Chapter 8

A Paradise

Disclaimer:

Toboe: So… full time college student… CRAZY!! Sry it’s taken such a long time…. : ) anyway I own the characters but not the Wolf Rain’s world so NO SUE! On with the show, it has been too long my lovelies!

-Ryuu-

I hummed happily to myself as I bustled through the office. Well, to the humans I hummed. Wolves can’t hum. We can growl though, and as I was careful to avoid old lady Greta, who could yak a yak’s ear off, I growled a happy growl. Haha a yak’s ear.

“Ryuu!”

I quickly scampered to the Doctor, dropping the paperwork in his hand. Dr. D looked at me and smiled.

“What is with you lately boy, you have the goofiest grin on all the time? And you are always humming?”

The thin frail woman sitting on the examination table scowled.

“Excuse me Doctor, but I believe you are here to see me?”

I laughed, inside of course, as I slipped out of the room. The cheery blue walls in the hallway were the sky, the way it once was, not now. It cheered me up, somehow it felt more real than the outside. Strange, I know. But, come on, I’m a wolf. We naturally think on a higher level then you.

-Kin-

I rolled my eyes as Ryuu swaggered from room to room. You would think he owned the place. Of course, he practically did at this point. All our regulars knew him and Dad had even moved the chess board to the living room so Ryuu could play his favorite game with patients during lunch. I mean, he lost more often then he won but he always seemed to be having the time of his life.

And he made a difference here. It seemed… cheerier. As if a cool spring breeze had wafted in at his arrival. Now I’m not just saying that. Even our really sick patients seemed to be doing better.

“Ah child, I know that look to well,” Mrs. Lalu chuckled as she followed my gaze.

“What,” I jerked back to reality. What was I doing! My face flushed scarlet. Why! Gosh… “Um, here’s your paper work ma’m”

Smiling she took the clipboard from my hands, “There is no shame in it my dear. Trust me, if I was thirty years younger, you might have some competition. He is just full of life.”

Confused, I wanted to say something but she had already went over and sat down in one of our plush magenta chairs. Kicking off gently from the ground I swivel slowly in the desk chair. There were few patients today. The room I viewed across my desk was just so boring. I wish night would come. Ryuu and I always had fun once the clinic was closed. My father and I were now teaching him a new game, Black Jack. Such fun. He was always dropping cards, the clutz. Mrs. Lula looked up and winked at me, like we shared some deep dark secret. What had she meant about Ryuu? Leaning back I watched the ceiling as I spun. We were just friends. There was nothing special there. But why did my heart pound so? This is silly. Ryuu was an impulsive hothead who would shift from overjoyed to furious in a second. He was irresponsible and maddening. This must be what it’s like, having a daredevil for a child.

But no. These feelings I felt. That rush to my face when I looked into his beautiful dark eyes. That glint of mischief and secrets. The sweet side of his nature, the one that would playfully tease Tiger and become absorbed in his knew found talents.

And I knew nothing about him.

I pushed off the desk against as my chair creaked softly.

What kind of a childhood did he have? He told me once, in a rare moment of openness that he was an orphan, raised by a stranger. But he couldn’t read, couldn’t write. He didn’t know what cards were or how to use a phone. That lack of knowledge was unbelievable, especially for one that spoke in several tongues and told of strange places.

“Hey,” a voice piped up.

I jerked up, knocking over a pile of papers on the floor. Throwing a scowl at them I looked up at the newcomer.

Of course, it was Leon. You think by now he would go away. But he showed up every few days and dragged Ryuu off for some stupid thing.

“What do you want?” I signed.

Lean threw me that cheeky grin. I had to give it to him, he cleaned up good. He cut his hair, and bathed frequently. Really, if he just LEFT US ALONE, I might be able to like him. He flicked his head towards the hallway.

“Ryuu almost done?” he asked.

My eyes narrowed reflexively. I could only imagine what troubles Leon could get Ryuu into.

He laughed and leaned closer.

“So jealous Kin. So unlike you!”

“Oh shut up,” I snapped. As I said I could ALMOST like him. The kid was even ruder than Ryuu. Perhaps that is why they got along so well.

“Hey!”

Speak of the devil. Ryuu grinned as he greeted Leon.

“Chess?”

Laughing Leon shook his head, “Always with the games. Come on Ryuu I have some real fun planned for tonight!”

Ryuu glanced at me, smiling.

“Tell your parents I won’t be back tonight for dinner. K, Kin-Kin?”

“Don’t worry Kin-Kin, I’ll bring your boy toy back soon” Leon gleefully whispered as Ryuu cavorted out the doors.

I glared at the former ganger’s back as he followed the boundless Ryuu.

-Ryuu-

I felt so ALIVE! Ever muscle felt ready for action, every limb fresh. Even my still bandaged limb did little to dampen my spirits. What was with me? The full moon wasn’t for another week? Was I just mad? I only felt like this when under the moon’s heavenly glow! What made me feel so… puppy like!

I sprung in the air, yipped and stretched. It just… felt so good to be alive!

Laughing, Leon caught up.

“Wow Brother, What is up with you?”

I gazed at my companion, with a stupid grin across my face. Leon mischievously grinned back. He would make a great beta wolf. Cheeky and smart. If only he had been born of the true species, for I could see the remnants of our kind in his eyes when he got ready to do something dangerous. With him and Kin I could start a strong pack, one that could travel the distance required to find a home.

That thought instantly sobered me. What was I doing? Yipping and prancing like a pup. Dreaming of a pack, composed of humans? What was wrong with me?

Some sign of my change must have flickered across my face for Leon let go of my shoulder.

“Sorry dude,”

Why was he apologizing? The fault of my sorrow? My own imagination tormented me. Was this why I was so happy all the time? Could it be my own unknowing creation? Had being with these humans changed me? Made me less wolf?

I sunk even deeper into despair. These dirty wrenched human streets. Starving children slumped in doorways. Dirty water that acridly burned my nose as we stepped into puddles. Peddlers shouting as they showed off their wares, polluting the air even further with their cries.

“Come on,” Leon was concerned, I could smell it. And this made me feel bad… What is wrong with me!

I weakly smiled.

“Sorry, just… realized something…”

Leon nodded as if he understood. True traits of a beta, always support the leader. Savagely, I growled at myself. Stop It!

“Well, I think I know what we need to do. Some good, old fashion cheering up!”

He turned down an ally and I soundlessly followed.

What was I doing? This lucrative game, it meant nothing. I was forming… attachments to these humans. To Kin…. No she was just a sister. And annoying Sister to say the least.

“Here,” he said stopping in front of a dirty building. I glanced up. A sign reading the Devil Fox hung from the walls, its picture faded and smeared. You could still distinguish the fox’s grin though, cool calculating. Mine should be like that. It was once. Why had it changed?

Sliding onto a barstool next to Leon I muddled over this predicament… this change.

“Bring us some of the good stuff Pete,”

Pete, an old wrinkled man pulled out two glasses from beneath the counter. A dusty bottle appeared, and the dark amber liquid sloshed into the upturned beakers. As Pete pushed the glasses our way a strange aroma wisped through under the bitter overtone of alcohol. I sniffed deeply, trying to sort out the smell.

“Is that… eucalyptus?”

Pete glanced up, shocked.

“Wow, I didn’t think anyone knew what that was around here!” He raised his hands up, and the smell grew stronger.

“Went rummaging through some of my great grandmothers stuff, trying to find something useful before I threw all that trash out. Found this lotion. I only put a little on, you know, dry skin was a cracking.”

Humans, barbarians. Scavenging through their predecessors graves. And they thought we were animals.

I pulled the drink closer. It smelled terrible.

“Enjoy,” Leon said before he tossed his head back and drowned in all in one gulp.

I had never drinking alcohol before. But then, I was never plagued by these types of dark thoughts before…

-Rin-

Dinner was a quite affair that night. Mom and Dad were discussing some patient who needed a rare type of medication. I, on the other hand, picked at my food. It seemed like forever till I put the dishes away, and slowly trudged up the stairs to my room. I don’t even bother to turn on the lights. Sinking in my bed, I pulled the covers close.

Leon’s words bothered me. I shouldn’t be so touchy. It was fine for Ryuu to have friends. Was I being over protective? And why…

A knocking interrupted my thoughts.

“Kin darling, it’s me, Can I come in?”

I sat up, “Sure mom.”

Carefully she swung open the door and gracefully sat down at the side of my bed. Gently, she reached out and stroked my back.

“We were quite today at dinner my dear.”

“Sorry,” I sunk back down into my bed, sighing.

“My sweet, you know you don’t have to spend every day with me or your father. We could run the clinic for a few hours without you. Why don’t you go out with friends?”

My friends. It had been such a long time since we had seen one another. Eliza and Becket had gotten married a few months ago and were expecting their first child. Meki was busy with her own family, having married soon after we left school. None of us heard from Coral in years - she had gotten involved with the wrong crowd and disappeared. And Lemena, well, she had always been the adventurous one, and left the city a few years back.

“I saw Eliza a few weeks ago in the market. You should see how big she had gotten.”

Mom sighed.

“That’s not what I mean dear heart… oh… Never mind.”

For several long minutes we sat in silence and I enjoyed this rare moment of peace.

“You know,” Mother said thoughtfully, “I really like Ryuu. A bit rough but a good and kind soul. Your father is really impressed with him. He is thinking of offering Ryuu a permanent job.”

I sat up, shocked. Now this was strange.

“Okay… what brought this up?”

Mother signed.

“You are two thickheaded and logical sometimes Kin. I have seen how you look at him and how he looks at you. You may not see it but its there.”

She bent down and kissed my forehead.

“We love you darling.”

And then she was gone, leaving me more confused than ever. This feeling, in my chest.

Was I in love with Ryuu?

-Ryuu-

A pleasant tingling filled my body as I gulped down my third glass. This was the stuff. Leon made a stupid joke and I laughed even though I had no idea what he meant. This was the life. No worries! I couldn’t even remember why I was so sad before!

“Now girls,” Leon hicuped. He was even farther along than me, downing his sixth glass.

“Yeh” I agreed.

“They’re so… tricky. One minute you think they are yours, and then, the next minute – bamb! They are linking arms with your worst enemy! Pretty, pretty as you please. I tell you, no, no loyalty.”

“Yeh”

“I mean, come on! You think I had a dead fish dangling around my neck, the way they look at me!”

“Yeh”

“You call me a dead fish, Ryuu?”

“Yeh” I erupted into a fit of laughter, as Leon glared at me. The effect was ruined by another hiccup.

“Oh, who is this a smart al-alic? I’ve seen the way you look at little Kin, your Kin-Kin.”

“Yeh?”

“Yeh. Like you own her. Like she is yours. You know,” he drained another glass, “You’re different now, like, you know. You’re not so mean. Don’t get me wrong, that a-a badass crap you had goin on, it was cool and all. But you like mellowed out like… I don’t know…” Leon’s head tilted forward as he fell asleep.

I laughed and downed the remainder of the spirits.

“That’s enough boy.” Pete said as I gestured for another drink, “Now head home, I will see to Leon.”

I grinned affectionately at Pete. Good man. Yeh. He would take care of Leon.

Fuzzy and content I slid off the stool, and headed for the door. Time to go home.

-Rin-

I wasn’t able to sleep. It was late and I was tired, but Ryuu still hadn’t come back and my mother’s words still haunted me. Could this feeling be love? I had never felt this way before, not with anyone, and I was no way inexperienced. Three boyfriends, none of them horrible just… not right. And when school ended I broke it off with Eroy, the most serious one so far although we never really did anything. I don’t know… no one ever really clicked. And it seemed so silly to even think of anything serious when none of them had any really impulsion to become anything, do anything. None of them would change the world.

Giving a frustrated gasp I fell back on my bed. This was so stupid.

“Aren’t you a silly bird,”

Sitting up I watched Ryuu as he came tottering out of the bathroom, his private entrance and exit. A stupid grin was plastered across his face as he stumbled around. Dear Lord. He was drunk.

“What the hell!”

Ryuu laughed and collapsed on his bed. He rolled over, ginning stupidly at me.

“Hiii”

Oh my god. I almost laughed. This was Ryuu drunk? Holy hell.

I inched over to the edge of my bed and looked down on him. His hair was a mess, tussled this way and that. Eyes that always hinted at something hidden now seemed playful and innocent. Pale moonlight glinted from my window, accenting the curve of his cheek and the steady rise and fall of his chest.

“Ryuu,” I whispered, “what is the one thing you want to do before you die?”

He hiccupped and for a moment I thought he had fallen asleep with his eyes open. But then he spoke, words occasionally slurring.

“I want to find Paradise.”

“Paradise?” I propped my head on my hand, watching his eyes blink slowly, his hand reaching up to brush the hair from his face.

“It’s a legend of my people. When Paradise is open the world will be reborn. The sun will shine and the water will be clean. The hills will be covered in flowers… I wish I could find it. But I have never seen a lunar flower, not smelled it. I heard… it’s intoxicating. It fills you up with joy and happiness.” His eyes focused on me for a second, “Just like you do for me” He grinned.

I could feel my mouth drop open as I gasped. Did he…

“But I don’t think I could open it. Not the white wolf you see. He will open Paradise. And the hills will be covered in flowers. You now, gramps told me stories. He once met a man who claimed to have a book on us. So strange… gramps never took a human seriously before, you know? But this man… he… said stuff…bothered gramps”

Eyes closed as Ryuu tried to remember. What in the world was he talking about? Wolves, Paradise, Lunar Flowers?

“I tell you now the Words of... Red Moon. From the Great Spirit was born the Wolf... man became his Messenger… the beast lives his life in silence… blood of the gods… the lily white supple maiden…distils and condenses all of time… frozen mass… than appears… this wretched, wretched beast. Such a sad… miserable beast.”

Something glimmered in Ryuu’s eyes. Was it… tears? I leaned closer, faces just inches apart. His eyes were unfocused, breathe ragged.

“But no, one such as me… never could open Paradise… why… the Lunar Flower… Paradise will not open for me…”

His eyes closed and his breathing calmed. Soon he was snoring lightly, curled into a ball around his injured hand, content and at peace. I thought, was so confused.

Toboe: Only two more chapters! Yeh : ) I really like this story actually…. :D Hope you do to! C you soon!