~Authors Note~
Here is your other chapter... thanks for all of your continued reviews!! It is very encouraging for me too receive them. You guys are the best!!! *hugs*
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Carefully lifting up the lid, huge, brown, frightened eyes greeted him.
Karu sighed a little, Okay... now what, Karu?
He reached inside, noticing that she cowered away from his reach, and lifted the little girl out gently, he felt her tremble all the while. Setting her down, he made sure she was slightly cornered so she couldn't run away.
"Are you okay?" He asked gently, automatically looking for scratches.
"....Cold..." Akeela whispered, she was shivering. Who was this man? Why did he help her? She kept her tail wrapped around her legs and paws wrapped around her torso. Her throat hurt from breathing in so much cold air while running.
Karu now noticed what Akeela was wearing. Jeans and a t-shirt, which her hair, shirt, and the bottom of her pants were soaked. Apparently he wasn't the most observant guy in the world. She would catch a cold if he didn't get her warmed up pretty soon.
He immediately shrugged out of his police coat, "This is pretty heavy. Put it on." Karu said, putting it around her shoulders. She flinched, shifting her weight so she was leaned away from him. Obviously she still didn't trust him, but who would after going through all of this?
"My name is Karu, what is yours?" He asked, slowly moving is arms down onto his bent knees. He didn't want too scare her, was almost afraid too move or speak. But he did need a little bit of information before they continued their treck.
The little girl stared at him for a few seconds, not answering. She almost looked awed, but her face was still gaurded.
"You... haven't called me a monster... are you gonna hurt me..?" She asked slowly, almost whispering. She was thinking of what her parents had told her a long time ago. Too not give important information too strangers.
Monster...? Karu wondered too himself, than he rememberd. While at the hotdog corner, people all around were terrified and yelling monster and rude names too her. He had to think a moment.
"Of course not." Karu said slowly, "Just cuse your... different don't mean your a monster, which means there is no need to hurt you." He explained, not sure if he was saying the right thing, "Those people don't understand you. They were scared just because you are different. They aren't used to change, or differences, that's why they hurt you. You just need to ignore them, for now. Just remember, your not a monster." He finished his ramble, hoping he hadn't confused her or hurt her even further. If people are called 'monsters' enough.... they might start believing it.
Akeela nodded her head slowly, taking it all in. A little bit of relief lit her features. He knows I'm not a monster....
The wind whistled eerily through the warehouses, scattering around loose debris. It has started to pick up again. The once-retreated rain clouds were making a comback, with reinforcments. The sun had disappeared, taking it's warmth with it.
Karu looked up, noticing the weather changes, "Your going to come home with me, little wolf, I am going to be the only one able to protect you. Besides that, your going to freeze with you being damp like that."
Akeela stared up at him, protect me? little...wolf..?
Karu immediately realized what he had called her, "I'm... sorry, that came out automatically. I still don't know your name." He apologized, slowly starting too stand up.
Akeela hid her face and shook her head slowly, drops of water flying out of her hair, "It's okay.... little wolf is... fine..."
Karu nodded, and reaching forward, put the girl into his arms, holding her like a baby. Standing his full height, he once again noticed the strange presence about the girl. It was the same as in the alleway. It was so very strange. Not like it was calling out too you, or that kind of thing. It was just the atmosphere, it was almost... powerful. It's hard to explain. Karu just shook his head again, First things first, get her warm.
"I'll carry you, it will be faster. You'll warm up. I'll take you to my house and get you some warm clothes. We can talk then."
Akeela's eyes started to close, she was too tired to argue. He felt safe. Well, now anyway. Also, he was warm. Drowsiness overtook the tired half-demon, and she soon nodded off too sleep in his arms. Her last thoughts lazily drifted through her mind, Maybe we can be friends......
Karu looked down on the girls sleeping face. Thankfully, he only lived fifteen minutes away from the warehouses. Lucky.
Spotting his street and house, he made sure the streets were empty. Breaking into a slow run, he jogged up too his house, unlocked the door and quicky let himeself in, careful not too hit the girls head.
He was a bachelor, never saw the need to get married. Even so, he still kept his house slightly clean, cooked his own meals, paid his own rent... all that good stuff. So when he walked inside his house, he was really glad it was cleanish, for the girls sake (even though it did not matter because she was sleeping... but it's the thought that counts... right?!?!?).
He put the sleeping child onto the couch, I just got to get out of these clothes quick, and find something for her...
Running upstairs, he quickly changed into sweatpants and a sweater. After rummaging through his closet he found an old pair of sweatpants and another sweater. He quickly put all of his officer stuff onto his bed, and ran back downstairs. Lifting his eyes from the floor, he startled himself. The girl was sitting upright on the couch, staring fearfully about her.
"Little wolf... I have some clothes for you." Karu said, noting to himself again that she needs too get out of her wet clothing.
Akeela sat rigid straight on the cough, Strange... house.... so many objects.... It was very unlike her own house. Very different indeed. And so big! She knew mama would like it, she liked big spaces.
Karu quickly grabbed a few towels out of the bathroom and went to kneel in front of Little Wolf.
"It's okay Little wolf, I just need to dry you off and put you in some warm clothes. Kay?"
Karu slowly took off his police jacket that was around her shoulders, and set it on the floor. Grabbing the towel, he put it on her head and slowly started to rub her hair to get all of the moisture out.
"Is it hurting your... ears?" He asked, still wondering about her strange wolf parts. He was almost embaressed to ask.
Akeela shook her head. She was enjoying her head massage.
Karu dried her off as best as he could with her clothes on. He handed her the sweatpants and sweater, "If you go into that little room there," He pointed to the bathroom, "You can change into these warm clothes, I'll wait for you here."
Akeela walked into the room he had motioned her too and closed the door. It had weird objects in here too.
It was difficult to take her shirt and pants off, but she managed. The other clothes Karu had given her were extremely too big. The pants... were very long. The sweater almost went down too her knees. I miss my old clothes...
Stepping out of the bathroom, she almost tripped as she walked back to Karu.
"Ahh, the pants..." He muttered, and quickly dashed off to the kitchen. In a few seconds he returned with scissors. "I'm going to make them shorter so you don't kill yourself tripping, don't move." He ordered quitely, showing her the scissors clearly so she wouldn't be afraid. She didn't look like she was afraid, so he continued. Kneeling on his knee's, he started the process.
In a few quick snips he had trimmed off the bottom of the pantlegs. Putting the scissors away he then rolled up the sleeves of the sweater she was wearing.
"There. Perfect." He said, standing up and sitting on the stool beside him.
Akeela admired herself, "It's funny looking."
Karu laughed and scratched the back of his head, "Yeah... sorry, it's a little big."
"No," Akeela stated, "I wear different clothes. Kimono's." She said, pulling at the shirt a bit.
Karu abruptly stopped laughing, and he lowered his hand.
"That... kind of clothing? Isn't that rather old fashioned?" He asked, thinking he might be able to start getting information now.
Akeela shook her head back and forth, "Everybody wears them. This place is totally different than where I live. We got here through jumping through a well, then there were lots of different colors and..." She slowed her speech, than gasped. Jumping up off the couch she ran back to the bathroom, and digging through her jeans pocket, grabbed the shard.
"Remember.....what....daddy.....said..." Was what her mother had told her, and daddy had said that this shard thing was the only way to get back home.
Returning to the couch, she sat down, clenching her hand.
"What's that, little wolf?" Karu asked, his voice full of wonder. That presence.... it was stronger now. Could this object be the source of this strange feeling?
The wolf-girl looked at him for a moment, "Akeela."
Karu blinked, his mind blank for a moment, "Akeela? Is that your name?"
Akeela nodded, "Uh-huh. And this thing is the only way to get me back home." Changing the subject abruptly.
Karu stood up again and sat beside Akeela, his eyes searching her face.
Back home.... kimono.... going through a well to get here, a jewel looking thing is the only way to get back home... she's a wolf-girl... is she from the ancient legend's of the past? and she somehow came to the future? What on earth is going on?? He was so confused, but he tried not too show it.
Karu leaned forward in his seat, "Akeela, how did you become a wolf-girl? I don't understand. None of that kind of stuff happens here."
Akeela shrugged, "Daddy was a wolf-demon, mama was a human. I am a half-demon, a wolf demon."
Karu shrank back in his seat, "Demon?"
Akeela nodded, admiring her strange clothing again, "Yup. There are full demons and half-demons, like me. All the full demons are bad, they kill villagers and terrorize people. But half-demons like me still have a human heart, so I don't do that."
The little girl looked up and smiled, "I'm a good girl!" She exclaimed with a happy smile, "That's what mama says, anyway." She stated, and then her eyes clouded over and she curled up on the couch.
Karu looked up, That's right... in the alleway she said her mother was murdered. And I'm still confused about everything else... none of this can be true... can it? Karu continued to argue with himself, how could somebody from the past, come too the future? It was impossible! but... that tail, her ears and paws... those are real. So... it must be true... Looking back to Akeela, he smiled. "I am a little confused, I must admit. But I agree with your mother, you are a good girl." He said, rubbing the top of her head. "Could you tell me what happened when you got here, and about your mother?" He asked, looking her in the eye. She nodded, "Um--..."
There was loud knocking on the door, inturrupting Akeela. The doorbell then rang a few times. A loud voice came through the door, startling the two figures further.
"Karu, open up! One of your neighbors called saying you were carrying a small child, with a tail!" He exclaimed through the door, pounding a few more times. "We need too talk."
A wide-eyed Akeela shot her gaze over to Karu, her eyes full of questions. Karu paled as he looked over to the girl, It's the chief....
~Authors Note~
hheehehehe!!! I love leaving you guys with cliff-hangers ^_^ It's so cruel tee hee!!! Well, this chapter was a little more boring, winded you down a little bit. But don't worry! We'll get roared up again, soon!
as usual.... REVIEWW!!! :) I loves it when I get your guys's feed back!!
Anyway, i will be gone for the weekend.... so I probably wont' get another chapter up until Tuesdayish? Something like that, hopefully I wont' forget about this story like last time . ehheh. anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter!