an: so it's been a long time since i've written for this anime and as you've most likely already guessed, yes i am anime trash. deal. anywho~ it's been a long time so try to go easy on me pls? i'll try to post updates on my tumblr if you're that into the story. small spoiler, canon pairings exist in this fic except the whole Kiba/Cheza ship because.. well you'll just have to read why. now i'll shut up and let you enjoy! :)

i don't own Wolf's Rain; Nikki belongs to me.
key: 'wolf speech' / "human speech"

[prologue] TOOTH

'There's no such place as Paradise', my brother often says.

Of course growing up the way we did, I can see why he denies that any sense of a heaven exists for our kind.

But what if he's wrong and maybe our parents are waiting for us to join them there? …What if Paradise does exist after all and even more… how would we reach it?

* I * I *

More than anything she wanted to drop it.

"Get back here, thieving bitch!" If she wasn't preoccupied with trying to bust out of the place in one piece, she would've taken the brief chance to taunt her pursuers.

I'll return these beauties when you stop chasing me long enough for me to stick my foot up your posh ass, she thought with a brief and rueful puff.

The thief dove into one alley and then another and another, silently cursing those fools straight to hell as she kept running, at last twisting into a wide alley and skidding to a halt. Unfortunately, the alley was a dead-end with a high rising wall of cemented stone between her and her destination.

"Shit."

"Oh-ho, you done running now, girl?" She slightly jumped at the voice of one of her pursuers as she didn't turn or felt the need to because she heard all three of them find her cornered like the streetrat she was.

The woman's shoulders squared and her hands crumpled into fists that hung at her sides as her nails slowly grew and dug crescents into her bound palms. Seven hells, he's so going to chew my ass when I get back home…

"What's the matter, cat got your tongue?" The trio jeered at their leader's little joke. "Give back what you stole and my boss just might be merciful."

Fat chance.

"Suppose I should be flattered, ne, given you three gorillas are actually talking coherently."

She felt a dangerous smirk curl her upper lip as she exhaled shortly, watching the breath resemble a small puff of fog in the cold night's air, before she turned when hearing the main ape advance towards her. She sidestepped his lunge but not before grabbing a fistful of his jacket sleeve and raising her left fist to collide with his fat nose when he twisted slightly to glare at her, letting go of his sleeve to ram her boot up his groin, sending the man reeling with colorful expletives.

"B-bitch; get her!" He snarled between his meaty paws that gingerly held his broken and bleeding nose, blearily seeing the other two surge forward at their thief.

The woman's smirk remained as she ducked out of the way of the second man's swing for her head to swing her left leg out and knock his from under him. Her right hand's palm smacked the third right in his fat face and she shoved him back with ease so he crashed back-first into a nearby trash can.

The thief turned on the first ape to sprint for him and she sprang into the air using his head as a leg up, landing nimbly on the ledge of the concrete wall. She smiled serenely over her shoulder at the groaning trio, "Pleasure doing business with ya, boys!" She sang before hopping to the other side of the wall and booking it home.

::::x x::::

His ears perked when the door to the room opened from the other side, but given he knew her well enough by now, he didn't feel the need to look up as she slipped into the darkened room, "You sure took your time."

"Shut up, I'm still here. You fret too much…" She scoffed lightly, fishing the prize out of the confines of her coat pocket and tossing them at him so he caught them with a practiced hand. "I almost pity those assholes for being so naïve." She added with a scratch of her scalp.

He looked down at the pilfered strings of pearls and gold chains, smirking wryly. She made for a damn-good thief after all. "Good. Just don't play it too close to the chest next time." He nodded to her as both gazes met.

The woman smiled serenely when her blue eyes met his amber, "I can't make a solid promise on that, but I'll try anyway, Tsume-onii."

He rolled his eyes at her formality as she sat down at his right with a sigh, and he reflexively poked her forehead. "I swear you're impossible, Nik, even for a brat sister." Tsume smirked knowingly when her lower lip jutted out in a pout at his brotherly gesture.

"Tch, shut up." Nikki grumbled as she turned her head away.

an: again, i'll try to post updates on tumblr, if anyone wants to know. hope you guys liked this and kind words make me feel all fuzzy inside so pls review! :)