bonbon:This is CHAPTER NINE!!!!

Ember: That took a little longer than expected.

bonbon: Well this chapter is a little sad and fluffy, so it took me a little longer. I'm not used to writing sad or fluffy.

Ember: Enjoy!

bonbon:Yes, Enjoy my sad attempt at fluffy!

Ember: Bye.

bonbon: Do you have to have the last word?

Ember:Yes.

bonbon: (sighs) Goodbye.

Ember: See ya'.

bonbon: (glars at Ember)

Fuka, I think sadly. Damn you Ken. Damn you straight to hell. I could feel the anger bubbling up and filling my body. I leap up fur standing on end.

"Fuck this! I'm killing that little bastard!" I snarl before sprinting off back the way I came.

"Wait! You don't even know where he is!" Lee calls. I stop sliding a few feet. Damn it! I think looking around. Where the hell could he be?! I lift my muzzle in the air and take in a huge breath. No, not there. I do circles sniffing in every direction. I pause. Wait! A foul smell burns my nose. I look to my left. It smells like burning wood and smoldering ash. Gotcha, you little prick! I race towards the source of the smell. Leaping over a trunk I come to a small meadow and standing in the middle of that meadow was the cause of that disgusting smell. All around him was ash and soot. I let lose a howl of rage as I stalk towards him. He turns around and I come face to face with those crimson eyes. I could feel my anger being fueled by those eyes. I sprint towards him, jaws parted ready to kill. I leap towards him, zeroing in on his throat and when my jaws snap shut with a sickening snap, I feel…nothing. I land on the ground empty handed and turn around. The little creep was standing where I was when I entered the meadow. He looks at me with disgusted eyes.

"Stupid beast." He says before drawing his sword. I snarl, not the least bit threatened. We circle each other, our eyes never leaving the others. Those disgusting eyes, I think. I pause, as does he. I look deep into his eyes and…my bloodlust disappears. What the hell? I step back and really look at the man. This isn't Ken! I look the man up and down, comparing a mental image of Ken and this man right now. The hairs wrong. This guy's hair just…defies gravity and his eyes. I don't see any of the malice, like I did in Ken's. They're just filled with…boredom? This little jerk is bored.

"Hiei!" Yells the sickeningly familiar voice of Shuichi. I look over at the guy. So this is Hiei. Hearing footsteps I turn around to see Shuichi and two other boys' race onto the meadow, they all pause seeing me and the man, known as Hiei. I crouch low onto the ground, trying to disappear. Shuichi looks at me then his gaze slips to Hiei.

"What is going on?" He asks calmly. One of the boys, the one with a pound of lard rubbed on his head, steps up and stares at me.

"Well if you want my opinion Kurama, it looks like short stop was about to beat up this dog." I quickly look at Shuichi in shock. These boys know about him. I think it's time to leave. I start to slink away when a sword plants itself in my path.

"Jeeze Shrimp! Are you trying to kill the poor puppy?" The tall boy with orange hair shrieks.

"Fool. That thing attacked me first." He sneers, his eyes boring holes in me. I gulp. Ok, how the hell did I mistake that guy for Ken?! Ken is a lot less scary. My eyes slide back to the sword, and probably less likely to kill me.

"That still doesn't give you the right to try and kill it Hiei! You're like thirty times stronger than it is!" The orange hair screams at Hiei blocking his view of me for a split second. Taking the opportunity I race back in the woods and towards the city. I hear loud shrieks and yelling, before footsteps run in my direction. Oh, Shiznit! I do zig-zags, circles, anything to lose them, but they keep coming. I look over my shoulder to make sure they aren't behind, when WHAM. I run right into to something and we both go tumbling. We come to a stop with me on top and the thing on bottom. I whine. Today is not my freakin day. I look up and see Riu looking at me in surprise. I scramble off of him and race in the opposite direction. I stop as Kurama comes from out behind a bush. Oh my flippin god! I yell racing of in some random direction.

"YOU!" I hear Kurama and Riu yell simultaneously. I come to a panting stop in front of Lee.

"Thank god." I heave. I look up at him pleadingly. "I need your help. Riu and Shuichi are both trying to catch me and-" I stop seeing Lee fidget again.

"Lee what is it?" I ask worried.

"I'm sorry." He says before hiding.

"Lee what-?"

"Having fun?" Asks the unmistakable voice of Ken from behind me. I spin around snarling.

"You bast-" A sharp pain shoots from the back of my head and all over my body. I fall to the ground and look up at him as everything goes black.

"Have a nice nap." He says before I slip into unconsciousness. I open my eyes to see nothing but black. It feels like I'm floating, I think with a smile. A pain shoots through my body. I curl into a ball clutching my chest, my squeezing shut in a chance to lessen the pain. I let out a painful scream as the pain intensifies. A sob breaks its way from my chest. Oh, God. I feel something wet brush my face, causing the pain to lessen slightly. It hurts, I whimper. Something warm rubs against my cheek and purrs. Fuka, I think. I open my eyes a crack to see Fuka's big brown eyes.

"Fuka!" I yell sitting up and squeezing her to my chest. I rub my face against her soft fur.

"Oh Fuka." I whisper tears streaking my cheeks.

"Mew." I look down at her to see…boobs? I look to see a good deal of cleavage. Are those mine?! Hands grip Fuka as she shoots away from my chest exposing the creamy flesh. I raise one of the pale hands clutching her. I turn it around and touch my face with it. I feel soft skin wet with tears. I jump up letting out a shriek of excitement.

"I'm human!" I swing Fuka around happily, chanting 'I'm human'. I loud cracking sound pulls my attention to a rock wall or what was left of it.

"Calm yourself, young one." Says an old cracking voice. I look from the wall to an old wrinkly woman with two very old bat wings protruding from her back sitting on what looks like a cave floor.

"Listen you old bat." Ken snarls storming past me and glares down at the old lady. "I need that orb to become stronger and in order to get it you have to remove it from her soul." He snarls. I cringe away losing every speck of happiness. I could feel Fuka shaking from her growls. I walk to a corner and sit down, bringing my knees to my chest, encaging Fuka. The bat lady smiles at Ken and looks at me.

"You can't remove the sphere until she's completely human. Right now it's only temporary." My eyes widen in shock and I look down at my body. Only temporary, I think sadly. I look up feeling eyes bore into me. Ken glares at me baring his fangs, before disappearing in a blur. I look around frantically.

"Don't worry my dear. He'll be gone for a little while." She points at my neck. I look down to see a blue pendent dangling from a silver chain.

"That pendent is infused with some of my energy and will last only another two weeks."

"Another two weeks?!" I screech in surprise. She nods her head.

"You don't really think your transformation would be over in a split second, do you?"

"Changing me into a dog didn't last that long." I mumble sourly. "Or hurt that much." She chuckles at me. She reaches into her cloak and pulls out a box. Holding it aloft she motions for me to come closer. Holding Fuka in one arm I crawl over to her and sit down, my knees under me.

"This is a dimension cube. It will take to human world, but you have to think of an exact spot." I nod my head unsure of this. "Now picture the spot you want to go to." I close my eyes and picture the park me and Riu used to play in as little kids. "Do you have it?" She asks. I nod my head the image still swimming in my brain. The lady grabs my other hand, the one not holding Fuka and places it on the box.

"Squeeze as hard as you can my dear and don't open you eyes until you feel solid ground." I nod my head and squeeze the box. It breaks in my grasp easily and the wind picks up lifting me off the ground. I squeeze my eyes tighter and hunch over blocking Fuka from the wind. A nauseating floating feeling fills my stomach as I feel the wind change from cold to warm. I feel my feet slowly touch soft prickly grass. The wind dies down as I crack my eyes open. I look up and see the park, exactly as I pictured it in my head. I laugh happily. I look down hearing a snore. I smile at Fuka as she snuggles closer to my chest. I turn around hearing a gasp and then heavy footsteps. Something hits me hard and knocks both of us to the ground. I groan under the heavy weight trying to sit up

"Ow that hurt." I whisper before I feel lips crush my own pushing me back to the ground. My eyes widen by the intensity of the kiss. I could feel my eyes slip halfway close as a warm feeling envelops me. The lips leave mine and hover an inch away.

"Saski." Riu's voice whispers huskily. My eyes blink in surprise as I look up at Riu's face. I scream in surprise and push Riu off.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" I yell at him shocked by his actions. Riu freezes and blushes standing up. I growl at him. He coughs into his hand.

"I got caught up into the moment, that's all."

"Yeah sure Kuro." Says a vaguely familiar voice from behind Riu.

"Kuro?" I ask leaning around Riu to see the voice. "Shuichi!" I yell in surprise, not suspecting to find him with Riu. He looks at me politely surprised.

"Um…do I know you?" He asks suspiciously. Of course you don't, 'cause the last time we saw each other you were buying me dog food. I laugh nervously, doing some quick thinking. Bingo!

"Of course. Your mother's Shiori. My mother and her work at the same company." Which is the truth and how I knew you in the first place. "We used to play with each other. I could never forget that red hair." Total lie, but hopefully they believe it.

"Oh." He says looking away with a slight blush. "I'm terribly sorry for not remembering you."

"Oh no that's perfectly fine." I say silently cheering on the inside as I wave it off. "I would have probably forgotten about you to, but it seems my mother has some obsession over the great Shuichi Minamino." I giggle as the blush on his face darkens. Faker, I think darkly. I know you're pure evil on the inside. I gasp covering my mouth with my hands. I guess I'm still thinking with a wolf's mindset. Oh, crap.

"Are you ok, Saski?" Riu asks hovering close.

"Of course." I say laughing off the evil thought. A light bulb goes off in my head. "I just remembered I need to ask you a big favor." I say looking up at him pleadingly. He smiles down at me fondly.

"What is it?" He asks curiosity ringing in his voice. I could see from the corner of my eye Shuichi watching us with a little smirk.

"How about," I lean motioning for him to do the same. "When we're alone?" A smile breaks across his face like I just granted his wish. What did I just do? I ask myself worriedly.

"Catch' a later fox." He says to Kurama before grabbing my hand and dragging me in the opposite direction.

"Wait Riu!" I squeak as he pulls me across the park and towards the trees. We run through the woods, before we leave the trees and are in front of his apartment. He slows to a walk and then spins around jerking my arm. I thump into him as his arms circle my waist.

"R-R-Riu." I stutter embarrassed at such a tender embrace. His arms tighten around me and he buries his face into my hair taking a deep breath. I hide my burning red face in his chest.

"I missed you so much." He whispers into my hair. I smile at his sincerity. I giggle, before looking up at him trying to ease the moment.

"Missed you too." I gulp seeing the intensity in his eyes. I quickly look away liking the warm feeling spreading through me a little too much. He grips my chin and forces me to look him in the eye.

"Saski I-"

"BARK! BARK!" I spin around twisting out of his grasp.

"Oh," I say excitedly as Hiro and Gramps come bounding down the stairs towards us. "You got dogs." I bend down as Gramps wiggles up to me.

"Hey there, big fella." I say scratching his belly as he flips over. Hiro stands next to us panting with excitement. I scratch him behind the ear. I look over my shoulder to see Riu chuckling and shaking his head.

"Figures." He mumbles softly. He kneels down next to me and scratches behind Hiro's ear.

"Saski I would like you to meet Gramps and Hiro." He says with a flourish. I look at him surprised.

"How'd you come up with those names?" He smirks at me and winks.

"It just came to me." I grin at him as the atmosphere slowly descends back to normal. Riu grabs my hand and pulls me up.

"Now what is that favor you wanted?" He asks still holding my hand. I look away slightly embarrassed by the hand thing and having to ask Riu for a favor.

"Um…do you think I could stay with you?" He looks down at me slightly angry. "Just for a little while." I say hastily. He grabs my shoulders and forces me to face him.

"What's going on Saski?" He asks looking worried. I look up at him begging him with my eyes not to argue. He looks down at me for a few seconds before sighing. He wraps his arm around my shoulder and leads me to his apartment.

"I won't mettle if you don't want me to. I trust you." I look away feeling ashamed. "Gramps! Hiro! Come on!" He calls over his shoulder before looking down at me with a smile. I give him a pathetic little smile. He opens the door for me as I walk in. I walk over to the black sofa and sit down with Gramps lying down next to me as Hiro falls asleep at my feet.

"Wow," He says standing in the doorway to the kitchen. "They really like you." I smile at him. "You want something to eat?" Before I could answer my belly releases a growl. I blush. Riu chuckles. "I guess so." He gives me one more smile before turning and walking into the kitchen to fix us a meal. You shouldn't trust me Riu. I look down at my clasped hands in my lap. I've lied to you so much and I left you alone for so long.

"Hey Saski?" Riu calls from the kitchen. I look up at the sound of his voice.

"Yes?" I answer.

"Don't you ever doubt our friendship, ok?" I smile as tears fill my eyes.

"Ok." I whisper before realizing he probably couldn't hear me.

"Ok!" I call. My cheeks begin to hurt from me smiling too much. I look over at Gramps and scratch behind his ear.

"I'll never leave any of you again." I promise silently. Gramps raises his head and looks at me with half lidded eyes. He rests his head on my lap. I smile down at him and then Hiro, before leaning my head back against the couch and slowly drifting off to sleep with a smile on my face.