Chapter Six- Peace

Yukina's red eyes cracked open and focused on Kuwabara's gray ones. Both flashed wolf grins and their tails wagged. They had raced ad played to celebrate their mating as well as rubbed cheeks and other loving gestures they could do as wolves, but no lovemaking yet. Their relationship had just reached a new level and both looked forward to living together for a long, long time.

"So, what are we going to be doing today?" Kuwabara asked as he got up and stretched.

"I was thinking of having fish for breakfast and then you practicing your senses and abilities in human form," Yukina replied as she rose and stretched.

"Uh, Yukina. We may be fast but I don't think we're fast enough to catch fish at the bottom of a waterfall or the river near it."

"You're likely right and the only other source I know is in Red's territory." She drew herself up and added, "I will go to him and ask if we could fish in his stream. This would also be a chance to ask if a broken neck is fatal."

"It would. I'll wait here."

"Don't be silly. I'm sure everything in this forest heard our mating howls last night. He won't attack you now that you're a werewolf and a mated one too."

"You're right. He won't. Let's go." Kuwabara followed Yukina, still impressed with her confidence while acknowledging that he had become more confident with his mate's words. Yet, despite that confidence, he'd prefer to stay in their territory. He recalled that both had marked the area as wolves would and he felt safe there. But, I can't show fear in front of Red. I must be confident and sure of myself.

Red's scent grew stronger as the pair approached Red's home and when they entered the clearing, they found him sitting in front of his fire pit in human form and stoking a fire. He looked up and actually smiled. "Good morning and congratulations, by the way."

"Thank you," Yukina said, a little surprised by the greeting but chose to accept it.

"So, what brings you here?"

"I have a couple of questions. Well, one is more of a request?"

Red tilted his head at this. "A request?"

"Yes. I ask your permission for us to catch some fish for breakfast from your stream."

"Of course you can. You're welcome to fish any time you like."

"Thank you again."

"I have extra fish, though. Why not stay and have cooked fish for breakfast?"

Kuwabara and Yukina shared the wolf equivalent of surprise before the latter said, "All right." Yukina changed forms as did Kuwabara before sitting around the fire.

Red stoked the fire some more before getting up and returning with fish on skewers made from thin but sturdy tree branches. He set up a spit, put the skewers into it and began to turn it.

"You said you had two questions," Red prompted after a few minutes of silence.

"Actually it was my question," Kuwabara said. "Yukina told me that a silver bullet is the only way we can die. My question is if a broken neck is still fatal."

"An excellent question...Kazuma did she call you?"

"I prefer Kuwabara from everyone except Yukina and my sister."

"As you wish. Now, a broken neck…I haven't had one myself so this is just a guess. I believe that a broken neck would be fatal for maybe a minute or two before it heals. That's how long a broken bone takes to heal. I know this as I've broken bones in human and wolf form.

"By the way, Kuwabara, pointed ears suit you."

Kuwabara's hands went to his ears and he traced them up to caress the points. He then lowered his hands to examine his longer, pointed nails. "How sharp are they?" he wondered out loud.

"I know they can cut skin," Yukina said.

"I used them to strip the skewers smooth," Red said. "Of course, if any break, they grow back to normal the next day. That's rare as they are super strong."

"I believe it if you're using them to strip wood off branches," Kuwabara said.

"Would you like to test your healing ability?" Red asked as he turned the spit a little. "A simple way is to cut your palm with a nail. I demonstrated that to Yukin after I bit her."

Kuwabara held up a hand and slashed a nail across the palm. He grimaced a little at the pain and watched the cut heal almost immediately. He licked off the blood that had welled up and felt his smooth palm. "Incredible," he said.

"That's exactly what it's like to be a werewolf. Incredible." He lifted one skewer off the spit and passed it to Yukina.

"I used to dream of being one," Kuwabara said. "Now I am one and it's better than I dreamed."

"Of course." Red passed a skewer to Kuwabara. "You are stronger, faster, have sharper senses, heal quickly, and are virtually immortal as well as ageless."

Red took the last skewer and then set three more to cook. He then began to eat and the other two did the same so that there was silence save for chewing, the crackling fire, and the sound of the spit being turned.

"Red," Yukina said. "I noticed that you're being nice and friendly now. Not like yesterday."

Red was silent for a moment. "I really liked you and had hoped we could be mates. I was jealous when you admitted love for Kuwabara and then bit him. I had toyed with the idea of challenging Kuwabara to a fight for the right to be your mate last night. When I heard your howls, I knew I was too late. This realization made my jealousy and anger fade. I recognize that I cannot come between you two. I apologize for how I acted and for threatening you."

Yukina listened as Red explained his behavior and then apologized for it. He regrets his actions now. He is not a bad werewolf. He's just lonely.

"Apology accepted," she said. "I admit, I had thought you were a pushy, violent werewolf, but after listening to how and why you felt the way you do, I now know that you're not a bad werewolf. You're just lonely."

"Yes," he said softly. "I have been alone for a long time. I had spent my early years as a werewolf with the one who turned me before he told me to go away. He had grown tired of my constant presence."

"I wouldn't mind spending time with you every now and again," Kuwabara said. "I'd also like to be your friend."

"Yes. Me too," Yukina said.

Red's face lit up at these words. "I'd like to have friends. I haven't had any since I was turned."

"Well, you have two now," Yukina said. "And we'll stay friends forever. Furthermore, you are welcome to stay at the house whenever you like."

Red inclined his head in thanks as her passed out the cooked fish. He had friends and fellow wolves who did not hate him and would stick by him forever. And this wouldn't be so if I hadn't bitten Yukina into a wifewolf.

The End