Konnichiwa, Akachan!

Solaris: Well, here it is, the last chapter of Akachan. I know it's a short story, but I have a belief that sometimes a short story can be one of the best stories. A repeat of last chapter's warning: I was watching Tenchi Muyo when I wrote chapters 4 and 5, so any similarities are half coincidence, half intentional. Standard disclaimers apply.

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Chapter five: Konnichiwa, Shiruba; Sayonara, Okami!

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It was a little after eight, the sun was setting, and Solaris, Kurama, Hiei, and Foxglove were waiting with Okami for the wolf demon to come and reclaim her cub. A slight rustle in the bush caught their attention, and a tall woman with long silver hair braided into a rope down her back emerged. He azure eyes lit up in joy as she took Okami from Solaris's arms. It was then that the group noticed the black wolf ears and tail that were identical to Okami's.

"My baby! You must be Solaris-San." The wolf smiled. "I'm Shiruba. Thank you for taking care of Okami for the week, I hope she wasn't any trouble." She smiled wider, hugging her child.

"She was no trouble at all." Solaris grinned.

"Mama!" Okami smiled as her mother cuddled her.

"She learned her first word! You know, at first I was a little afraid to leave her in the care of foxes and the Forbidden Child, but now I'm glad I went on instinct and trusted you all. Arigatou." Shiruba smiled, then ran away, quickly becoming a shadow in the sunset.

"Well, she's gone. Wanna play Parcheesi?" Foxglove asked.

"What is Par-Chee-Zie?" Hiei asked, stretching each syllable.

"You'll se!" Foxglove smiled as they entered the house. Kurama looked at Solaris, whose hair looked like a flame in the rosy red sunset. She hadn't moved an inch.

"Solaris?" he asked, walking closer to her. Suddenly she jumped and smiled.

"Yeah! Thank Kami she's gone!" Solaris said.

"You worked really hard to make sure she was happy. Aren't you a little sad that she's gone?" Kurama asked, putting a hand on her shoulder. She turned, and he could see tears flowing down her face.

"Of course I am. But she's with her mom now. She's better off than she was with this girl." Solaris smiled through her tears. Kurama hugged her close.

"You can cry. It's all right." He reassured her as she sobbed quietly.

"That's a pretty picture." Foxglove said in the kitchen. Hiei nodded his agreement. The two in front of the setting sun did make a lovely sight.

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Solaris: And that concludes Konnichiwa, Akachan. And now, here is a summary of my next fic:

It's the end of the school year and the night before final exams, Solaris has nightmarish premonition. When she comes home to find her friends have been stolen away, what's she to do? And who is the shadowy stranger?