Chapter 2 here...hope you'll like it... :)

Chapter 2

The newcomer's face was delicate and pretty. His full lower lip looked soft and sensitive, kissable even, though him cursed himself for noticing at times like this. But his eyes fascinated him the most. The bluest eye with edges of gold, his eyes were the strangest he'd ever seen. Not just the unusual, otherworldly color but something he saw in their depths, some deep and frightening knowledge.

So this is the search and rescue team or "dog man" as the other emergency personnel called him.

Shaking off the odd sensation that had gripped him the moment he (Fuji) walked into the station, Tezuka stepped forward. "I'm Tezuka Kunimitsu, director of operation."

Tezuka offered his hand. Fuji didn't take it. if anything, he shrunk back, placing his hand on the dog at his side.

With those disturbing eyes, Fuji quietly looked over him, and Tezuka was sure, found him woefully wanting.

"Fuji Syusuke,"he said shortly."This is my dog Hunter. Let's get started. Give me some details."

"The boy is nine. He and his grandfather were hiking. Somehow they got separated."

"When?"

"About two hours ago."Tezuka pointed to the map spread out on a table next to table."Here."

Tezuka was acutely aware of the boy as he leaned forward and took note of the area. His(Fuji's) scent, as he leaned in, was a mix of cold air and a sweet scent. Fuji said nothing, only studied the map.

"We need to get started." he turned to Fuji, who's waiting quietly, while Hunter's receiving pats and shaking hands. Tezuka found it interesting that the others present knew and liked his dog, but not a single person had spoken to the trainer.

"You'll take the direct trail, following this grid."

"The map is inaccurate."

"What?"

"I'll follow the direct trail where the boy was last seen."

"Great. Just great." Frustration burned in Tezuka's gut. Ever since taking this new position, he'd run into the same problems over and over and over again. All the data, the maps, the grids, the disaster plans were outdated. That's why he's been asked to find ways to get the present maps,grids and data. He's got far more works to do and less time to do it.

"Do you know the area?"

Again that cool,cool stare from those blue eyes."Of course. Does the family have any item that belonged to the boy which hadn't been contaminated?"

"Is that necessary?"

"No. But the scent helps Hunter to move much faster. And in case you haven't noticed, time is not in our side."

Though the command bordered some sarcasm, Fuji was right. The temperature continued to fall.

"I'll ask the family." Tezuka made his way towards the family and returned with a cap and give it to Fuji."Will this do?"

"It will do." Without further ado, Fuji spoke quietly to the dog, held the inside of the cap to his twitching black nose,and then left the command post.

Fuji's insides trembled as he loaded Hunter once more into the truck cab and climbed behind the wheel.

Tezuka Kunimitsu was a military. He could see it in his precise bearing, hear it in his voice,feel it emanating from him in waves of danger. He knew Tezuka's type. Rugged and masculine with snapping brown eyes. Tezuka's strong and powerful.

And a military....

upon hearing that the county had finally hired a full-time emergency management director, Fuji had been pleased. For a while he'd worried they might hire Akutsu Jin, a deputy who had lobbied long and hard for the development of an emergency management program within the county.

But this man, this Tezuka Kunimitsu, was far worse than Akutsu. He was a military. he was deadly. And he scared him to pieces.

Hunter, sensing his unease and wondering why they weren't moving whined softly and nudged at him as if to say: "Get moving,Mama (1), we have a kid to save."

With a shaky laugh, he cranked the engine."Right. Focus,huh,boy? A lost kid is in a lot more trouble than we are."

Suddenly the passenger door was yanked open. Tezuka Kunimitsu slid onto the bench next to Hunter. Fuji scowled, hoping to frighten him away."What are you doing?"

"I thought I'd ride along with you,watch you work."

Fuji's pulse ratcheted up to much speed. "Hunter and I work alone."

"Not this time. If I'm going to use you services, I need to see for myself that you know what you're doing."

In the darkness, lit only by the moon and the lights of the vehicles beginning to move, Tezuka looked across Fuji,expression mild. There was a stubbornness about him and a confidence that bordered cockines,Fuji thought.

Tezuka's the boss,and he better get used to it.

"Suit yourself." He cranked the engine and drove in silence. The truck could only go so far before they'd have to hike into the wilderness to the area were the boy had last been seen. When they reached the vicinity, he parked the vehicle and got out, strapped on his backpack, leashed Hunter and started trough the woods without a word to his uninvited guest. If Mr. High and All Mighty Military Man wanted to come, he'd better keep up.

He did, with less effort he was beside him.

Ignoring the man took effort,but Fuji concentrated on his job with Hunter. With soft commands, he unsnapped the several seconds, he stood, nose high.

"What is he doing?"

"Processing information." He was accustomed to waiting quietly until Hunter move.

"How long does that take?"

He turned, shining the flashlight into his eyes. "I didn't ask you to come along."

Tezuka blinked and turned his tried to be gentle but the guy was getting under his nerve. He'd come with him for the very reason he'd said, to observe his work. But to be truthful, he wanted to observe more than that. Something about Fuji unsettled him. As an Army Ranger,he'd spent many nights in the wilderness. Neither the rugged terrain nor the possibly long night ahead bothered him. But Fuji Syusuke did.

" You aren't what I expected." Tezuka said.

He bristled,but didn't look at him. He was glad because he'd that stupid thought that his blue eyes might glow in the dark. "And why would you expect anything at all?"

"Well you know," He shifted uncomfortably, wishing he'd keep his big mouth shut. Usually,taking with someone didn't make him nervous but Fuji did. "I'd heard about you."

The air temperature around them seemed to drop ten degrees. "So they told you about the crazy man who lives back in the mountains by himself only dogs for company."

"Something like that."

By now, the dog must have caught the scent because he disappeared from their circle of light with a rustle of movement.

"Well, they're right. I'm crazy. Keep that in mind while we're in these woods." The dog leash rattling at his waist, he stalked right away,heavy brown boots thudding the frozen shrugged off his prickly attitude and followed and decided to keep the rest of his thoughts to himself.

After about an hour in which he marveled at the petite guy's stamina,a series of short, happy yips rent in the air. Fuji stopped, spun around and said, "We found him." His voice sounded as excited as the barks.

Tezuka caught up to him."Are you sure?"

He nodded curtly. "Hunter's good."

"So you are,you trained him."

As if no one had ever noticed such thing, he stopped dead still and his mouth dropped blinked up at him, and Tezuka had the strongest urge to give him a hug. He didn't of course. He'd likely punch him in the gut if he did that.

The dog barked again, more urgent now. Fuji's mouth snapped shut and spun away. "Move it." And they followed the sound.

"Does he ever get far away from you to hear him bark?" Tezuka asked, huffing a bit to talk and keep up. The petite guy was in amazing physical condition.

"Sometimes. But he'll come back to me if that happens. But I prefer he stay with the victim,especially on nights like this. He's a good source of heat."

"Make sense."

The barking grew nearer and in less time than Tezuka could have hoped,the beam of the flashlight caught the eye of the dog huddled next to a small boy. In seconds,they wee beside the shivering child. While Tezuka checked him over, speaking in reassuring tones, Fuji went to his knees and began rummaging in his backpack.

He looked up at Tezuka. "Start a fire. You know how, don't you?"

Was he intentionally trying to insult him? "In the pouring rain with two wet sticks."

The corner of his mouth twitched. He almost smile. As he got busy proving his point, Tezuka couldn't help wondering what Fuji Syusuke would look like with a full-blown smile?

Fuji baffled him, intrigued him and made him feel nervous and uncomfortable. But Fuji found the boy alive.

And he made him almost smile.

And next time, he would succeed.

~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~

1 . I prefer to call him "Mama" since he look's like a girl. ~_^

Automatic Raccoon & Alatarielf : thanks a lot ! :DD

Review please... :))))))))))