Wolf's Rain Fan Fiction ❯ Another Road to Paradise ❯ Chapter 7 - 9 ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

CHAPTER 7: Tale of Two Steals
         Kiba sat with the doctor at her home. "Your friend will be alright," she said. She watched him for a second, "You aren't from around here are you? Where are you two off to?"
         "I met up with him in this city. He wants to go find his love. I was going with him to find someone myself."
         "That's sweet..............Sorry for all the questions. I was just curious."
         "It's okay. By the way I'm Kiba."
         She smied, "I'm Jasmine. Friends call me Jazz."

   ;       Hige opened his eyes and observed his surroundings. He could barely move his head, but he could see that he was in a house. "Oh no," he thought, "where am I? Where's Kiba?"
         "I see you're up," he heard someone say. He turned his head and saw Quent sitting by the fire. "Hope I did a good job. I had enturnal bleeding once."
         Hige looked at him, "and Kiba? Is Kiba alright?"
         Quent shook his head, "there was no one out there with you. He must of thought you were dead or something."
         Hige tried to sit up, but the pain took over his arm muscles, "he wouldn't just leave like that. He had a reason......................Wait, he must have went for help. He could be out there looking for me, you stupid-"
         "Hey! Hold your tongue! I saved your sorry butt from freezing. If that Kiba has any sense, he'll stay where it's warm. I want you to get well so you can catch up to Blue."
         Hige smiled, "really? She remembers me?"
         "I ain't saying anything. You just rest. You hear?"
         Hige nodded. "Please don't be looking for me right now, Kiba. I'll find you tomorrow............hopefully." he thought.

         Cheza woke up before everyone else and heard the birds chirp. "What a pretty day!" she said. She put on her jacket and walked out the door. She let the sun rays warm her body as she hummed. Then something caught her eye. It was a pink jeep. "Wow! I never saw a pink one before." Cheza opened the door and crawled in it. "I saw Momma do it a thousand times." She saw a key and put it in the ignition.
         Blue woke up just as she heard the vehicle crank. She realized that Cheza wasn't with her and got up. She looked around then ran to the door. Tsume and Toboe woke up, too.
         "What the hell is going on, Blue?" Tsume said as Blue rushed out of the door. He and Toboe got up and took off after her.
         They got outside and saw Cheza in the jeep. She looked at them and waved, "I'm goin for a spin!"
         Cheza sped off in the jeep and Blue ran after it yelling. "Cheza, stop the truck! You're gonna get hurt!" But Cheza didn't hear her. Blue ran out of breath and stopped.
         The old woman came out and frowned, "what's happened?"
         "Cheza thought she could drive. We have to go after her." Toboe said.
         The three wolves ran off, and the old woman waved bye to them. Tsume led, Blue was behind him, and Toboe brought up the back. "I can't beleive I let this happen," Blue said.
         "Quit blaming yourself," Toboe said.
         "Yeah, we were looking after her, too. Share some of the credit," Tsume said.

          Meanwhile Kiba was just leaving the doctor's home. He went around looking for the same tire tracks. He looked all over town, but still didn't find any. He decided to go to the outsikrts of the Keep and look.

          Quent watched Hige sleep on the couch. "Damn wolves. They should all be killed. But not Blue and this one. I want her to be happy; so I couldn't just let him die out there. Why do I hate wolves so much? They must have done something in the past." He got up, "I need a drink." He took his keys and walked out the door.
         Hige opened his eyes as he heard him drive off. He sat up, "he needs a drink...........he needs theropy! Crazy old man. He sits up all night then gets drunk in the morning." He stood up, "I gotta get out of here and find Kiba." He walked ot the back door and went out. He saw a tarp over something and pulled it off. He smiled, "my ticket out of here. A four-wheeler."

&nb sp;        Kiba had been looking for hours and still nothing. He sat down, "well, he could be in the next town." Suddenly he heard buzzing. He looked up and saw something coming right for him. He then realized who it was and sighed.
         Hige stopped right beside him, "don't tell me you spent the night out here."
         "Hige, I didn't leave you. I just went to go get help."
         He smiled, "mix ups happen. Come on lets go find our foxy ladies."
         Kiba smiled and got on. They zipped through the snow and around the city. "Who found you, Hige?!" Kiba yelled over the buzzing.
         "The old man that Blue lived with before she met us."
         "Him!"
         "Yeah, he is one crazy man!" he said. Kiba laughed as he hung on to his friend.

&nbs p;       In between cities they saw something pink. "What the heck is that?"
         Hige squinted his eyes, "I think it's a jeep."
         Cheza was despretly tring to take control of the jeep, but it was no use. She saw them and shut her eyes, "oh NO!!"
         Hige turned the four-wheeler the side as fast as he could and avoided her. Cheza kept going, but Kiba and Hige flipped into the ditch.
         Kiba got up and held his head, "Dammit!"
         Hige did the same, "that didn't last long."
         They got up and started walking. Hige felt the pain in his side again and coughed into his sleeve. Kiba saw red cover his dark sleeve. "Hige, you're still bleeding on the inside."
         He put on his smile, "I'm fine really. Let's go find Blue."
         Kiba nodded and kept walking.

&nb sp;       Little did they know that Blue and the others were chasing that crazy pink jeep. Cheza finally looked down, "if that one is the gas then that is the break?" She push the other petal hard and the jeep skidded across the road. The jeep fell off of the bridge and into the water.
         Blue stopped, "Cheza!"
         Tsume kept going and dived into the icey cold water. He opened the jeep door and pulled Cheza out. Tsume swam over to the bank and Toboe help them up. Blue ran over and hugged Cheza.
         Cheza shivered and looked at Tsume, "th-thank y-y-you."
         He shivered, too, "Your w-welcome."
         About that time Cher was driving by and saw them. She halted her car to a stop and jumped out. She ran to them, "Cheza!"
         "Momma!" she cried running to her mom.
         Blue helped Tsume to the car. "Thanks," she said.
         He nodded, "it's okay." She hugged him as they got into the car, "Hey, what are you doing?" he asked.
         "Letting my body heat warm you. You have to warm gradually." she said.
         Cher drove them to the next city and stopped at a friend's house. Tsume and Cheza got wam, and Cher didn't get mad at them. Blue walked outside, and Tsume followed.
         "Where are you going?" he asked.
         "Nowhere. I just want to find Hige. I'm just sniffing around and trying to find his scent." she said.
         "Blue, I want you to stay loyal to him."
         She turned around, "what are you talking about?"
         "You've been getting really close to me these past few days."
         "Tsume, I don't love you. Is it obvious or something?"
         "Yeah it is. Toboe asked me if you loved me."
         She looked at the snow, "I didn't mean to. I just miss Hige. I need him, Tsume. I need for someone to love me."
         Tsume hugged her, "You'll find him. I know you will."
         "How come you have changed so much?"
         "You said you need comfort."

CHAPTER 8: Mistake
         Hige and Kiba were in a run now. They smelt Blue's scent, and it was strong. They got down the street, but Hige stopped. Kiba stopped too and saw Blue and Tsume hugging. He looked at his friend. "Hige."
         He didn't hear him. All his concentration was on Blue in someone else's arms. "T-That's her." He stood there in silence as tears welt in his eyes. Memories ran in his head as if he was about to die. He felt his body go numb, and a tear rolled down his cheek. He lost his breath and turned his head to look at Kiba. "There are no moral bounds, Kiba." He looked at Blue one last time.
         Blue caught him in the corner of her eye and looked at him. She smiled but lost it when she saw the look on his face. Tsume let her go. She took one step to Hige, and he turned around and left.
         Kiba watched as Hige left his side. He turned at Blue and Tsume. Rage built inside him, and he charged for them. He threw Tsume against the wall, "What the hell, Tsume!?!" he yelled.
         He just looked at Kiba, "It's not what it looks like."
         "How could you, Blue?!" Kiba said.
         "I didn't-"
         "Do you know how long Hige has looked for you? He nearly died trying to get to you!" he yelled.
         Blue cried, "I don't love Tsume! I love Hige!! Tsume is my friend not my lover! He was just trying to comfort me!"
         Kiba stopped, "Blue, don't lie."
         She fell on the ground crying. Tsume looked at the ground, "she isn't."

&nbs p;       Hige fell to his knees in the snow. "Why, Blue? Was I too late getting here?"
         "No, my dear pet you weren't." he heard a voice say. He turned around cautiously and saw Jagara's apprentice, Mrin. She knelt down beside him, "Oh my poor defenseless Hige. That girl broke your heart." She rubbed her face against his. "Won't you come home? Please, Sweetie. Things will be different. I swear."
         His eyes watered again, "but I-"
         "Shh....." she soothed. She put her hand on his face, "This world is cold, but you don't have to go." Her lips caught his as she kissed him.

         Cheza put on her coat and walked outside. "I heard yelling. What's happening out here?" She stopped as soon as she saw Kiba.
         "Cheza?" he asked.
         She smiled, "are you the someone just for me?"
         He blushed a bit, "w-what?"
         She giggled, "if you're Kiba then you are the someone just for me."
         "W-who told you that?"
         Cheza pointed to Tsume and Toboe, "them. They said that you were protective of me, and that you loved me."
         Kiba blushed even more. "So Tsume you been talking behind my back. Are you scared to look me in the eye?"
         "What the hell are you talking about now?" Tsume asked.
         "I saw you one time at a cafe' and again in town. I called your name but got no response."
         "Well I guess that I was a little ashamed. I've been living with humans."
         Kiba smiled, "I'll tell you. I only took my wolf form to run faster."
         Tsume arched an eyebrow, "what? What happen to your pride."
         He smirked, "I guess I forgot to pick it up when Hige told me to. Yeah, I think it's still on the ground."
         Cheza looked at Blue on the snowy ground, "What happened? Blue, are you okay?"
         She cried harder. Kiba walked over to her and lent out his hand, "Blue I'm sorry. Hige will come back here. He hasn't anywhere to go."
         Blue took his hand, "but-"
         "He just needs time to cool off." Kiba said.
         Cheza grabbed Kiba's arm, "I make the best steamy green tea you ever tasted. Let's go in and have some."
         Kiba smiled, "okay."

         Later that night Kiba stood outside watching the snow fall. "Hige hasn't come back yet," he thought. "I wonder where he went. His enternal injuries haven't healed yet." He then heard footsteps behind him.
         "It's pretty isn't it?" Cheza asked from behind him.
         He looked at her, "what is?"
         "The snow falling. I think it's pretty even though it happens almost everyday."
         "Yeah, if you take the time to look at it. It's pretty. I've never really though about it."
         She lifted her hands, "I'd give anythingto fly through the snow. That whould be wonderful. The thought of soft cool flakes brushing against your face sounds woderful." Kiba put his hands on her waist. He lifted her up and twirled her gently in a circle. "What are you doing?" she laughed.
         He laughed with her, "I'm helping you fly." She laughed softly and put out her arms while the snow swept across her face. Kiba lost his balance and fell with her in his arms. They rolled down the hill and stopped on a freshly glazed snow mound. Cheza laughed even more with him. Kiba sat up, "I got dizzy."
         Cheza hugged him, "that was fun. I love flying."
         Kiba tilted her chin up to look at him. She fell silent. Suddenly she felt herself being captivated by his sweet gaze. The more she tried to blink, the more blinking became impossible. Her heart raced as they moved closer. She closed her eyes as they shared a kiss. Kiba heard Cher calling and broke the kiss. They turned around and saw the light of the house glare beyond the hillside.
         "Come on," Kiba said smiling at her. She took his hand and they went back inside.

&nbs p;       The mist filled the air as the sun rose. The sound of footsteps outside could be heard by the wolves inside the house. Kiba, Tsume, Toboe, and Blue peered out the window to see Mrin walking with about ten wolves. She stopped at the front lawn and waited. Kiba walked out of the door along with Tsume and Toboe.
         "What do you want?" Kiba asked the apprentice.
         She grinned, "they say that if the flower maiden dies, she will be reincarnated. She will also be born with her old poweres along with new ones."
         "So is she what you want?!" Toboe yelled.
         Kiba charged for Mrin but stopped when Hige jumped in front of her in wolf form. "Move!" he called to his friend while starting his run back. Hige kept his ground, and Kiba had to stop. "Hige what the heck are you doing."
         He looked at Kiba with steady eyes. Mrin petted him, "he screwed up with that half breed. She broke his little heart. But it's all alright now. He's back where he belongs."
         Kiba gimanced, "Hige, you can't!" Then he noticed that Hige's collar was red and didn't have a number at all. He also noticed that Hige's eyes weren't normal. They were incomplete.
         Mrin put a finger to her lips as she aw Blue come out of the house. "Hige, why don't you start by killing that tramp!"
         Hige raced towards Blue. Kiba chased after him at first, but was tackled by some other wolves. Tsume and Toboe were attacked, too. Blue hadn't heard what Mrin said, and she thought Hige was running to her not at her. She was knocked down by his tackle. Her mind stirred into a panic as she got to her feet. Hige swiftly kicked the back of her knees, and she fell to the snow. She desperatly got up again. Hige snatched her arm and her hair. "Have fun with it, Sweetie," Mrin yelled. He pulled Blue's hair tighter and twisted her arm around her back.
         "Hige! I'm sorry. Please stop!" Blue cried. Mrin laughed at the sight and walked away from the scene. Hige threw Blue onto the snow and pinned her down.
         Kiba bit one of the wolves's neck and tossed the other aside. He took off to help Toboe, who was struggling. Tsume was still fighting and had no chance to break free. Kiba jumped on one of the wolves but only killed one of them.
         Meanwhile Hige bashed Blue to no end. He Threw her on the ground again and gripped her neck. She let out a shrilling scream. Hige had no emotion on his face as he pushed on her fragile neck. Tears ran down her face, and she desperartely tried to pry his hands away. "H-Hige," she whispered hoarsly. He pushed harder and harder. All of a sudden Blue's knee pushed in his side, and a tremendous pain built up inside him. He lost his breath, and blood dripped from his mouth. He loosened his grip on her, and she fainted.
         Kiba tackled Hige, and they fell off of Blue and into the snow. Hige blinked and looked at him, "Kiba?"
         "Hige, are you okay?" He looked at Kiba confused. "I knew it when I saw your eyes. You were being posessed by Mrin."
         "W-What? What did I do, Kiba?!" he asked. Kiba let go of him and sat up. Hige looked beside them and saw Blue on the powdery, snow. He crawled over to her. "No," he whispered as he lifted her in his arms. A light bruise formed on her neck, and her tears were collected on her cheeks. She moaned a little in her sleep, and he felt relieved. "I did this?" Kiba nodded. Tears fell from his eyes as he hugged Blue close, "I never wanted to hurt her. Damn Mrin. She promised."
         Kiba put his hand on Hige's shoulder, "It's okay we're gonna help her; she'll be fine."
         Toboe and Tsume walked over to the two. "So, Porky?" Tsume asked.
         Hige picked Blue up and stood with them. "I didn't think this was going to happen."
         They all looked at Blue with concern. Tsume went inside frowning.
     &nbs p;   Hige sat at Blue's side. Every now and then, he would brush his hand against her forehead. Kiba relaxed on the couch and watched Tsume dart his eyes at the room Blue was in. "How can you be so calm, Kiba?" Tsume finally asked.
         "I know that Hige isn't gonna hurt us."
         "How can you be so sure, huh?" Toboe asked.
         Kiba looked at the room, "he feels really bad about this. Plus I owe him at least my trust. He saved the both of us on the way here."
         Tsume crossed his arms, "you have lost your pride, haven't you?"
         Kiba closed his eyes and smiled, "not all of it."
         Cheza walked over to the door, "I'm gonna check on Blue." She went in and smiled at Hige. "So, she hasn't awoken yet?"
         Hige shook his head. He coughed into his sleeve and saw fresh blood. Cheza reached for him, but he turned away. "I'm fine. I've had this elment for quite some time now."
         Cheza nodded and stepped out of the room. She turned to Kiba, "Do you know that he's hurt on the inside?"
         "Yeah, I saw he still was bleeding when he snapped out of Mrin's trance."
         "We have to get him some help, too. Right, Kiba?"
         "It's healing. Just let it be." He stood up, "come on let's go to bed."
         They left the room and Tsume could only stare, "what in the hell? Since when do they sleep together? They met each other only yesterday."

        Blue open her eyes slowly. She saw Hige and terror crept across her face. She scooted away from him slightly. He put a finger over his mouth, "shhh, Baby Blue. I'm not gonna hurt you anymore. I swear."
         She bit her lower lip, "what do you want from me? I waited for you. And what you saw was-"
         "You in Tsume's arms."
         "No, he was helping me cope. I was depressed, because I didn't know you......I...........I needed you with me." She put a hand on his cheek. "Judging by the tear stains on your face-"
         He took her hand, "it wasn't me, Blue. It was Mrin. She, she made me.....she told me to-"
         Blue pulled him to her and hugged him. "I want you, Hige. I've waited so long," she cried. Hige quickly pulled away from her and spit up blood. He coughed and leaned over. "Hige! What's happening?"
         "Your defense I guess," he said between coughs.
         "I did this?"
         "Well, I already had this injury. cough It was healing, but you must have kicked me or something. cough Not your fault. cough. "
         Blue snatched a towel from the end table and put it to his mouth. "Guess we're even."
         Hige smirked, "yeah, guess so."

CHAPTER 9: My Flower Power?
         That night Cher saw Kiba go outside. She went out the door, and he was sitting on the porch steps. "Did you get hurt today?" she asked. He shook his head. She looked at the ground, "I hope Blue feels better tomorrow. That damn wolf. He nearly killed her."
         "It's not like that at all."
         "Kiba, you can't make it better. She's beaten pretty bad."
         "Hige wasn't doing it. Lady Mrin was controling him."
         "Hige............that's the one Quent told Blue about. If Hige loved Blue-"
         "He does, Cher! That's why he's by her side right now." he said harshly. Cher crossed her arms. "You don't get it. You're just a human."
         Cher looked up, "well Blue's just like my daughter.............Speaking of daughter...is it true that Mrin wants Cheza still?"
         "You mean she was after her before?"
         "Yeah, they raided our house. That's why we're here."
         "Oh, I thought this was your home."
         "No, this was Kay's house."
         "Where is Kay?"
         "She dissapeared a year ago. Hubb and I think that she died."
         "And you haven't gone looking for her?"
         "We weren't that close."
         "What did she look like?"
         "She had long blue cascades, greenish eyes, kinda' short. She wasn't very old. I think she was around Toboe's age. He kinda had a crush on her." She got up, "well I'm gonna go back to bed. Night."
         Kiba shrugged his shoulders and went inside, too.

  & nbsp;      Cheza woke up and saw the sun's rays peak through the circle-shaped window. She rubbed her eye and got up. When she got into the dark bathroom, her body craved sunlight. She glanced at the mirror, and walked out of the room. Suddenly she stopped and rushed back in. She looked in the mirror again and saw that her blue eyes were now a magenta color. She stumbled back and slid down the wall. She blinked and stood. She saw herself again and her eye color didn't change. She screamed and ran downstairs.
         Kiba heard the scream and caught her as she tripped off of the stairs. She had tears running down her face. "There's something wrong with me! My eyes! Kiba, my eyes!"
         He saw them fade from pink to blue. He hugged her and rubbed his hands on her shoulders, "it must have been a dream, Cheza. it's okay."
         She looked at him, "y-you sure?" He nodded. She whiped her eyes and went back upstairs.
         After she went back up, Kiba rushed into Hige and Blue's room. Blue was still asleep, and Hige was sleeping with a bloody towel in his grip. Kiba shook him, "wake up!"
         Hige opened his eyes and looked at his friend. "What? Wow you look worn out. Did I miss something fun?"
         Kiba pulled on his shoulder, "come here."
         Hige got up and went with him into the living room. "Okay you got me up. Now what?"
         "Cheza's eyes were just pink. Like when she was the flower maiden."
         Hige smirked, "well duh! She still is the flower maiden." He turned around, "I'm going back to bed."
         Kiba grabbed his shirt, "what do you mean? There's no need for a maiden like that. Paradise is dead."
         Hige waved his hands, "or is it?"
         Kiba pulled his shirt up to his chin, "it ain't funny anymore. What do you know?"
         "Damn Kiba. Sorry. Well uh, Cheza is still the flower girl, and she can lead us to Paradise again. Paradise didn't die, Kiba. What made you think it did?"
         "Who told you this?"
         "A very reliable source. Anyway, Paradise is common sense. It can't die. Haven't you ever heard that? That it couldn't be non-existant."
         Kiba let go of him, "all the time you was with me. Why haven't you told me sooner?"
         He shrugged, "Guess I was saving it for a rainy day." He looked around. "Yo, Kiba? Could you do me a favor?"
         "Sure, you just did me one."
         He pointed to the red collar, "since we're in the whole journey thing again, I don't think we need this, too."
         "Journey?"
         "Yeah, I know you wanna go find it again. You can't fool me."
         Kiba smiled, "okay." He bit the collar in his wolf form. He gnawed on it with his fangs, but it refused to snap. He yanked and pulled, but no use.
         "Shiite, Kiba! Be careful I'm delicate."
         Kiba pulled harder, but he fell on the floor when he lost grip. "What the hell is that thing made out of?"
         "HellifIknow," he said.
         Kiba laughed, "I believe it! Porky!"
         "Don't you dare start that again! Don't be trippin, Kiba."
         He laughed some more, "K, Porky! I'm gonna go tell Tsume."
         "Hey you never took off this damn thing!"
         "Take my word for it. That isn't coming off so easily."
         Hige shrugged, "he's gone mental, again."

&nbs p;       Kiba told Tsume and Toboe. Now all to do is to tell Cheza about her abilities. Kiba came into her room. "Uh, you wanna go for a walk?"
         "Sure," she said. They went outside and walked along the path in the woods. The snow glisened in the patches of light glowing through the trees. Cheza took Kiba's hand, "I think you were right about my eyes this morning. It was just my imagination."
         "Actually it wasn't. I just told you that until I knew the facts, but I know now."
         "Huh?"
         "You are reincarnated. You were once the flower maiden. The one who led us to Paradise."
         She balled up her fist, "Yes! I told Blue I was a flower."
         "Well, you have the same abilities as before. You have to take us there."
         "Wait. Where?"
         He smiled, "to Paradise of course. You can take us. It will be wonderful."
         "But Kiba, how will I do it? I don't even know what it looks like."
         "Don't worry, I'm confident you can do it."
         "Okay, if you think I can."

          Kiba and Tsume convinced Cher to let them take Cheza. They had to act fast since Mrin knew of Cheza's powers. Tsume, Toboe, Kiba, and Cheza sat in the living room. Hige walked in silently. "You guys go ahead. Blue still hasn't healed fully."
         "No, we all agreed to wait for her. We want both of you to come, too." Cheza said to him.
         He smiled, "it's okay. If you leave now you'll get through about two cities by nightfall."
         Kiba gave a look of concern, "Hige, we'll wait for her."
         "No, go on. I promise as soon as she's on her feet, we'll catch up to you. Besides, we have a lot to catch up on."
         Kiba stood, "You ready?" he asked Cheza. She nodded. They got up and walked out of the door. Cheza gave Cher a kiss good-bye.
         Tsume stopped at the doorway, "Hige."
         "Yeah?"
         "I think what you're doing is pretty noble. Blue should be happy."
         Hige smiled, "coming from you, that means a lot."
         Tsume grinned, "yeah, yeah. See ya, Porky."
         "See ya, Stick," he said under his breath.
         Hige walked into the room where Blue was. He sat on the bedside and looked at the bruise on her neck. He carefully brushed a finger across it. Blue stirred and turned her head. He bent down and kissed her forehead. She opened her eyes and looked at him. "Hey, Baby Blue," he said quietly.
         "Hey," she whispered. "Have you bled anymore?"
         He shook his head, "do you still hurt?"
         "A liittle."
         He kissed her cheek, "I'm so sorry."
         "You told me like a thousand times. It's okay."
         He went for her lips, but she made a quick turn of her head; so he would miss. He looked at her, "it's not okay?"
         "Hige, I just met you again."
         "So?"
         "Take it slow for me, please."
         "Oh, okay."
         She took his hand, "do you still love me?"
         "Of course. That's why I'm waiting on you."
         "What? the kissing thing?"
         "No, Kiba and the others are looking for Paradise again. I told them to go without us. I'm waiting for you to get better; so we can catch up."
         "Really?" she asked. He nodded. "Hige, I don't know what to say."
         He touched her nose with his, "say that you love me."
         "I love you."
         "I love you, too."

          Kiba walked while holding Cheza's hand. Tsume and Toboe tagged along behind. "It's too quiet," Toboe said.
         "That's because Porky isn't disturbing our peace." Tsume said.
         "Well, you be the new Hige, Tsume. Say something funny, mean, interrigating, cold, and stupid all at the same time." Toboe exclaimed.
         "Sorry, but I don't have the talent to cram it all into one statement." Tsume said.
         Kiba fell out laughing. "What?" Toboe and Tsume asked in unision.
         "S-Sorry. I just thought of something really funny."
         They shrugged and went on their way. Hige guessed right. They were able to make it through two cities that day. Kiba picked a nice spot to camp out at. They built a fire and went to sleep.

   ;       Morning came faster than ever. Sleep hadn't come easy for them. Kiba was watching over Cheza, Toboe kept hearing scary noises, and Cheza missed her mom already. Tsume on the other hand said screw it and got a lot of sleep. He was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. "So, are we gonna kept going this way all of our lives; or is Cheza gonna lead?" Tsume asked.
         "Go ahead, Cheza," Toboe encouraged, "you can do it. I believe in you."
         She closed her eyes and opened them again. She looked around with a serious face. She lifted her hand and pointed to the right. "There."
         "Wow, really?" they all asked.
         She smirked and pinched her cheek, "well, it's a guess.........."
         They all fell over. Tsume arched an eyebrow. "You can't do it, can you?"
         She shrugged, "sorry, but...........I don't know how."
         "Well, who does?" Toboe asked Kiba.
         "I have no idea. It would be great if someone could teach her how." he said.

          Meanwhile Blue and Hige walked from the house. Blue had told him that she could go. But one thing Hige noticed was that she kept distance from him. The snow had stopped falling, but a lot was deeply caked to the ground and refused to melt. Birds sang to the fresh cool morning and chirped as they pounced in the light snow. Hige looked at Blue behind him while walking and smiled sweetly. She smiled at him, too. He gave her a funny expression and looked forward again.
         "That was fake, Blue," he said quietly.
         She wrapped her arms around herself, "s-sorry. I didn't mean for it to be."
         "Not the smile. I mean the way your acting around me. You keep you distance; yet, you wanna be with me. That's the fakey part."
         "I just, I want to-"
         He stopped, "you don't have to be afraid of me anymore, Blue. I don't want you to fear me. I'm not gonna hurt you." She blushed a bright red. "What?" he asked.
         She walked beside him, "nothing. I just thought that was romantic."
         He pointed to himself, "what I said? That's romantic to you?" She blushed even more. "I love you, Baby Blue."
         She took his arm and leaned her head on his shoulder as they walked.

&nbs p;       Kiba made everyone go as slow as they possibly could. Tsume was getting agrivated at this procedure. He complain a lot about it. One night Cheza kept hearing something. "What is that?" she asked herself. She looked around to see everyone asleep. Cheza went to investigate the brush. She crept out of the campsite and into the deep forest. She then saw a pink light beyond the trees and ran to it. She got to the spot and looked around, "H-Hello?" Suddenly someone from behind hit her on the back of the head, and she fainted.
         Kiba's ears twitched, and he woke up. He looked around, "Cheza!" Tsume and Toboe got up and saw Kiba run into the woods. They all searched for her until Toboe found her hair clippy. Kiba examined it and clutched his fists, "Damn! They got her."
         Tsume sniffed the air, "that smells like the woman that attacked us with Hige."
         "It also smells like.......Jagara," Toboe whipered.
         "Impossible," Kiba said, "She's dead." Then he thought of what Hige said, 'Anyway, Paradise is common sense. It can't die.' He starred into space wide-eyed. "Maybe it's not impossible. Hige said that he got his information from a very reliable source. Mrin told him and heard it from Jagara."
         "So Jagara has Cheza," Toboe whispered.