city…but where were the other four? As Cheza slipped her arms through the lengthy sleeves and smiled happily, the teenager couldn't help but to reflect painfully upon him…Ruse…he'd only been a child when Kyrios had been burnt down…he'd died…she'd let her mother and little brother die…and now her father-

"This one can tell you are different…this one wonders why you are so guilty…this one feels guilty also."

As she heard the impossibly sweet voice, Karasuke glanced down slightly for Cheza was tall enough for her seemingly thirteen years, and for the first time ever she felt as though she could speak to someone…she'd never let anyone get close before; her human friends hadn't know the real her at all, they'd just seen a master thief who could be a good leader and an ace at evading police forces…

"I've done bad things…and caused even worse ones."

Those striking, almost crimson eyes looked to her, but Karasuke could tell they couldn't see her…and yet they sensed her as the younger girl gave a wanly smirk.

"This one knows you are different."

a/n- did u like this chapter? Again, I'm so sorry bout the wait!!

And in case I don't update before Tuesday; Happy Christmas to everyone and keep safe over the holidays!!