Zenki Fan Fiction ❯ Cry of the Wolf ❯ prolouge+chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Untitled

Prologue

Author: Aura-chan

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Authors Note: This takes some years from the end of the anime. This is
an Inugami-Sayaka fic, so Zenki and Chiaki probably won't appear (I
think it's the first I+S fic out there, I hope it won't be the last
^^). When I introduce a character I will use the family name first and
then the given name (like in Japan). I will use Japanese suffixes most
of the time, but there could be some situations where the characters
are in a lot of stress or in a sudden predicament and they won't use
them. These are:

*Given Name-chan (informal/when talking to a female friend or a child)

*Given Name-kun (informal/when talking to a boy or close male friend)

*Last Name-san (formal/ when talking to a coworker or someone that you
show respect, like an older person or someone you just met)

*Last Name/Given Name-sama (when you speak to someone you feel the
highest respect or admiration for)

Dialogue- ""

Human thought- * *

Animal/wolf thought - (* *)

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Disclaimers: I don't own Sayaka, Inugami or any other Zenki
characters.

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A beautiful young female smiled as she stroked her behind her ears.
They had being 'working' for the whole day, and they both felt tired.
The wolf licked her hand; she liked this human. She was nice to her
and treated her with respect, something uncommon in humans.

"If I didn't know any better I'd say you're thanking me." She said.
She studied her features, trying to pinpoint what was that inspired
trust in her. She had long auburn hair with sweet honey colored eyes
that glowed with kindness. She smelled nice, too, like vanilla. She
smelled another scent in the lab, one not so appealing to the senses.
She looked past the female and glared at a rash young male that
entered the lab.

The young male had short black hair and hazel eyes, he could be
considered attractive by human standards. (*That is if he wasn't such
an arrogant and coward man.*) She could sense his uneasiness as he
entered the lab.

"Are you talking to the wolves again, Sayaka-chan?" The young male
asked mockingly. "You do know that they can't talk back to you like I
do?" He tried to coarsely pet the wolf, but she growled at him. He
quickly moved his hand away and glared at the animal.

"They seem to be a very good judges of character to me and they are
more civilized than you, Higurashi Kensuke." She spat back at him in a
fake friendly tone of voice.

Kensuke laughed as if she had did a joke and not an attack on his
character. "You're always so funny, Sayaka-chan!"

"It'd be more fun if you fell off a cliff," she muttered. Sayaka
didn't like Kensuke. *That is an understatement*. Every time he was
near her she felt strange. It wasn't a nice strange, like when you
feel light headed or like you have butterflies in your stomach, but
like if you know he was watching her like a lion watches a prey.
*Maybe that's why he unnerves me the way he does...* "A very high
cliff," she added.

"What was that?" He asked, ignoring her muttering.

"I was saying how I enjoy your strange version of intelligent
conversation." She now wore a fake smile to complement her blunt
sarcasm. Either he didn't hear her or he ignored her comment, but at
least he shut up.

There was a knock on the door. "Come in," Kensuke said opening the
door. A woman in her forties entered the room; she had auburn hair and
dark brown eyes. Even though Tokita Megumi was a beautiful woman her
peers and her staff respected her. She strode gracefully, but
defiantly across the room to meet Sayaka.

Sayaka smiled; she admired the strength and character that Megumi
projected, she wanted to be like her; nobody crossed Tokita Megumi.
What most people didn't know was that Megumi was a very compassionate
person and that excluding Sayaka, she was the most passionate advocate
for their project. *Even though she doesn't show it... but I know it's
true.*

"Tsukiro, Higurashi, I have some news for you. There will be a new
addition to our team. His name is Roh and he is a wolf trainer. Since
Higurashi, here, can't handle them, we need another person to help
Tsukiro with the new phase of the project. He'll be arriving at our
port in one week. You will pick him up when he arrives. Are there any
questions?" Her voice, like her posture were those of someone that
demanded respect. She valued efficiency and time, chit-chat was not
something she was known to participate in. Since there was no answer,
she justified it as a negative response. "Very good then, I'll see you
later." Sayaka and Kensuke bowed quickly at her. She left the room
after bowing back.

"Looks like you're going to have to work with another man," said
Kensuke putting his arms around Sayaka and leaning over. "Don't worry,
I won't get jealous. I know I'm the one you want." Sayaka stepped
aside and made him fall flat in his face. The wolf had started to
growl at him and showed him her fangs. (*Bastard.*)

"In your dreams, Higurashi!" Disgust was clear in her face, along with
anger and resentment. She pets the wolf as a good bye and silently
thanked her. She got her stuff and announced coldly. "I'm going home."
There was no goodbye for Kensuke, if it were up to her, she would have
feed him to the wolves. She left the room and walked down the hall. *I
can't do that; maybe he'll give them indigestion!* She stopped and
considered her words; she always did feel a little apprehensive after
being with Kensuke. *I don't know why I'm like that around him; it's
just that I can't stand him! I know there's something wrong with that
guy...but that's no excuse for being that rude and hurtful. Maybe I
should cut him some slack...* She then remembered what he did to her
just a second ago. *Or maybe not!* Her anger flared again and she
doubled her pace. She exited the building, deep in thought. She got in
her jeep and drove home.

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Sayaka drove to the docks; it was one week since her boss'
announcement. Sayaka didn't know if she should be happy or worried.
The trainer would be a great help to her research and to protect the
sanctuary. *Or he can be like Kensuke, the personification of all
that's annoying.* She tried not to think about that. *There couldn't
be another Kensuke in the world, God couldn't be that cruel.* The
docks were a small compound at the north side of the island. There
weren't a lot of passenger boats that came to the small island and
visitors were rare. As she arrived to the docks, she parked her car
and made her way into the second pier. The transport had arrived a few
minutes ago. She would have liked to be there on time, but one of her
wolves had given birth to a small pack and she brought them all to the
labs so they could check on them. Her job as chief veterinarian in the
project was hard and sometimes even restless; but it was moments like
that that reminded her why she was in the project to begin with. As
she got closer to the end of the pier she noticed a man standing
there. He was tall and well built. He had long blond hair that reached
his waist. She couldn't see his face, since he was looking at the
opposite direction. There was nobody left in the platform but him, so
she deduced that this had to be the new trainer that she was supposed
to pick up.

*He looks so much like*...she stopped her thoughts dead in their
tracks. She knew where this was going, she'd end up depressed and
eating a pint of Rocky Road at 2 am in the morning. She had tried to
teach herself not to think about him, it was just too damn painful.
She still had hope of seeing him again, nothing could ever change
that. But she knew it made each day easier to bear, if she didn't
think about him every single second. Right now, most of the time, her
thoughts were spent on the wolves and ways to get rid of Kensuke. She
took a long look at the man and was a little surprised to know that
she liked what she saw. *Sayaka you're checking out your new
partner... that's not good.* Said a little voice in her head.

"Are you going to stand there all evening?" the man said in a familiar
voice.

That voice! Sayaka knew that voice, "Inu...Inugami?" she whispered,
her voice doubtful.

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Chapter 1

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Inugami had been in that damned boat for two hours. He spent the whole
trip looking at the water. The ripples made by the boat mesmerized
him; they were almost hypnotizing. He thought of what had happened
these last years. He had a job, a family and friends; things sure have
changed since he came back to life. He felt the boat shudder as it
came to a stop. He quickly picked up his things and got out of that
insufferable boat as soon as he could. He walked down the dock and put
his baggage down. He leaned over the railing and contemplated the
scenery. *It was a beautiful island*, he had to admit. He lost track
of time and immersed himself in the scenery. He suddenly felt a
presence behind him, it wasn't hostile; it even felt familiar somehow.

"Inu...Inugami?" he heard a faltering, familiar, female voice say.

"What?" Inugami quickly turned to look at the young woman who knew his
name. "Sayaka?" There beside him stood Sayaka. *Well... I'm sure as
hell I didn't expect that!* Inugami couldn't believe it was her
standing there; *after all these years.*

Disbelieve and shock kept them unmovable, then suddenly an arm wrapped
itself around Sayaka and rested on her shoulder. "So that's the new
guy?" The man who's arm was wrapped around Sayaka asked her, his face
too close for comfort. Sayaka tried to get free, but she couldn't.

"Higurashi, if you don't let me go right now, I'll feed you to the
wolves." She threatened.

Inugami was about to jump on him and rip his arms out when Kensuke
laughed and let her go, "you're so funny Sayaka!" Kensuke looked at
Inugami, "Welcome! My name is Higurashi Kensuke, nice to meet you."

Inugami looked angrily at him. He just walked over to where they were
standing and glared at the strange man. It took all of his
self-restraint not to kill the man in front of him. Kensuke just
glared back at him.

Sayaka decided to finish the little glare-fest. "I'll take you to
where you'll be staying, Inugami. Come, tomorrow I'll give you a
personal tour of the compound. If that's all right with you." She
offered, motioning to her jeep.

"I'd like that," he accepted her proposition with a boyish grin.
Sayaka blushed and shyly smiled back as she continued toward the jeep.

"Flirting with him after only knowing him for five minutes. And here I
thought you were shy..." said Kensuke walking to the jeep.

"Where do you think you're going?" asked Sayaka, still angry at his
forwardness.

"To your jeep, of course."

"I don't think so," she said getting in, "Inugami, are you coming?"

Inugami nodded, he wasn't used to seeing Sayaka behave that way. The
Sayaka he knew would never speak that way to anyone. *Of course, she's
not the same... she's changed... just like me...* Inugami cleared his
head of such thoughts and got inside the jeep. Sayaka left the parking
at full speed.

"I swear, if he wasn't important to the research, I'd..." she didn't
finish the statement. Her anger had momentarily fogged her thoughts.
She suddenly remembered whom she was with. "How are you? "Did you find
your family?" Se asked shyly.

"I've been looking for some trace of my mother's family. I finally
found information about them, but they had all died except for my
grandfather. Mother had left me in her will and someday the family
fortune will me mine. With the help of Grandfather I've traveled all
over Japan, trying to find myself. In the process I read about this
project and decided to help out. I didn't know I'd find you here,
though." He wouldn't normally divulge so much information to anyone,
but Sayaka wasn't anyone...*She deserves to know.*

"I always thought it was just a coincidence! Are you the grandson of
Inagumi Mamoru?"

"Yes."

"Oh..." *How couldn't I think of it before! Maybe it was because I
didn't really think Inugami had a family left... or maybe it was
because I didn't want to think that he was so close all this time and
he didn't try to see me once.* There was a long awkward silence after
that.

"Where are we going?" asked Inugami trying to continue the
conversation. Inugami felt strange talking to her, it was like there
was a whole new different void between them. When they first met his
past had gotten between them, and now, years later, he still felt the
same way. *Did I ever believe things could be any different after all
these years?*

"To your new house," she said getting a piece of paper out of her bag.
"It says here that you'll stay in the A-1 residence. Even I haven't
been there... the A area mostly accommodates sponsors for the project.
Are you also sponsoring?"

Inugami nodded.

"Here we are," said Sayaka parking the car in front of a beautiful
two-story mansion. "Oh, my god...." She exclaimed admiring the elegant
estate. It was made out of a dark wood. A beautiful terrace surrounded
the top floor and all around the house there was a breathtaking
garden.

Inugami just shrugged and took his bag out of the jeep. "Do you want
to come inside?" he asked.

Sayaka nodded and followed him inside. The decoration was elegant, yet
simple. The floors were made of ebony colored wood; black and red were
the main color scheme. There was a note in a table near the door. It
was for Inugami. "Here," she said picking it up and giving it to him.
He took it and read it.

"Ojiji," he said closing the letter. "Should have known he'd be
around. This house was his idea, he sent some people over to decorate
it." Another awkward silence filled the room.

Meanwhile, Sayaka was having her little nervous breakdown. *I got to
get out of here!* "Look it's late and we have work tomorrow." She said
quickly; her voice thick with nervousness. "Higurashi will pick you up
around 8 in the morning. See you later." She waved goodbye and left as
quickly as her feet could move.

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Inugami watched the jeep leaving at full speed from the balcony; her
little display of uneasiness not lost on him. "Do you think she can
forgive me, Kokutei?" he asked. He smiled sadly, like always there was
no answer. He hadn't seen Kokutei since his transformation, but he
still liked to talk to him now and again. *I better start
unpacking...* He left the balcony and went inside.

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Sayaka didn't look back; she knew she wasn't sleeping tonight. *Why
didn't he even call me? She groaned. I can see it's going to be one of
those Rocky Road nights.*

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Author's note II- Well, did you like it? C&C welcome. (and if you're
reading it from ff.net, plz R+R).