Otagai o shitte iku, hitori de iru on'nanoko (Getting to know each other; the girl who is alone)

Ok…this is unusual. All these wolves seem to have human names. Why is that? To be honest they don't even act like the average wolf I've ever met. Like frost eye; he seem to act like a loner as did the others in his pack that were passing through here at one point. Were they all raised in captivity and then let back into the wild or did they just happen to hear these names and decided to use them for their own names. I want to ask but…it doesn't seem like it's something I should ask. Besides I don't think it's that important. But it is a little weird.

"Um…Miss Reisaki." I look at Thomas in my arms, "Aren't I heavy? I mean I know we just started heading to your place but…"

"It's fine. Actually, you remember Fuzzy Claw?" the wolf nods, "I can actually carry her no problem too so you're pretty light compared to her. I'll be fine besides it's not that far."

"Hahaha…You're pretty strong for a human girl if you can lift a bear cub huh?" Morgan laughs. Was I saying something funny…? But it's the truth… I can feel a slight blush on my face.

"Captain you shouldn't say things that could sound like an insult to a girl, even if she is human… honestly." Christopher seems to be the sensible one of their pack, "So what is it that you do for a living Reisaki?"

"Living?"

"Humans have to do something with their time right?" well I don't really do anything with my time as in the sense I have a job…hmm how do I explain this?

"Well…I don't really have a job per say… I preoccupy myself with staying here near the forest incase something happens to an animal. There's a cave I go to not to far from here that my Bāchan showed me a long time ago, it's hidden pretty well so only her and I know of the place. There's a bunch of moon stones that I use to get some money for shopping and things like that; but other than that I don't really go into the village unless I need to."

"You mean you spend all your time up here?" the one called Eduardo asks sounding smug. I don't answer his question. Suddenly my right foot decides to trip me and I go falling with Thomas face first. As quickly as I can I spin around so that I land on my back and the wind knocked out of me but Thomas remains unharmed.

"Miss Reisaki! Are you ok?" Christopher along with Morgan makes sure I'm all right.

"You're too dorky, aren't ya?" Nathan says whatever's on his mind; at least that's what I've come to figure out. Thomas moves out of the way for me to get up. It felt as though something caught on my foot so I take a look around to see where it came from. There's a rope around my foot and following it leads to an anchor in the ground.

"Baka! Oh those stupid hunters and their stupid traps and-!" furiously I tare the rope from around my foot and stand. While pulling my sleeves up I head over to the trap and kick it with the flat of my foot to loosen it. Once it's loose I yank it from the ground and place it angrily in my pack. I take a minute to compose using every curse word I can think of in the ancient Yamato language before I let out a puff. "Are you ok Thomas?" I look at the others with a smile.

"I'm ok…but what about you?"

"Dude didn't you see her just now?" Russell says, "That woman is fine; stop worrying about her and let's go."

"Russell!" Christopher shouts, "Mind your manners."

"What manners Doc? We're wolves." Eduardo smirks,

"Still she's kind enough to look after Thomas the least we can do is give her the same respect." Wow…and I though I had seen everything… these wolves act more human than any other animal (including a few humans) than others I've seen.

I go back and pick Thomas up again carefully before I lead the way again. The sun begins to go down by the time we make it to my home. Still holding onto Thomas I take my shoes off and enter the open door. There's a pillow that a feral cat has found comfortable that reluctantly moves when I ask them to. The pillow fluffs up a bit as I set Thomas down on it.

"Now you stay right there and don't even think about using that leg. I'll be right back." I leave the wolves in the room and head for my bedroom. I bow to the picture of Bāchan, "I'm home…" thinking of the supplies I need for tending to Thomas' leg before I grab them and head back out. When I come back out He's licking the wound. "Thomas…stop that… that's just going to make it worse."

"I can't help it!"

"We actually can't. It's in out nature… it's soothing." I look at Nathan who gives me a blank stare yet nits his eyebrows together,

"I understand that but still a wound like that, licking won't help." I take the bowl I picked up and go to fill it with water. Back where I have things waiting there's a few dried herbs I place in the bowl and let soak for a minute. While that takes place I take a close look getting an actual feel for what I need to do with it. "Hmm…" I look up and smile petting Thomas behind the ear again. "Good news it's not as bad as what I thought; you should be able to use it again within one week."

"What's the bad news?" I hear Morgan ask from behind.

"It still needs stitches." I take a cloth and soak it in the herb water and ring it out. "This will hurt a bit ok?" the cloth touches the wound only for a second before Thomas cries out making me draw back a few inches. "Jeeze Thomas!"

"That hurt!"

"I just said it would!"

"Well yeah but not that much!"

"Oh quit being such a baby! Look it's simple, you can either put up with the pain and let me fix your leg; or you can wait until the real pain starts when it gets infected! Your choice…" it doesn't take him long to make a decision and he allows me to tend to his leg. Thomas tries not to pull away as I wipe the wound clean with the herb water. After sterilizing the needle and thread, I go to work on patching on the wound. Carefully I try to stitch the skin together without causing him too much discomfort; I'm about half way finished when I hear a voice I hadn't in a while.

"What on earth is this?" I stop sewing as I hear her voice. "Reisaki, what is all this?"

"What does it look like? I'm trying to help an animal right now…"

"I can see that but you have a whole pack of mangy mutts in here."

"They're not mangy mutts; they're wolves." I snap as I continue to sew the wound up. "What do you even want Yūhi?"

"Could you at least stop what you're doing so I can talk to you properly?" I don't answer just continue to sew the wound. "This is why every one thinks you're weird… you do nothing but stay here in the outskirts and look after what should never have even existed. Your grandmother filled your head with such stupid ideas."

"Don't talk about Bāchan like that!" I say again stopping so not to mess with the work in front of me. "Go away, you're bothering me. I need to finish this." I was already finished but I didn't want to talk to her in the slightest bit. I took my time cutting the thread before tying it off but she was still insistent on staying trying to strike up a conversation with me. "What do you want from me?" I finally ask Yūhi hoping to get her to leave. I try not to look at her but notice her greying black hair pinned up and her blue eyes looking at me the whole time. As I ask her I pick up the items I was using her to clean up the mess.

"I want you to start acting normal; come to the village." Normal she says… what does that even mean to her? "Toma has even been asking about you. If you give up being here you could have a happy life."

"I already am happy! I don't need to be in the village for happiness and I certainly don't need that pig either!"

"Stop being stupid Reisaki and come home." She folds her arms.

"I am home…now I'm asking you to leave it. I have things to do." I fold my arms and glare. She doesn't move and tears start to sting the corners of my eyes. Suddenly the five wolves come and stand in front of me growling slightly. Realizing that she's out matched she backs away to the open door. Once she's out of sight they go back to laying down or sitting where they were before; Christopher is the only one that actually stays for a moment.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes…that's a norm around here…she likes to visit a lot." Why does she always have to show up and say things like that? You're not normal. Come home. You are stupid… it's always like that. Why can't she just come and say something nice for once? I should be used to it by now.

"No matter what someone says about you; you are fine just the way you are my little neko…" ...Bāchan.

"Reisaki?" I look down at Christopher and smile patting him on the head,

"Sorry, I'm ok." Looking outside the sky has gone dark and I look around at the wolves in my home. It's kind of strange…I feel like there is a reason why I met all of them today. Of course I don't want to keep them as pets but…

Nathan lifts his head noticing my gaze,

"The heck are you starin' at?" oops…

"Nothing, nothing…" I didn't really feel much like eating after the conversation with Yūhi; I don't have much of an appetite. So I decide to head outside and freshen up. placing a tie in my hair helps to keep my hair out of the way as I make my way to a small pond. Standing by the pond I strip and enter the cold water. The sudden burst of cold sends shivers up and down my body. After about five minutes or so I get used to the water and relax. Staying near the edge I use it as a pillow flinging my arms on the grass and place my head on the ground. My eyes close as my muscles begin to relax and a sigh escapes my lips. Footsteps sound as I open my eyes from falling half asleep; a wolf's shadow peers over me looking down at me. Looking up I see Russell staring down at me. Not exactly who I was expecting…

"You've been out here a while. What's taking you so long?"

"Sorry I was just trying to relax a bit."

"Relax? You're supposed to be taking care of Thomas right now. He says he's getting hungry."

"Oh sorry…I'll be in in just a second."

"What ever…" he turns to head back inside, "Hey." My gaze goes back to him, "What that female said earlier, don't let it bother you so much. You may be weird for being able to talk to animals but to us that's a good thing. For once someone can actually understand us." Russell… "Don't get the wrong idea; we don't trust you at all; me especially. But you gotta stay focused on helping Thomas."

"Aw…Russell."

"Don't "Aw" me! Just get dressed already!" he trots off back in side leaving me alone. How cute he was worried about me… he's right though I shouldn't let it bother me so much.

…

A few days later I start my usual pattern of starting the day the wolves were the only thing that was different and of course I didn't mind one bit. Once again I feed the birds and even Gold Feather shows up to say hello. I honestly though that hawk was a bit high and mighty but he's proven otherwise now. Soon after I give Thomas a bowl of meat so he can eat as well. From the look of things these wolves get an early start; they're licking themselves clean of their kill. I check Thomas' leg and bandage it with new wrappings. I grab only an apple and a few carrots and make an omelet for breakfast. Soon after the other chores I had lined up for the day come after and it doesn't take long for me to finish many of those. As I sweep the floor Speck flies in and watches me with much interest. At the same time I can feel the wolves gaze on me as well. Once I finish with that I take a look at the room and it seems awfully plain to me.

"Hm…flowers maybe…the drapes aren't open either…"

"What are you going on about, mumbling to yourself like that?" I look at Eduardo plainly,

"Nothing…sheesh why do you have to be so cold?"

"I'm a wolf it's in my nature."

"…right…" at least Nathan will talk to me normally…even though he says I'm dorky. Eduardo doesn't pull punches with his words… he's a bit of a jerk.

"Quit putting like that would you; it was a joke."

"You joke? ...now that's a joke." His eye narrows at my comment. Nathan looks at him slightly amused

"What got no comeback to that?"

"Shut up." I guess that's a yes. Opening the drapes, the sky is a nice shade of blue indicating that the shops in town should be open by now. "What are you smiling about?" I walk pass Eduardo and kneel down next to Thomas,

"I'm going into town for a bit; think you can manage on your own for now?"

"Hey don't ignore me!" I hear the eye patch wearing wolf snarl.

"I'll be ok Miss Reisaki; um…thank you for taking care of me."

"Sure. No problem." I turn to the others, "I'll leave the door open so you can come and go as you please."

"Hold on a sec." I turn to Morgan the "Captain" of the group. "Take Nathan and Eduardo with you." What?

"What?" they both look at him surprised.

"Yeah she may need some help carrying her things; it's the least we can do seeing as how we're taking up her home."

"Tsk..."

"…" neither of them seem happy about the idea…

"I-it's really alright Morgan… they don't have to come if they don't want." I try to protest.

"Nope Captain's orders; take them with you." He grins wide revealing every tooth in his mouth. They both walk passed me leaving the comfort of my home before I can even protest anymore.

"But-"

"Hey woman, hurry up otherwise I'll bite you." I scurry after them after hearing the threatening tone in Eduardo's voice.

The town is as loud as usual as we walk around. I hear a few people make comments about the two wolves with me but let them be. Eduardo and Nathan stay close by if not right next to me as I take care of buying what I need. There's a flower shop near by and I remember how plain the table in the kitchen looked. Bāchan's favorite flowers would look great on the table. It would certainly brighten up the room.

The wild flowers cost about two silver coins in order for me to buy them. Thinking again I try to make sure I got everything. Yet one other thing comes to my mind.

The butcher shop should be around here somewhere near by. Let's see…

"Say what kind of meat do you guys usually hunt for?" I ask either one who would answer.

"What kind of question is that?" Nathan looks up at me.

"Well Thomas has been eating chicken and nothing else I figured I could try to give him something other than that. Seeing as how he can't actually go hunting with you guys." There's a silence for a long time before finally

"Mainly there's deer, sometimes for a snack we'll get ahold of a rabbit." Deer huh…

As we continue to walk on, people stare at me with uneasy thoughts going through their mind. Even the thugs look at me oddly with these two by me. The people of Yamato don't really trust people who act like outsiders. They treated Bāchan the same way when I was younger. Shooting cold glares, talking behind her back; they treated her just the same as they do me. Eduardo and Nathan must have noticed I can feel them glance back between me and the other people as if trying to see what my reaction is. I try not to give the people the satisfaction of hurting my feelings. It was one thing I learned from Bāchan: even if what they say does hurt you in the end, never give then the satisfaction of letting them see your tears.

Before heading to the butcher shop, I stop by a glass figurine store to take a look. The statues and charms shine in the light and glitter. The clerk tries to sell me a thing or two but I save my money to restock on meat. At the butchers I try to be very specific, like always, as to what grade of meat I need. No animals were allowed so Nathan and Eduardo had to wait outside but glancing back I noticed the two watching through the open door and listening intently to my conversation with the butcher. With the meat ready to go I pay the money needed and head out. My hands are pretty full now with all that I've bought and I decide it's enough.

"Stop being stubborn and hand over something to us already will you?" Eduardo noticed that I was struggling.

"N-no it's fine really."

"Hey." I look over at Nathan "In case you forgot Cap told us to help you out. So hand it over." Out numbered and out matched I hand the wrapped meat over to Eduardo who holds it by the string keeping the packaging on; and Nathan takes the bag I placed my produce in while I hold onto what's left.

"Thank you." Although neither of them could answer with something in their mouth.

"You're quite welcome." Oh no…not him! Toma grabs me from behind, making his unwanted appearance, "To me that is. So again we meet at the hands of fate."

"Some would think that you were stalking me…" I say flatly.

"Ouch now that hurts…but it's that attitude that makes you so alluring."

"From you that's an insult." I pull out of his grip and head to the two wolves waiting for me.

"Now what's this? Two new pets you have…I didn't know you liked dogs."

"Don't insult them like that; they're wolves." I hear them growl in agreement, "and they're guests at my home right now while one of their pack mates recovers."

"Guests huh…you make it sound as if they have feelings. You're even more cute when you say things with such a naïve tone." Who's naïve?

"Who is this guy?" Eduardo asks annoyed,

"A guy who thinks I'm flirting with him and won't piss off." I answer quietly.

"Doesn't seem like he can take a hint." Nathan states.

"That's because every girl in the village swoons over this guy when they see him; he's got his own fan club and everything."

"You're kidding right?" he asks in disbelief,

"No, unfortunately I'm not."

"Say Reisaki?" Toma pulls my arm interrupting my conversation and pulls me close, "How about you and I go somewhere we can be alone; I'll let you touch me anywhere you want." the last part sends chills up and down my spine.

"No thank you! Get off me you creeper; I have no intention of doing anything with you! Now let go!" I try pushing him away but he's to strong. He laughs slightly.

"You know Reisaki it's cute when you reject me like this but it's starting to ware off now. Just give into your feelings already."

"What feelings?! You're as blind as a bat if you think I can feel anything for you!" suddenly there's a massive growl followed by Toma letting go of me screaming his head off. Nathan jerks his leg round until Toma falls to the ground. Then Eduardo trots over near his head and raises his leg before peeing all over Toma. Once the two are done they come and sit next to me as if nothing had happened. Everyone starts laughing as Toma tries to get himself clean writhing on the ground in agony.

"There, that's better." Eduardo says smugly

"Now he smells as bad as he looks…" Nathan says in agreement. Even I have to hide my smile as I try not to laugh. The two pick up the items they set down and start walking away with me.

"pffaahahahahahah!"

"Jeeze calm down would you it wasn't that funny." They try to get me to stop laughing as we enter the house again.

"I'm sorry I can't help it…it was just so…pfft." I try to hold back another giggle as I set the basket on the table. They set their items on the floor next to the table, "Thanks for the help." Neither of them answer but I could have sworn that I saw a smirk or small smile on both of their faces as they head back to their resting places. I check Thomas and decide its ok to take the stitches out. While taking care of that I tell about what happened in the village and why I was laughing so hard. The other laughed too when I told what Eduardo and Nathan said after the fact.

"Yeah that sounds like them." Morgan booms.

"The guy was a real pig. What else were we supposed to do?" Eduardo sounded pleased with the reaction. After taking the final stitch out I take a better look at the healing wound,

"Yeah not bad at all. You should be able to walk around in a couple of days Thomas."

"Alright!" the door slides open with a slam making me turn in shock. With no time to react I receive a slap to the face. "Miss Reisaki!" picking myself up I look to see a furious Yūhi staring down at me.

"What the hell did you think you were doing today?!" her hand grabs a fist full of my hair pulling me up and slapping me across the face again. "Do you even have any idea what the others said today after you left?!"

"He deserved it, that pervert!"

"Shut up! Baka! Baka…just die you stupid little… piece of…!" she doesn't even finish her sentence before she flings me into the wall next to Thomas. "They call you a wild child, a girl of the forest, a freak because you bring them with you!" she points to Thomas, "Can't you understand how embarrassing it is for me to be put in such a position?! You should never have been put in her care! That old bag filled your head with such nonsense!"

"…unbelievable" I laugh ignoring the insults made about Bāchan, "You still have this uncanny ability to make any situation about you…even when you have nothing to do with it." I stagger picking myself up. "You're really something aren't ya?" I laugh,

"This is not something to laugh about!" again she slaps me much harder then the last couple of times. I have to wipe away a trail of blood from the corner of my mouth. Her footsteps pound on the floor as she comes for me again until something stands in her way. My eyes widen at Eduardo and Nathan both standing in front of me snarling and growling at her. Morgan, Russell and Christopher slowly approach her from the other side of the room giving the same treatment to her. Even Thomas with his ears back sits on the pillow ready to attack too.

"You know I knew there were people with rotten personalities out there but she's the worst I've seen." Christopher says.

"Hey Cap can we go for her throat?" Eduardo asks

"Or do we make it slow and painful…?" Nathan gives a different option.

"I'm thinking on it."

"Wait please!" they all turn to me. "Don't hurt her…out of the respect that…she's my mother."

"Your mother?!" Morgan doesn't seem to know how to take it.

"You little wretch…" my attention goes back to Yūhi, "Don't you dare call me that again. Someone as filthy as you deserves to be alone for the rest of their life! You should never have been born; you should never have been born! I hated you ever since you we born! You little freak don't ever show your face to me again!" the others had enough of her shouting; hey chased her out of the house only to get her to go away. Left in a daze I continue to sit in the same spot. Something wet touches my cheek and it turns out to be Thomas' nose. He must have moved when I wasn't watching.

Looking around the others are have returned too; they all stare at me concerned. I smile wiping a stray tear.

"I always knew that's what she thought of me. She never did want a child; I was just some accident that happened to her. Yūhi was always going around to every bottom feeder she could find and make it a one night stand. Honestly I don't think she was hugged enough as a child." I comb my hair out of my face with my fingers and look over at Thomas, "I'll keep taking but you need to stay off that leg ok?" keeping his hind leg up he trots back over to the pillow and drags it over next to me before sitting down and resting his head on my leg. "That's the first time I've heard her say what was really on her mind at least to my face. She always had the look in her eye like: you have to prove yourself in order to be my real child…or something like that. When I was three months old she took me up here and gave me over to her mother. Bāchan was probably reluctant at first but she put up with me. Even the memories I remember from when I was little she seemed distant at first. Yet for some reason she didn't stay that way. She started taking me with her into the forest to help animals, she showed me what herbs were good or not she even took me with her to the village. She was treated the same as I was, thought of as some sort of outcast. I remember this one time I was playing with this girl we were about the same age, and her mom came over and took her away saying: stay away from that girl she lives with the crazy old hag. She's different from us; she's not normal." Looking up I look through the window at the stary sky. "But…I didn't need their approval so long as I had Bāchan I wasn't alone… I didn't need to be accepted by them. we tried to be nice to them but even so they still wouldn't accept us no matter what happened. Bāchan even helped cure a little girl from a sickness that would have killed her and still we weren't accepted. But it was ok because we had something else that kept us from loneliness: the forest. The animals, I don't know if she could understand them the way I can understand you all but she had her own way of talking with them. They would come to her, trust her like it was second nature. We also…had each other. She and I would stay up late and do all sorts of things together. I remember her telling me so many different legends and myths about here. I even remember her telling me about the Yamato Legend, that one was my favorite when I was little."

"What was that one about?" Christopher asks kindly as they each begin to lay down.

"Hmm well I won't be able to tell it the same way she did; Bāchan had a way with story telling. I don't think I'll be that good and I probably won't be able to remember some of the names of the people too."

"Oh shut up and tell the story already." It sounded cold but Eduardo has a smirk on his face right now.

"Well… it takes place over one hundred years ago…" as I told the story in the back of my mind I couldn't help but think that I wanted these guys to stay. I was able to open up to them so easily…that if they leave again I wondered if I would feel alone again.