Footprints

[Riku Naoya]

His wolf footsteps were light to the touch of the grass. His head drooped low to the ground, and his tongue hung out of his muzzle. Every now and then saliva would drip and water the dry patches of grass. His tail was lifeless, and his ears were laid back against his silk fur. As Riku walked through the grounds of the green forest, he heard soothing sounds of singing, chirping birds. Luckily, for him, it was nearly dust and the sun would be going down soon. Even though his fur is silver, with only small tresses of black, his fur did not keep him cool from the heat. Right now all that was on the wolf’s mind was finding a pool, or a source of water from any place. Riku tried to stay in the shade until the sun decided to hide itself for the night and let the master come out and play with the lone wolf. To Riku, the time when the sky goes dark and the stars shine their glory is the most majestic part of the day. It gives him the feeling of freedom, and relaxation. Riku laid his jade eyes upon the sky, it was finally dark, and the moon was spreading its light over the land.

In front of him, Riku saw a small opening, and the barely noticeable scent of water filled his nostrils. The silver ears perked up, and the tail sprang to life by wagging back and forth. His gentle slow footsteps became swift and graceful. Riku came to the small opening in the forest and saw the moon’s reflections in the mirror of a small lake. Hope was restored in his heart. He gradually walked up to where the edge of the water met the shore. He stepped lightly in the sandy area, sinking slightly into the coolness. Riku bent down while still standing on all fours, bending his forelegs just a bit to make it easier for him. His pink tongue slipped out of his muzzle, only a millimeter or two from breaking the surface of the water. Before he had the chance to feel the water on his tongue or seep down his throat, a stench filled his nose. He pulled his tongue back and closed his mouth. Riku then bent closer to the water sniffing it, exhaling hard as if sneezing, causing the water to ripple a bit. The scent was stingy and aquatic. It burned the insides of his cool to the touch nose. Riku flung his head up, in relief, for he did not get to taste the disease, fungi within the water.

Depressed, Riku looked across to the other of the lake. He gazed contently at it. In the reflection of the light given off from the moon, he noticed the water wavering. The location where the rippling occurred was somewhat in the middle, so there was no way Riku could have caused it to start. He closer at it with eyes filled with pure curiosity. Riku’s ears acted on reflex. They pulled back in an offensive way. He picked up a scent of danger. Within the mix of disease and fungi, there was something else, he could not determine it, but he knew it was nothing to take lightly. He widened his eyes to maybe get a better look. He then saw something which resembled a log floating towards the shore. It was ridged, and had a rough texture to it. Only, Riku noticed something unusual about this so called log, it had…

Eyes!

Piercing yellow eyes struck right back into his jade with swirls of azure. His tail tucked between his legs, and his ears pulled even further back. Wrinkles on his muzzle appeared, pulling back his lips, revealing his pink gums with sharp deadly fangs growing out of them. The object was coming closer to him. It was an alligator, who apparently thought this wolf was going to be its dinner. Riku scuffed at the thought, and growled harshly at the beast. The alligator was only a few feet away from Riku’s paws. He lowered himself to the ground, digging his claws into the ground. As the gator rose from the shallows of the water, it opened its jaws of death ready to chomp down on Riku. The claws of the alligator stepped closer to Riku. Within the fifth step it took from out of the shallows, Riku sprang forward jumping on its chomps to shut them. The alligator struggled from below, and its tail slammed Riku right in the face, knocking him off balance, causing his to leap into the water. The swift gator did not give him anytime to breathe; it attacked him straight on, nipping at his sturdy wolf paws. Luckily, Riku’s reflexes kicked in and he was able to avoid the clamps. While the gator turned to Riku, he took the offensive and struck the gator from the back. His fangs were brought down, into the rough skin of the gator, sinking deeply into the eye socket. Blood filled the gaps in between the two, and it fell into the water.

The alligator squirmed and roared as the pain struck it. Riku quickly jumped to the shore for safety, not wanting to risk being knocked into the deeper parts of the lake. His eyes locked on the gator’s eyes and the blood running down the side of its face. Riku snorted at the beast and turned to the forest, bolting quickly off into the night. His paws did not cease to run until the alligator’s roar was brought down to a humming sound. The silver wolf with black tresses ran past many trees, and shrubs. Riku’s ears were alert the quiet roar of the gator. It was gone. With that, his running footprints came to a halt. His chest heaved up and down for air. The mane of hair on his chest puffed out and in, and his soft pink tongue hung out the side of his muzzle. Still parched of thirst, Riku bent down to the ground, lowering his whole body on to the coolness of the grass.

His hind legs went off to the side and his fore legs lay straight out ahead of him. The tail of silky silver outlined his back legs, and his ears drooped, he was no longer on alert. Riku lowered his head to set perfectly between his two front legs. His chin and muzzle rested gently on the grass. Breaths of both exhale and inhale blew the grass in a pattern to his breathing. Riku looked out at the horizon of grass, trees, and shrubs; being relaxed by the musical night. Every once and a while his wolf ears would twitch, picking up a cricket’s, or katydid’s chirp. Riku began to drift slowly into unconsciousness. His hypnotic jade eyes with swirls of azure closed with a tender touch. He felt safe. He felt safe under the gaze of the moon. His lone wolf body slept peacefully, basking without a care under the tree, with holes in the leaves allowing the moonlight to shine on his body in a spotted array. [/center][/size][/font][/size][/size]

[Madoka Hamada]

[glow=violet,2,300]Madoka's silver coat shined as the moonlight illuminated it. She took a quick sip from a small stream that was fresh water, not anything from the swampy marshes that reeked. She snorted, looking down at her muzzle seeing the blood stain on the silver hairs. She looked over to the side of the small rivulet and saw the carcass of the rabbit she had gotten a hold of. She had devoured most of it, except for the tail and the bones of the tiny animal.

She bent down to take another lap, but jumped slightly hearing the roaring of the giant alligator. She turned towards the roar, her ears erect, listening for anything more. The sound of paws running through the forest caught her interest as she trotted through the woods. She followed the scent of the animal, another wolf, one of her own kind, this excited her and her tail twitched slightly with happiness.

She followed the scent at a good speed, her agile legs allowed her to dodge any smaller puddles of the swamp or fallen logs. Once she neared the scent even more, she slowed it down. Carefully she crept towards the other wolf. The moonshine gave her spots as it showed through the treetops, and reflected slightly.

She peeked out of a bush and looked at the sleeping beast. Wearily she crept out to take a good look. The silver ears that sat on her head twitched as she listened for any sound to come out of the sleeping animal. She neared the other wolf, she took in his scent as she moved closer. She kept her distance though, encase he woke up, she sniffed the ground from where he came from, not wanting to disturb him.

Deciding it was safer to keep her distance, and not wanting to spook him, she laid down near him, no more than a couple feet. She watched him closely, then looked at her muzzle the blood from the rabbit was still on her nose. She licked her paw and rubbed her muzzle to no avail of getting the blood off her nose. She then rolled in the grass, but that didn't help, only made her fur dirty with grass. She stood up and shook off the grass then laid back down. He would wake, soon or later, either to her making too much noise, to her scent, or the scent the scent of blood that was upon her nose.[/glow]

[Riku Naoya]

As he slept, his cold, black nose twitched to a different scent that invoked him to awakening. The scent of another wolf caught his attention. Although it had caught his utmost attention, Riku continued to stay tranquil. He continued to keep his jade eyes from gazing upon his visitor. Riku’s eyes continued to remain closed, but his mind was contemplating this new smell. He tried to put a class ranking to the other wolf. Was it another male, alpha male, or was it…a female. Riku took a deep breath in to capture even more of the wolf’s distinguishing scent. It was an odd mix. It had the scent of a wolf, but there was blood, but not wolf blood. Riku concentrated hard to look past the blood, into the actual scent of the trespassing wolf. His muzzled wrinkled in surprise. Excitement traced throughout his veins of blood.

It’s a …female; this creature is a …female wolf.

Riku’s jade eyes and his swirls of azure gazed upon a shimmering lady wolf under the moonlight. His head was raised to meet hers. The moon gave her an angelic aura. She was laying down right in front of him; she seemed to be just waiting for him to wake up. His silver ears stood erect with curiosity and innocence. As he gaped at this wolf, he noticed more and more features, and characteristics about her with each blink. The blood was smeared all over her face, and her fur was not groomed, but no matter how he looked upon it, the moon always gave her the fur of a celestial essence. Riku just laid there for a couple of minutes gazing, capturing her image in his hypnotic eyes. Creatures thought his eyes were mesmerizing, but hers…hers captured his soul and kept a long tight grip on to it. They seemed to look deeply and thoughtfully into his.

Riku brought his back legs under his hind, and pushed from the back, forcing his rear end up first. Then he put the rest of his body weight to the front when he lifted up the rest of his wolf body. His paws stood heavily, and still, allowing Riku to keep looking at his new wolf acquaintance. He laid his silver ears back, and bent his head lower sniffing the ground, to maybe get a better whiff of her. As he sniffed for fun, just out of curiosity of her, he began getting a tingling sensation up his nostrils. It began to spread throughout his muzzle. Riku wrinkled his nose, and his eyes were forced to close as a sneeze snuck out of him. The sneeze was not caused from her scent, but from the huge whiff of marshland and rot he had just received because of his inquisitiveness. Cautiously, Riku stepped a few inches closer to her, gazing down at her. He continued to sniff further into detail for her scent. Lowering his head to ground to see where she has trod helped him figure her out more.

When his muzzle was only an inch or two from her wolf paws, he brought his head up to make them eye level. Riku had enough of her scent to realize she is no enemy, or that the blood on her face was from a meal and not another wolf or innocent. Riku relaxed his ears, and wagged his tail side to side in a blameless way, hopefully signaling he is not a threat to her. Riku showed her kindness by giving her tail wagging and ear twitching signals. He slowly laid back down to her level, and crawled by using his back paws as anchors to push him a little bit closer to her. He tilted his head off to the side, indicating wonder, and possibly the gesture of offering help to her.

Where’s the blood from? Why does she still let it stain her silky cloak of protection?

Riku continued to look at her and realized he was starring. With that, he quickly turned his head away from the female, not wanting to offend her. Hopefully he did not end up doing that to her already. He placed his ears back in disappointment, and released a sigh, though it was more like a scuff because he was in his wolf form. Riku looked off to the side, but could still see her beauty in the corner of his eye. A feeling swooped through her, a feeling he had never had the chance to feel before. Abruptly Riku picked his soft head back up. His fur moved with his motions and reflected the moonlight’s rays. Whatever the feeling was, he did not care. Whatever this feeling was, it gave his comfort, it gave him warmth, but most importantly, it gave him inner strength and hope. Riku couldn’t help himself, he wanted to gaze at her one more time, she was so captivating. He turned his profile to hers. Face to face…wolf to wolf. Riku’s eyes of jade glistened in the moonlight into hers.

I want to be the one who protects her, and cleans her fur at night. I want to be the one who keeps her safe, out of harm’s way. I want to be the one to rid her silky fur of blood. I want to be the one.

[Madoka Hamada]

[glow=violet,2,300]Madoka watched the wolf with curiosity, but a slight look of compassion. [/glow]

Was this love at first sight? Was such a thing real? Was it the same that consumed a princess's heart in fairy tales that her mother use to tell her?

[glow=violet,2,300]The way her heart was pounding in her chest, or the way that she wanted to go up to him and snuggle close.

When the wolf opened his eyes, she froze, would she be considered an enemy, before a friend? She trembled slightly at him as he sniffed her over. But once his tail began to wag and his ears twitched signaling that he considered her a friend, she began to reply with the same body language.

She watched him as he laid down on the grass near her. She couldn't stop staring, but apparently he could when he turned away from her. She stared at him, her hazel orb and blue orb contently sat upon his image.[/glow]
He's so friendly, not to mention beautiful. My, if I was in my human form, I know I would be staring rudely, and not to mention I'd probably be the color of a cherry.

[glow=violet,2,300]She snapped out of her racing thoughts to find him, looking at her, straight in the eye. She thought she would be startled and jump or look away, but she couldn't turn away. The only thing she could do, was stare at him back.[/glow]
Should I change? Would it be easier to talk to him, if I was in my human form? He has a human form right? He's not just a wolf, or maybe he is? Oh jeez, I can feel my skin turn pink and warm, just thinking about him.

[glow=violet,2,300]Once again she snapped out of her fantasy world and back to the real world, where the male wolf was staring at her. She looked to him, her head cocked to the side, but she got up off the ground, so that she was hovering over him.[/glow]

[Riku Naoya]

The time of night passed by and the moon lifted higher into the star lit sky. To Riku, the time was standing still. His heart pounded in his chest as the wolves’ compassionate looks continued on without regrets. The nocturne of the night made the situation Riku was in more soothing and romantic. The crickets chirped with excitement and the nightingales sang sweetly to the night sky. The moon hovered over down upon them. Riku did not mind that the master of the night did this. He was pleased. The white orb that floated in the sky gave the female wolf a look of angelic elegance. It reflected off of her silky fur, showing a glaze of light around her body. This glaze made her even more tempting and beautiful to Riku.

Their wolf eyes connected to each other after friendliness was understood with body language. The female wolf did not turn and neither did Riku. It felt as if was longer moving along, but standing still as they gazed into each other’s pools reflecting their hearts and their souls. As Riku gazed, the blood that stained the loving female wolf’s face bothered Riku. He wanted to clean her fur so it was no longer plagued by blood. Where the blood laid the moon did not reflect, it was swallowed in redness. Blood against a wolf’s fur reminded Riku of the tragedy he survived. The tragedy where his whole pack was wiped out by the humans they use to love and protect. It reminded him how the blood poured on the wolf’s fur as it was skinned off, as it was separated from the body. Riku was in a daze for a moment, reminiscing about his past.

Riku suddenly snapped out of his memories as he saw movement in front of him. It was the female wolf. She must have figured out what he was so urging to do. Riku thought this because of how she moved. She bowed her head stretching out her muzzle to him. Riku was surprised she did it without hesitation. His heart leaped with joy, but there was a hint of fear among the excitement.

Does she want me to clean her fur? Or does she just want to rest her head?

Riku analyzed her for a moment trying to figure out if that is what she desired. Is a grooming from him what she wishes for? Riku knew this feeling of his tongue against her fur is what he wanted, but he was not so sure about her. He plainly was confused, and completely not sure; Riku did not want to make her feel violated if he did lick her clean. He noticed he had too many negative thoughts flowing throughout his head. Riku shook his head slightly and gazed at her gently still contradicting himself.

I’ll take my chances.

Riku pulled the action as he did once before to move closer to her. He crawled forward along the grass using his back legs as anchors to move forward. Riku came to a halt when their cold noses touched, showing her affection. Riku positioned himself better and brought himself to stand up. His wolf body gracefully swung around and gently laid himself back down, right by her side, that both of their fur cloaks were touching. He nudged her alluring beautiful face tenderly. Riku decided then, when he was all comfortable, to start grooming her fur back to a silky feeling so it may reflect of the moon’s glory. His pink tongue gently stroked her muzzle, cleaning the blood off. With the taste, he knew it was rabbit’s blood. He did not care though, Riku continued to lick the blood off the side of her face. Every now and then, he would stroke the same place more than once because the blood would smear further across her face, or he would do it for his own pleasure. Riku’s heart was set at peace because she had allowed him to do so. His long, pink tongue went up to the top of her head around the area of her ears. He did this just to make sure he did not miss anything.

Riku was not sure if he had got all of the blood off, to so be certain he did, he sniffed her closely, rubbing his muzzle gracefully against her soft facade. He continued to capture her scent, but within her lovely scent was his. Riku smiled as he smelled their scents dancing together, it calmed his heart. When he was positive he did not miss any specks of blood, Riku rested his head on top of hers lightly, showing the true affection he had for her. His tail patted the ground in happiness and he closed his hypnotic eyes. His heartbeat quieted and he laid his head back down on his own paws so that his muzzle was toward hers. Riku continued t gaze upon her loveliness as the moon light reflected where it once could not. Their fur still touched and his muzzle was so close to hers, the female wolf’s breath would warm him.

I could do this for eternity as long as I am with her. I want to be hers. I want to be the one.

[Madoka Hamada]

[glow=violet,2,300]Madoka's heart pounded as the male wolf came up to her. She looked to him as he began to clean her face. She closed her eyes as her head rocked slightly at the pressure of his tongue. It had been awhile since someone else had cleaned her fur. It felt weird to her, but yet the warmth of his tongue and the knowledge that she would be clean once more eased that feeling.

Once he was done, he began to sniff her. Her ears twitched as he did so for it sent tingles through her body and tickled her. Then when he had stopped and simply gazed at her, she stretched her neck to him and licked his nose as a 'thank you'. She backed away once more then placed her head on the back of his shoulders and nuzzled her muzzle into his fur, taking in his warm scent. [/glow]

'I'm comfortable around him, I can trust him, I can stay with him."

[glow=violet,2,300]Madoka felt his heartbeat and his steady beat of his breathing. She rocked with the movement of his body as he breathed. She let out a sigh as she got herself comfortable and began to close her eyes.

The moon was illuminating both of the wolves and the sight of the moon calmed Madoka into a slumber.[/glow]

[Riku Naoya]

Tiredness fell upon Riku’s body. His jade eyes grew heavy and his breath steadied. As the moon hovered high above the two wolves, Riku prayed this moment would never end. His wolf heartbeat was calm and secure, beating at a slow, easy pace. This pattern continued until it skipped a beta as the female’s tongue made contact with his nose. Riku concluded it was a sign of thankfulness. His feeling of tiredness sort of dissipated for the moment. When she backed up, Riku jolted his head up and his heart sank. He had thought she was about to leave him to bask in the moonlight alone, but fortunately he was wrong. His eyes went from scared to happy and calm, from wide to relaxed. His jade eyes stared at her with content as she placed her head on the back of his shoulders. He could feel her gentle nuzzles, pushing into his thick silver with black tresses fur.

Riku watched as his companion drifted from reality. His eyes were so calm, and a compassionate smile was painted across his muzzle. His alluring eyes drifted to the moon. Riku took the light in and enjoyed the placidness it had to offer. The moonlight glistened in his interested eyes. He released a sigh and set his sights back on the one who laid peacefully on him. She looked so innocent while she slept. Riku could not resist. He smoothly stretched his neck back to her and nuzzled the side of her face. Riku gently stroked her fur with his pink tongue and closed his eyes. He placed his muzzle on his front paws, close to her underbelly fur. His ears were erect and on the alert. Riku was lured into a slumber though, for all he caught with his ears was the sound of the night.

If this is a dream, don’t wake me up. I…I want to be with her…forever.

Riku’s thought drifted deeper and deeper out of reality. He was swiftly falling asleep, soon to join her within the realm of dreams or nightmares. As his eyes drifted shut, Riku awoke to the sight of a humanoid figure. His eyes narrowed in fear, and his silver ears laid back on his head. Riku panicked and looked for the female wolf who he had fallen in love with. He looked aside of him where he remembers her last. She was resting peacefully with her head on his shoulders. His jade eyes grew thinner as he saw she was no longer there. Riku’s heartbeat raced as his eyes searched desperately for her. He wanted to get up and run to find her, but his body was frozen, completely paralyzed.

Riku glared at the filthy human who towered over him. His eyes struck a fur coat around his neck and shoulders. The scent of the fur flowed into his nostrils. It was…it was hers. Riku’s eyes filled with terror as he saw her corpse lay behind the towering human being.

No!

His ears were laid flat against his head, and his muzzled wrinkled with rage and sadness. Riku desperately tried to move and he howled to those who couldn’t help. A shimmer of light caught his attention as a curved blade began coming down on his body. It reflected in his jade with azure pools as it came closer and closer. Fear piled up inside. It was all happening so fast. Riku had no time to react, all he could do was watch it come swooping down on top of him. He couldn’t even manage a whimper. The blade plunged down upon…

Riku’s eyes shot open, causing a jolt throughout his whole wolf body. His head swiftly rose to see nothing in the night. The ears were pressed tightly against the head. Riku’s heart was racing, and it wasn’t slowing down any time soon. His usually calm eyes were now filled with fear, pain, and rage. He glanced beside him and thankfully saw she was still there. Riku breathed shallowly, and heavily. He was breathing through his mouth causing his tongue to hang. Riku’s gaze drifted through the night scenery, he was scanning.

No human…there’s no human. She’s safe? Yeah, she’s safe.

His gazed moved down to her. He nestled her softly.

She’s safe. I won’t let that happen.

Riku relaxed his ears and tried to calm his heart. Unfortunately he failed to do so. It would not stop racing. Fear was still lingering inside of him. It lurked inside, and it showed on the outside as he gazed upon her. He was afraid that he would not be able to protect her. But before he would ever quit trying to protect her, Riku knew he would have given up his life, just to try to attempt to save hers. Constantly, Riku tried taking deep breaths to calm down. He failed every time. Thoughts, negative thoughts, slid through his mind about not being able to protect her. Riku looked to the moon for guidance. Whimpers were released into the night as he asked the master of the night in his head for its guidance and advice on what to do.

What should I do? I must protect her, I’d give my life for hers, but how can I protect her, if I couldn’t even protect myself from my memories? Master of the night, I want to be the one who is always be her side in times of need and joy. But…how can I do this if I am haunted?

Riku shook his head and smiled at the moon. He did not care. He would pursue to protect her; he would strive and fight his nightmares and fears as long as she was by his side. For some reason, she gave him the strength and the will. She gave him warmth and the love he missed so very much. He laid his head back down, snuggling closer to her, taking in her scent and warmth.

I love her. So I refuse to fail to protect her. I love her… with no regrets.

[Madoka Hamada]

[glow=violet,2,300]Madoka slept through the night surprisingly, normally her sleep would be plagued by flashbacks of her past, but not this night.

Once the sun had rose, Madoka was off. She wasn't leaving the wolf, just taking a walk. Though when she left the male wolf was still sleeping, she figured he'd follow her scent. She stretched, now in her human form, she shook her hair and groaned.[/glow]

"I'm comfortable in my wolf form, but one night in it and what do I get, bugs. That's gross..."

[glow=violet,2,300]She whined as she scratched her silver hair and a few beetles and other bugs fell onto the swampy ground. As she walked along the edge of the swamps, she shook her hair, free from it's normal ponytail.

The gators that were in the swamp watched her, but she didn't try to avoid them. It was still early and the alligators had yet to warm up good and wouldn't move very fast. They too groaned and growled at her. Madoka's wolf ears perked up as she looked at the gators.[/glow]

"Yea, grr, to you too..."

[glow=violet,2,300]She smiled and went over to where some fresh water was. She kneeled down and cupped her hands together placing them into the water then placing to them to her lips and sipped from them. The small rivulet wasn't much water. She wanted to get clean somehow and little handfuls of water wouldn't do much. She got up off her knees and followed the small rivulet which led to a bigger lake. She kneeled by the lake.[/glow]

"Hopefully, he won't be up for a while..."

[glow=violet,2,300]Madoka slipped into the water, her clothes were folded near the edge. The water had a chill to it, but anything would be better than the condition she was already in. She gently washed herself and went under the water a couple times to clean her silver hair. Once done, she quickly ran into thick brush and dried herself off, the old-fashion way, which was shaking herself off like a dog and slipped her clothes back on.

She sat on a rock and combed through her silver, and now clean hair. Her mind was in deep thought.[/glow]

"I love him, but I don't even know his name. I should probably take those steps first, wouldn't you think? Heck, he doesn't even know my favorite color, at least I don't think. I wonder what he was dreaming about, his breathing got heavy in the middle of the night."

[glow=violet,2,300]She shook her head, what a jump in subjects. She sighed as she continued to brush through her hair, her ears erect listening for the male wolf and see if he followed her. If not, she would go back to him.[/glow]

[Riku Naoya]

For the rest of the night, Riku slept pleasantly. After the first invasion of the nightmare, it did not return to do an encore presentation. Even so, he was still haunted by the image of her corpse behind that human. Riku’s ears twitched to the sound of happily chirping birds. He took a deep breath in and exhaled. He wanted to sleep more, but had he a strange feeling come over him. The spot where she once laid on him was cold. The feeling overwhelmed him. His jade eyes shot open just like last night. He turned his head to see her lovely essence, but did not. Riku jumped to his feet and sniffed for her scent. The imprint of a wolf’s body was pressed in the grass, so this told him she was not gone for too long. The thought sort of calmed him, but not really.

Did she leave me?

Riku shook his head. No, why would she? They had a nice time yesterday night. Riku continued to have his nose to the ground to pick up her trail. When he had found her scent, he followed it without hesitation. Fear suddenly struck him as a flashback of the nightmare appeared before his hypnotic eyes. His pace quickened, and he dodged everything in his path, puddles, logs, anything. His pink tongue draped off to the side of his mouth as he quickly followed the female’s scent.

Please be alright.

His muzzle twitched as he stopped along the edge of the swamp. He lost her scent to the stench of his environment. He peered out at the swamp and saw the alligators, not to mention the one with a scarred eye from Riku’s fangs. He scuffed at the alligator and transformed into human form. His body grew taller, and silver hair with black strands shortened from his wolf fur. The front paws transformed into human arms and hands, only with claws. His silver wolf ears still sat atop his head, and his tail draped in the crevasse his human legs formed. Clothes appeared as he transformed.

Riku continued to look at the scarred alligator and couldn’t help but smirk at it. In a sarcastic tone, Riku spoke annoyed by it.

“Not you again.”

On the back of his neck, Riku received a crawling sensation. It had stopped for a short time, so he ignored it until a sharp pain came along with it.

“Oww…”

Riku slightly cringed and his reflexes kicked in. His arm raised with speed, and slapped the area of crawling and pain. He brought his hand in front of him and saw it was a lousy mosquito. His eyes narrowed at the now crushed bug, and he shook the remains off. The wolf demon continued to stare out at the alligators. He might have looked at peace, but Riku was far from it, until he once again picked up on her scent. Acting like a dog, Riku stuck his nose in the air and sniffed. His ears perked up and his tail, which showed depression, was no longer doing that , but wagging.

She was here.

Riku turned his head away from the alligators, towards the way her scent was drifting from. His jade eyes lit up with hope as he located her distance from him.

“She’s close.”

In his human form, Riku bolted off in her direction. His silver hair and tail rustled in the wind that Riku was causing from his speed. His eyes and ears continued to stay alert and excited. Her scent was becoming stronger and he could see a figure in the distance. He slowed as the distance was beginning to close. It was true that he was a few feet away, but he could still all the detail of her.

It that her? It has to be, that woman and the female wolf have the same scent. It can’t just be a coincidence.

Riku was reassured as he gazed upon her silver hair and beautiful eyes.

It’s her. Well, I’m glad we both have humanoid forms.

Riku silently stepped out from behind a tree. He walked gracefully along the ground never breaking his gaze on her figure. Though Riku was walking to her from behind, only seeing her back, he still knew it was her. He beauty level was increased as she sat upon a rock like a goddess combing her silky hair. Riku was now up close to her, right behind her. He gave her a sincere smile and spoke the first words from his lips to her. Though he was hesitant, because he was attracted how the sun hit her profile perfectly giving a warm and welcoming aura around her body, he still could not resist breaking the silence that they have enjoyably shared since the first night they laid eyes upon each other.

“Good morning.”

[Madoka Hamada]

[glow=violet,2,300]Madoka smiled to herself as she combed through her hair.[/glow]

"He's caught on, he's coming closer."

[glow=violet,2,300]Once Madoka decided that her hair was tangle free, she pulled out a small ribbon and tied her hair back in a ponytail. Then took her longer blue ribbon and tied it just behind her bangs. Then with her claws, she lightly stroked her bangs down so that they covered her left eye and the scar that she had. [/glow]

"I'm blind in that eye, so it does not matter if I have it covered."

[glow=violet,2,300]When the other wolf came behind her and spoke his first words to her, she wheeled around on the rock, coming face-to-face to him. [/glow]

"Good Morning, did you sleep well?"

[glow=violet,2,300]She smiled warmly as she looked upon the man that stood before her, he had the same scent as the wolf, so she was sure that it was the same being. He was just as handsome in his humanoid form as his wolf form, probably more handsome as a human. She smiled at the thought of them both having a bit of their wolf blood still visible as she looked at his silver wolf ears that sat upon his head. Her own ears twitched with curiosity as she sat on the rock looking up upon him. [/glow]

"By the way, what is your name? Where did you come from? Do you travel here often? You are from the Earth territory aren't you, otherwise technically you're an enemy. I really hope not, cuz you're really nice and, oops! I'm rambling again..."

[glow=violet,2,300]Madoka clasped her hands over her mouth, slightly flustered. [/glow]

"I need to get my 'stop talking' button fixed, I swear..."

[Riku Naoya]

When she turned to look at him, face to face, Riku’s heart jumped. Her pure beauty hit him like the God of Love’s arrow. She looked like one who belonged up in heaven, like a goddess in a painting, perched upon the rock like that. It was the perfect scenery to give Riku warm sensations of comfort. Their eyes met, his jade with swirls of azure eyes, and her enchanting, hypnotizing eyes. One of her eyes was covered though by her silver hair. But that made her look even more radiant and enchanting to him. Riku continued to gawk at her beauty. His jade eyes were content and calm. He was absolutely mesmerized by her essence; Riku could not even force himself to look away. She was just as beautiful in humanoid form, as she was in full wolf form. Her wolf scent was the same, and her aura was the exact same as the wolf he cuddled with last night. Spellbound, his tail was still, and his ears were erect. In next to no time though, Riku’s trance was broken as her first words spoken to him reached his wolf ears.

Riku pondered the question if he had slept well or not. The look of deep thought and worry filled his jade eyes. He saw her ears innocently twitching, but showed no reaction. Riku looked away from her and gazed at his surroundings. Flashes of the nightmare, that stirred him awake, appeared and dissipated before his eyes. The truth was, he did not sleep well, but he couldn’t tell her that. Riku could not tell her about his nightmare that plagued his mind. His eyes slowly moved to the mossy ground, thinking of what he could say. Soon he looked back into her eyes with fake sincerity and reassurance. He smiled a gentle and untroubled smile. Riku did not want to worry her, but he would not be surprised if she saw right through him.

“Umm…yea, like a newborn pup.”

Riku was about to start a conversation with her until she beat him to the point. Questions just kept flowing from her lips non stop. His eyes became wide with shock and surprise. His mouth hung open slightly in amazement, and his silver ears were laid back slightly as well. His face became red, from embarrassment from all of the questions that she spontaneously asked, one after the other. Riku swallowed hard and blinked several times when she had said she was rambling. But soon, he released a small giggle. He couldn’t help but release a small one after that out burst of questions. Besides, she looked so adorable when she covered her rambling mouth with her feminine hands. Riku walked closer to the woman on the rock, and gently placed one of his hands on her head, vaguely rubbing her silky hair.

“You know, you’re kind of cute when you are flustered, but…you’re lovely all around. Do you know that? Anyway…”

Riku sat on the rock beside her, removing his hand from her head when doing so. As he was removing his hand, his fingers stroked through her hair, letting it fall through his fingers. When he was settled, he fixed his calming jade eyes with swirls of azure up at the clear sky. Riku did not open his mouth, but he still managed to let out a small snicker through his closed lips. He blinked slowly while smoothly moving his eyes on her. Riku looked at her with gentleness and ease.

“…let’s see if I can remember any of those questions.”

He released a sigh and thought about what first to say, and where to start. Riku thought he needed a little time to collect his thoughts. So, he decided to make himself more comfortable. He put his hands behind his head and laid back on the rock that they were both sitting upon. His face was towards the sky, and his jade eyes were concentrated on many things.

“My name is Riku. Riku Naoya. And no, I do not travel to swampy areas such as this often. To tell you the truth, I was just looking for some refreshing water. But I’m glad I was looking around in this area, because if I had not of done that, I would have never met you. And yes. I am of earth territory, so I am not your enemy fortunately.”

A smile played across his lips at her last comment about him. Riku played her words over and over again in his psyche. She had called him nice; the thought of her saying it appeased him in so many ways. He watched the clear blue sky as small cloud formations danced in the wide ocean of blue, an ocean of sky that was never ending, the clouds could dance as far as they wanted to. Riku envied those fox-trotting clouds. They were free to go where ever they wanted, and they were free to do whatever they wanted. At the same time though, Riku was glad he was not born a cloud. The fluffs of white had such short lives. One day they would be dancing and free, enjoying their life to the fullest, but then the next day, the fluffs of white would dissipate, one cloud never to be seen again. Every once in a while a swallow or bird of some kind would soar above where he rested. Silence fell upon Riku’s mind and lips. The question, “Where did you come from?” bothered him. It brought traces of his past. It was too personal for him to tell, at least for the moment. He inhaled the fresh air and lifted his head to see hers. Riku moved up slowly resting his weight on his elbows.

“Now for you. Same questions. Or…I at least want to know your name. Nothing else matters if you don’t feel comfortable telling me. But if you wish to tell, then I insist.”

He smiled charmingly upon her. Taking in her beauty and scent. It was such a peaceful setting. The birds soared above them and sang such sweet harmonies. The crystal clear blue sky relaxed Riku’s heart. The setting of the two wolves sitting on a rock together with a placid lake behind them. It was all so brilliantly perfect.

[Madoka Hamada]

[glow=violet,2,300]Madoka blushed slightly when Riku complimented her, her ears flattened out of embarrassment. When Riku laid down next to her, she supported her weight upon her arms and turned her body slightly to Riku as he told his story. She gave a small sigh once he said that he was of earth patronage. [/glow]

"That's good, he's not an enemy..."

[glow=violet,2,300]Madoka watched as Riku stared upon the clouds, but once he asked her about her own adventures as well as her name, she gladly replied.[/glow]

"My name is Madoka Hamada. I too, normally don't travel in the swamps, because of the snakes, because I don't like snakes. I was originally exploring the Borgis Plain with a few friends, but then I caught wind of your scent and I followed. Then, I came to meet you and I guess that's where I stand now..."

[glow=violet,2,300]Madoka smiled as she sat up straight upon the rock. The sunlight that now filtered through the treetops, illuminated her silver hair and ears. She kicked her feet back and forth and watched them. Her large silver ears twitched upon her head as she listened to see if Riku would lend a response to her small speech she gave, but she gave a quick reply before he would have chance.[/glow]

"Oh, by the way I'm sorry about my rambling, I have a small issue about that. "I'm normally by myself, well I was with the mare and fox boy about a day ago and that helped a little. I don't know exactly why I rambled, maybe it's because I've been alone for a bit.

[glow=violet,2,300]Madoka sighed, slightly her past coming back to her, luckily her past was covered by her bangs. She was hoping that Riku had not seen the scar she had across her left eye in her wolf form. At the moment, she didn't want to explain her past, not just yet.[/glow]

[Riku Naoya]

Her illuminated silver hair put Riku in a trance. He found it cute that she came to this unbelievable environment just to find the source of the scent that was him. Her name echoed in his head. It was so unique, a beautiful name of grace for a beautiful wolf demon. Riku was about to comment on her name, but she beat him to the point once again for speaking. Madoka seemed to be very open and kind, yet at the same time she also must have memories hidden, not wanting to be told. After all, when Riku did lay first glance on Madoka, her scar and two different eyes were the detail that enchanted him, not to mention her glorious silver fur. But, he wasn’t going to pry. For a person’s past does not have to be revealed to anyone, if that person does not wish to pull off the blanket that covers their past. Riku’s ears twitched on his head, and his uneven, short cut hair flowed in the breeze.

The wind combed his hair, and his ears listened to the trees and the nature that surrounded both him and Madoka. Ripples waved in the lake that slept behind them as leaves from the willow trees broke off from their home and gracefully landed in the fresh, glistening lake water. Riku let out a peaceful laugh as the innocent Madoka apologized for her issue of rambling. When he did this, his orbs of jade and swirls of azure closed, and his silver hair with black strands flew back away from his shoulder blades as he leaned back his head. His face was looking at the sky, letting the sun warm his face. Riku preferred to have the moon, but he had no choice. Either way, it calmed his heart. Her words hit him hard. The words speaking that she was alone. How could a beautiful girl be left alone?

Riku turned to Madoka with eyes of kindness. His eyes looked straight into hers. The sunlight, which filtered through the treetops, reflected of her velvety smooth, silver hair and ears. Riku’s tail stroked the rock back and forth, and his silver ears with black tresses laud gently back on his head. Riku out a kind smile on, and continued to look at her. Her essence was so warm and kind to him. He gently placed one of his hands on hers. He gripped it, curling his long masculine fingers around Madoka’s feminine hand. Riku parted his lips and spoke softly.

“Well…you won’t be alone anymore. I promise.”

Riku released her hand and blushed a bit. His long legs helped him stand up, only so he could reposition himself on the rock Madoka sat upon. He sat directly behind her. Riku’s legs were spread apart and he made sure he was situated that she sat right in between them. He slowly leaned forward and gracefully wrapped his arms around Madoka, guiding her to fall and lay back against his body and chest, but it was up to her to do so. He buried his young face in the side of her neck, nuzzling her and taking in her scent. Riku’s calm eyes were closed; he was enjoying Madoka’s warmth, and her lovely scent.

Soft waves of wind stroked through his silver hair. Riku was beginning to remember what his mother told him. He could hear her motherly voice playing in his mind. His soft eyes of jade opened. His arms were still wrapped around Madoka’s waist and under her arms. Riku held her hands in his with placidness. He rested his chin lightly on her shoulder. Riku then slowly raised it to the sky. The story ran through his head. He nuzzled the one side of his face against Madoka’s cheek. Riku separated his lips once again to speak. He began talking, whispering in calm, and soothing voice to Madoka. Riku was not looking at her though, for his eyes gazed contently on the tops of the willow trees and the blue sky that peeked through them, and some birds sang sweetly to their loved ones.

“I taught, that when the wind blows, when its gentleness breezes through your heart, through your hair, and through every peaceful part of you, that an angel in whispering to you.”

Riku paused and closed his eyes, still looking up and taking in the warmth. He let the wind stroke his face and he let it comb through his hair.

“But after a death of a loved one, the whispering angel is actually kissing you. The whispering angel is comforting you. The kissing angel is blessing you. But when the angel knows you are lost, they are weeping for you, and their hearts are being torn. That angel falls into utter darkness, and you are the only one who can pull it back up to the overflowing light…for you are the only one who can find yourself again.”

He opened his eyes, and they were no longer calm. His soft jade eyes were filled with sadness. This whole time he was whispering to his love Madoka, Riku heard his mother’s voice telling the exact same story. He looked down at Madoka and pressed his cheek against hers the way his mother always did to him. His silver tail was still and his ears were laid back. He turned his jade eyes to gaze into the peaceful looking forest with a swamp concealed inside. Riku’s lips gently brushed against Madoka’s cheek as he completed his childhood story. His voice was filled with sorrow and silence.

“A long time ago, I was taught, that when the wind streaks through you, you should feel blest. You should feel touched that an angel is comforting you, or blessing you, or even weeping for you. I’ve lost my angel so many times Madoka. I’ve wandered in the darkness so many times. I’ve lost so many people. That angel has kissed me and wept for me so many times Madoka. I let her fall for so long; her wings were being covered by the black abyss…”

“But it’s weird. Ever since I found you and held you close to me, that angel came back. Madoka, I feel so warm around you, and I don’t feel lost anymore. I’m not wandering in the darkness anymore.”

Riku’s arms began to shake. His arms that lay lightly around her feminine waist tightened in a small amount. Riku closed his eyes in pain. He buried his face against the back of her neck, his face pressed against her skin and hair. He spoke once again, his mouth barely caressing against the soft skin of her neck.

“So please…please stay with me Madoka. I don’t want to be lost anymore, I want to be home, I want to be found, and loved again. Madoka, please stay with me.”

Riku fought the tears and refused to let one fall down as visions of his past flashed before his eyes. He was surrounded in a pool of blood and the corpses of his pack laid lifeless all around him. The spirit of his beloved mother appeared. She was silent, and she turned away from Riku. He ran with his arms reaching for her embrace, but with each step he ran, she got further and further away, disappearing into the darkness. In a shallow voice, barely audible, Riku begged her in an under toning voice of pain.

“Please stay with me.”

[Madoka Hamada]

[glow=violet,2,300]Madoka leaned against him when he pulled her towards him, she felt unusually comfortable around him. As he spoke, she watched the clouds that she could see from between the treetops. She smiled slightly, his mother sounded like her own, but as he began to get into about his own angel slipping, she sat up and looked at him. Her ears twitched cautiously as she looked into his eyes. [/glow]

"Has my angel as well been falling deeper and deeper into the depths of the darkness?"

[glow=violet,2,300]As Riku confessed to her how he felt around her, she felt her cheeks become redder even more than when he had rubbed against her or when he gently kissed her cheek. Then what really got her was when Riku embraced her.

Madoka's heart pounded against her chest, as she felt Riku nuzzle close to her. She parted her lips to begin to say his name, but quickly closed them as he asked her not to leave him. [/glow]

"I-I wouldn't dream of leaving you, not after this speech. Riku, you do not need to worry, I will not leave you. I go where you go."

[glow=violet,2,300]Madoka's heart skipped a beat at her words, but she couldn't refuse Riku. She could sense Riku's sadness, he too had had a hard life in the beginning, like she had. Two broken hearts could work together and make everything right, could they not? [/glow]

"M-My mother was a doctor in the village I used to live in. She had the same looks as me, so it was obvious to the villagers that she was a demon, but they didn't care. She was one of the best doctors and the villagers as well as my mother continued to remind me that it was the inside not the outside that counted. That even though she was a demon, my mother, she was the same inside, having a caring soul like any human did. I take those words to heart."

[glow=violet,2,300]Madoka slowly but surely, wrapped her arms around Riku, her arms wrapped around his neck as she leaned against his chest. She would take her mother's words to heart and more than just the 'inside not the outside' speech. She flashed back to her and her mother's talk the one day outside.

Her mother had began to reminisce about her and Madoka's father's meeting and how it was love at first sight. She then began to explain to a young Madoka that the was the way of wolves, that they had a deep sense for feelings and character of people. She told Madoka that she would know when she found the right person, because she would be comfortable with them and feel safe. Madoka, only five at the time, stuck her tongue out and told her mother how gross that was and her mother smiled telling her that her day would come.

Madoka snapped out of her slight flashback and nuzzled Riku's neck slightly, her mother's words were true. She felt comfortable and safe with Riku and they had known each other for only about a day, not even.[/glow]

[Riku Naoya]

Ripples in the lake spread like a contagious disease. The breeze pushed willow tree leaves off their birthplace and glided into the lake to skid gracefully on it. Every now and then, a leaf would make contact with Riku’s silky silver hair. It would slowly tumble off as the wind drifted it to some other destination. When his face was nuzzling Madoka’s feminine neck, and when his arms were lightly placed around her waist, Riku could feel her heart beat. He could hear it faintly through his sensitive wolf ears. He did not mind it though; his heart was the same way, only he could calm it down. Her gentle and heart spoken words helped with consoling it down, comforting it. Riku’s heart filled with joy and loving placate as Madoka reassured him that she would never dream of leaving him. Her words announcing to Riku only that she will stay by him and that Riku needs not worry.

Her voice continued to echo in Riku’s ears. The breeze drifted them gracefully. Madoka told him about her mother since he had shared his to her. Riku’s ears listened to her words contently, and his embrace continued. Riku’s eyes gazed upon Madoka, both her eyes and lips. They told a story of peace and happiness. This tale lifted Riku. For now he knew she lived a blessed life. She continued to tell of her past, this is when every word hit Riku’s heart like an arrow. Madoka’s story told of how the human villagers did not care, how they thought it was the inside that counted and not the outside. Her words spoke that her mother had a caring soul like any human did. This statement hit Riku the hardest out of all of them.

Riku’s voice stood still. It was silent, deathly silent. Flashes of the slaughter appeared. Riku could see his hands stained with the humans’ blood and stench. His lips quivered, and his hands began to tremble as his jade eyes saw hallucinations of blood on them. Dirty, filthy human blood, he could smell it. He could see its reflection, as if it was there right now. Its deep red color dripping from his claws, and its staining color as it rolled down his flesh.

As Madoka turned to place her hands, her arms up around his neck, and as she faced him, nuzzling his neck, Riku’s head dropped down slowly, that his jade eyes with swirls of azure were hidden behind his silver locks for bangs. The memories continued to flood his plagued mind. Riku did not want to remember. He wanted to forget the human blood he caused to rain and stain his used to be innocent hands. Riku was struggling to stay calm and in control. But his body would not stop trembling. His heart would not stop aching. Riku’s eyes did not, would not, stop showing him his past. His jade eyes would not stop making him hallucinate blood on his hands. His eyes were wavering, trembling with fear, pain, and rage. Riku could not hold it in any longer, his mouth parted; words of pain and rage flowed out stuttering. These words were spoken under breath; they were spoken in a shallow, barely audible, harsh voice.

“Human souls are not caring; they did not have a trace of that.”

Riku brought his hands out and around Madoka’s body. He brought them in front of him, in between his and Madoka’s figures. His hands were positioned that his trembling jade eyes could lay sight on them while still looking down. He saw red blood, crimson human blood. It covered his flesh. Riku clenched both his hands and eyes shut. His claws dug into his fragile skin. He continued to speak in a harsh tone toward human kind.

“Their filthy souls were only filled with greed…and lust…But we wolves and those humans have but one thing in common.”

Riku paused. His eyes slowly opened. Riku’s jade eyes still saw the blood covered hands. His silver ears were flat against the top of his head. His head was still down and his eyes were still shaded. Riku’s fangs were bare, exposed from the overflowing feelings of pain and rage.

“We both have an endless feeling of wrath. A sin that will never disappear even if the purest heart wishes it away into oblivion.”


Riku’s eyes were then suddenly filled with shock and worry. After this despair filled speech he could not imagine what he had just done to Madoka. He quickly lifted his head to unhide his concerned jade eyes. He looked up to meet her gaze. That must have sounded horrible. Madoka was such a cheerful wolf demon and Riku just admitted his darkened reality. His lips quivered and the blood on his hands completely vanished.

“I…I’m sorry.”

His eyes roamed in fear for a moment, but soon they locked back on hers. Riku quickly, yet lovingly wrapped his arms around her. This embrace brought Riku closer to Madoka. Words flowed out of his mouth sorrowfully and painfully. He was choking. Coking on the tears that wanted to breathe air, but Riku had refused to let them.

“I’m so sorry.”

His hands moved to Madoka’s shoulders. He pushed away from her slowly; bringing her in front of him, so his jade eyes could look deep into her eyes. Riku continued to fight the tears, he would not shed, he refused. He does not want to be vulnerable again. Not again, not ever again! Riku’s words came out in a whispering hoarse tone. His hands shook while resting on Madoka’s shoulders, and he stuttered.

“You had such a g-good life with them. With…with hu-humans. I- I cannot even imagine that, not anymore. Not after…not after the in- incident.”

Riku slowly moved his left hand to Madoka’s face. He placed his fingers lightly by her right temple. He felt her smooth skin and gave a weary, kind smile, with tears in his eyes being held back. Riku glided his fingers down, caressing her skin. His fingers traced her cheekbone. Carefully, he flattened out his hand. Gently against her fragile and innocent looking face. He held the side of Madoka’s face in the palm of his hand. Riku continued to look into her eyes and smile warmly. Riku then moved his right hand to do the same movement as the left hand did; only this time, he slowly slid his frail hand under the bangs which covered her left eye. He gently slid his hand up her face, pushing the bangs out if her sight.

“I promise…”

He leaned forward and closed his eyes. Riku tilted his chin upward, so his lips could place a mild, affectionate kiss on her forehead. His lips made a soothing contact with her flesh. Riku at that moment lightly placed his forehead against hers. He looked down into her different colored eyes.

“…I promise to try. To try and see how you see humans. I’ll try. I want to keep that beautiful smile on your face Madoka.”

Riku once again placed another kiss on her forehead, but as his lips caressed her skin, he spoke in a gentle tone of reassurance.

“Honest I will and I cross my heart to keep you happy.”

Ripples in the lake spread like a contagious disease. The breeze pushed willow tree leaves off their birthplace and glided into the lake to skid gracefully on it. Soft waves of wind stroked through his silver hair. His listening wolf ears concentrated on the trees and the nature that engulfed them in its beauty and peacefulness. Ripples waved in the lake that slept behind them, but the songs of the birds were silent. Everything stood still to him. The only thing that concerned Riku was the last tender soft kiss that his lips had laid against Madoka’s smooth temple.

[Madoka Hamada]

[glow=violet,2,300]As her story ended, Madoka went ridged. She felt Riku tense up and she turned to him, she could feel the anger welling up inside of him. She looked at his hands as his claws dug into the flesh of his hands. She gasped and grabbed his wrists.[/glow]

"Stop, that's enough. You don't have to do that, please stop..."

[glow=violet,2,300]Madoka snapped up her, eyes filled with horror as Riku's gentle tone turned to a sharp, harsh tone. His flowing voice was now nails scrapping upon metal, her ears flattened at his tone. She had angered him, but she found it hard to believe that he had such a horrible past with humans, whereas hers was nothing close. She wondered what had happened to him to cause such hatred.

Her eyes met his as her placed his hands on her shoulders. His voice now changed back, but not it's calm tone, rather and almost sorrowful and painful tone. Her ears perked up as he stumbled on his words. [/glow]

"Incident? What incident? What had happened to him?"

[glow=violet,2,300]Her eyes widen as Riku's hands caressed her face, but as he went for her bangs to move them from her face, she shook her head. The silver bangs fell back into her face and covered her blind eye. She had got so worked up over her scar that when Riku's lips touched the flesh of her forehead, her peachy flesh of her cheeks deepened to a cherry red. When he placed his forehead against hers she looked upon him, his words gentle.[/glow]

"A smile upon my face? Same goes for you, you too have to smile, but when times get hard, know you can come to me."

[glow=violet,2,300]She gave a small smile, her canine fangs showed lightly in her toothy grin, but it quickly disappeared to an embarrassed grin on her face when he placed another kiss upon her forehead. [/glow]

"How embarrassing, my face keeps deepening in red each time and I can't control it!"

[glow=violet,2,300]Once again she felt his lips be placed against her forehead and her face deepening in color once more. She looked up at Riku and backed away slightly so that she could look at him.[/glow]

"I'm really happy that you are going to try and see humans my way. But do not worry I know that humans have their dark side as well, but apparently they are not the only ones. It's just how creatures are, besides this is too dark of a subject. Let's talk about something else, or we could look around."

[glow=violet,2,300]She got up off the rock and stretched slightly and smiled. Riku had a dark past, surprisingly Madoka had not lost her trust to humans with what had happened to her as well, but she understood the villagers actions then. She went up to Riku and bent down so that she was looking right into his eyes.[/glow]

"Well which one? Come on, I'm ready."

[glow=violet,2,300]She battered her eyelashes and decided to take a chance as she placed a quick kiss upon Riku's lips and then backed away. He had been all over her since they were talking, she now would take charge. She began to back her face away, but she had a sly smile on her face. She spoke to him with a slight giggle.[/glow]

"Thought I'd be the first one to steal a kiss."

[Riku Naoya]

As Madoka backed away from Riku’s kiss, he glanced at her face and saw the deep shade of red painted across her face. The first thought the penetrated his mind was offending her. His silver wolf ears slightly lowered in regret of kissing her. While reflecting this hypotenuse, Riku’s complicated wolf mind flashed back to when his hands were caressing her silky skin. Riku had moved his hand under her bangs to unshield her hidden eye, but she had refused him and shook her head; preventing him from seeing the permanent mark of her past. Madoka’s words played on a loop. They repeated over and over again. “You have to smile too…you can come to me,” over and over again these words played in his head. Her canine smile was engraved in his mind. His flash back ended abruptly when Madoka’s voice penetrated his train of thought. Riku was relived that she knew the dark side of the humans did exist. But how much darkness does Madoka actually know about? How much greed has she seen? Or, how much wrath has she experienced from the humans? Riku’s eyes showed concern for these unknown questions. Madoka was so innocent and thoughtful. The silver wolf with black tresses hoped she had not experienced that much wrath.

Madoka was right though. The subject they spoke of was definitely a dark subject, but it was the pure reality. Riku’s eyes grew calmer as she suggested talking about something else. His wolf ears perked up and twitched as she also suggested that they could possibly look around. Riku looked back up to Madoka’s eyes. He released a small, under breath snicker, as a thought entered his mind. Riku could not help but think this curious thought. They were in a swampy area, and yet, she suggested to look around.

Where’s there to look? Yet…

Riku’s head turned toward the direction of where the other water source slept. The water source that was home to the alligators, still created a threat for some reason. The thought of Riku still knowing that those carnivorous, vicious creatures were still alive, gave him chills flowing throughout his whole body. But then soon a jokingly smile placed itself upon Riku’s lips. But he shamed himself for thinking such a trivial thought.

…we could always go play with the alligators.

Riku’s attention was drawn back to Madoka. Jade eyes with swirls of azure moved over to her figure without the movement of his head. They watched closely as she stood up, but while she was stretching, Riku turned his head with his jade eyes still locked on. His mind acted on its own, and began engraving her perfect figure, Madoka’s perfect image in his head. Her smile was radiant and beautiful. Riku could not help, bit to smile warmly at her incorruptibility. Riku drew his attention away for a little bit so he could begin to move off the rock as well. He pushed forward until his feet sat firmly on the swampy floor. He was about to push to stand up and stretch, but as soon as he looked up to see where he was going, his eyes were captured by Madoka’s. She was looking right into Riku’s hypnotic jade eyes. His mind was contemplating on her questions, but his eyes were contemplating her beauty. Riku, for some reason, had an urge to take a walk and look around. His mind was also seeing Madoka’s and Riku’s hands intertwined as they walked and gazed together.

His lips parted to answer that he would very much like to take a walk and look around, or maybe even go some place else, but he was quickly cut off. Riku’s heart jumped into his throat as her lips quickly made contact with his. Jade eyes went wide with shock and yet relief at the same time. His whole body shot up in temperature and his normal colored face was splashed with red. Riku sat there for a moment frozen, thinking with excitement.

Did that actually just happen? Did she…k-kiss me?

Thoughts flew from his head as Riku shook it back and forth bringing him back to reality. His ears stopped flapping when Riku stopped shaking thoughts from his head. Alight giggle drifted into his keen wolf ears. Riku blinked to see a clever smile on Madoka’s mouth. Sock exited his eyes and body when she stated that she was the first one to steel a kiss and not him. Riku gently closed his jade eyes and slowly shook his head back and forth. Riku looked up into her eyes with pure kindness and warmth. He pushed himself up to meet her level. His jade eyes looked deep into hers and his mouth curved with to a precious smile. Riku reached one hand out and caressed her face just as he did once before. His fingers traced her jaw line and hooked under her chin. The other hand rubbed the opposite side of Madoka’s face. He tilted her head up gently.

Riku slowly leaned in. Hesitantly, he brought his lips closer t o her alluring lips. Riku’s lips barely made contact yet, he was unsure of her reaction, but he continued and continued the risk. His jade eyes that laid sights on her eyes and lips closed shut. At this very moment, Riku fully laid his lips against hers. Riku tenderly kissed Madoka, tilting his head a bit so he was at a better position for this desired kiss. As he kissed, he took in her scent and fell into paradise. Madoka’s lips felt so luscious to Riku. His hand that was at the side of her face moved back petting, stroking her silky ears, just lightly brushing her velvety wolf ears. The other hand slowly slid to the side of her neck. Unrenowned to Riku, his silver wolf tail with black tresses began to sway, to and from.

Riku slowly broke the kiss. He could feel their lips parting from one another’s. As he slowly broke away, Riku’s jade eyes glided open to gaze into hers. A warm smile graced his lips. His jade eyes continued to gaze, but at the same time, both of his hands gently slid down Madoka’s arms. His hands met hers and he brought both set of hands up to about Riku’s waist level. He held her dainty hands in his with kindhearted affection. His lips opened, and a soothing, calm voice slid out musically between a smile of warmth.

“Now that’s…”

He brought her hands together and placidly pulled them up to his lips. Riku gave Madoka’s hands a kiss. Riku stepped a bit closer to Madoka’s goddess like figure and kept her light feminine hands by his mouth. He continued his statement while still gazing contently at her radiant face.

“…how you steal a kiss.”

[Madoka Hamada]

[glow=violet,2,300]Madoka's smile faded slightly as Riku caressed her face and then as soon as she turned her eyes to his hands, he placed a kiss upon her lips. Madoka's ears twitched lightly as Riku touched her large, silver wolf ears. She was extremely ticklish where her ears were. Her hands slid down to her side as Riku parted between her and him.

Madoka giggled at Riku's comment about stealing a kiss. She was no longer blushing as Riku kissed her hands. She was use to Riku's shows of affection and had grown use to them. She giggled slightly as she pulled her hands gently out of Riku's grasp.[/glow]

"This is how you steal a kiss..."

[glow=violet,2,300]She placed a kiss on Riku's lips once again then backed up and ran to the nearest tree and jumped up into it. She giggled as she stood on the bough of the tree. The light breeze picked up making her hair blow slightly, but it didn't fly everywhere because of it's binding while it was in the ponytail. The blue ribbon that was tied behind her bangs blew gently with her hair. Her silver wolf tail wagged slightly at the sight of some friendly competition. [/glow]

"Now you have to catch me, if you can that is."

[glow=violet,2,300]Madoka giggled, her large wolf ears moved upon her head. Madoka took a head start as she began to jump from tree branch to tree branch so that she got a bit of a head start on Riku.

Madoka sighed, but then smiled it had been awhile since she had goofed off. Most of the time, she would have to be serious only because if she wasn't, she wouldn't have survived. Abandoned at a young age, she wasn't sure if she would be able to survive, but that was until a young couple took her in until she ran away from them. She had figured since she was fourteen she was old enough to care for herself and thought she had pressed upon the couple long enough to be out on her own.

Madoka snapped back to attention and stopped on one of the tree branches. She looked around, she had gone far away from where her and Riku were at. She looked down below at the swamp from where the tree she stood had embedded its roots. She looked at the alligators that were now swimming up below her. She stepped a little, slipping on the moss. Her reflexes weren't quick enough for her to get her footing again, but they were quick enough for her to grab the tree branch. [/glow]

"Pull yourself up, Madoka.."

[glow=violet,2,300]She thought to herself, but her fingers slipped slightly. The more she wiggled, the more alligators began to swim around where they predicted she would fall.[/glow]

"Riku.....Riku...Riku!"

[glow=violet,2,300]She started out soft until she cried out Riku's name, she held on to the branch, just long enough for Riku to help her. [/glow]

[Riku Naoya]

Riku’s lips were graced by an affectionate smile towards Madoka. His silver wolf ears twitched to the sound of Madoka’s playful giggle. When she gently pulled away from his grasp, Riku’s hands followed her hands’ movements. His smile slightly dissipated from the feeling of not holding her hands anymore, but he was soon happy again when Madoka spoke. Riku sensed another demonstration from her on how to steal a kiss. He closed his eyes and accepted it. Riku’s lips were blessed by hers. His heart jumped though when contact was made. Riku had never had a lover before; he was always alone after the slaughter of his pack. His jade eyes opened to see Madoka’s figure backing away. His wolf ears turned backwards as she jumped into a tree up above, that offered shade.

His jade eyes and silver wolf ears relaxed once Madoka landed safely in the tree above. Her giggle lifted Riku’s heart. As the breeze blew through Riku’s silver hair, he looked up at Madoka and saw her hair and blue ribbon majestically flowing with the stream of the wind. Her voice lightened up his mind and soul as her challenge prospered between her lips. She was challenging his speed to keep up with hers. Riku let out a playful laugh. He placed his hands on his hips and lowered his head while shaking it slowly back and forth with disappointment. His jade eyes were closed at the time and Riku moistened his bottom lip with his tongue. He could not believe the challenge she had just bestowed upon him. Yet, he could not help but to want some playful, friendly competition. Riku opened his mouth and slowly opened his eyes expecting to see Madoka’s image sitting upon the bough of the willow tree, but he was cut off.

“Oh really? Well, I hope…”

Riku was quickly thrown off. When his jade eyes had fully opened expecting to see her, they did not. Riku gasped at the sight that she was gone. He quickly ran and used his powerful leg muscles to jump on the branch of the tree that Madoka was just standing on. His eyes scanned the area, and his heart began to speed up, he could not see her, not at all. Riku breathed heavily through his nose and tried to stay calm. It was just a little fun after all…right? He rested one hand against the trunk of the tree and spread his legs to keep his balance upon the bough. Riku stuck his nose in the air and searched for her scent. His eyes widened and his heart began to race when he realized that he couldn’t find it. The scents, all of the scents that conglomerated together from the swamp, filled his nostrils instead of Madoka’s.

Riku’s reflexes kicked in and he jumped to the next tree branch. His legs continued to jump, pushing Riku tree branch to tree branch. He pushed leaves and small branches out of his way as he jumped. Riku’s jade eyes never stopped scanning for the female wolf. The forest was dense, but that did not stop Riku. A smile played across his face as he cupped his hand over his mouth to emphasize his voice, trying to lure Madoka out.

“Madoka!...Madoka!”

He jumped once again, but his footing slipped, just missing the branch. Riku’s heart might have jumped from the certain situation, but luckily his legs and quick reflexes allowed him to land safely on the swampy ground. Riku’s silver tail followed and fell to the ground when his feet touched. Coincidently, his landing spot right next to the lake edge, instead of in it. Riku landed right by the home of the alligators, and his good buddy scarface. A smirk quickly appeared on Riku’s lips when he remembered the lesson he had taught to that pigheaded alligator. But soon, however, that smirk vanished just as quickly as it came. The smirk vanished when Riku did not see the alligators in their usual spot, they were gone. Riku’s eyes narrowed in confusion as he scanned the lake. They were completely gone.

Where are they?

Riku’s silver wolf ears quickly perked up in alert as he heard Madoka’s voice screaming his name. His eyes filled with terror as she called out for him. Riku followed the voice trail and the edge of the lake. Riku gasped as he saw a connecting waterway joining the two lakes. He quickly bolted to the other area that was connected and saw Madoka. Riku’s eyes were engulfed with fear and dread. His jade eyes gazed at her body dangling from a tree branch, and also the alligators that savagely waiting for their meal.

Madoka was on the opposite side from where Riku’s silhouette presently stood. Riku’s eyes kept vision on Madoka, but every once in a while his vision would move to the alligators that swarmed her. He made a dash for it. He forced his humanoid legs to run as fast as they possibly could along the edge of the gator infested lake. As he ran, Riku cupped his hands to his mouth and called out to her.

“Madoka! Hang on, I’m coming!”

Riku obviously saw her hanging on; the question was how long she could keep that position. His heart began to race; causing shortness of breath. Riku’s legs started coming to halt. His eyes gazed at Madoka; she was still far out of Riku’s reach. Jade eyes then moved to the alligators. They were snapping their jaws at her and at each other. Riku gritted his wolf fangs at them while he was trying to catch his breath.

Damn alligators!

He looked back at Madoka and growled in frustration and fear. His silver ears were fully laid back on his silky hair and head.

I’m still too far away. I’ll never make it in time!

Riku’s fangs were bare. Suddenly his head was pierced by an idea. It was not smart, but it was good enough for him to save the one he loves.

“Madoka! Madoka?! Hang on, I got an idea!”

A scent drifted into his sensitive nose and it choked him. His ears perked up in disgust because the idea just went down the tubes. Riku pulled back his ears and tucked his tail in repugnance.

I have to keep out of the water along with Madoka. This stupid lake is filled with diseases just waiting to be spread…

Wait a second…that’s it.

Riku whispered to himself, with his eyes glowing with ideas.

“The alligators.”

Riku gazed behind him at his surroundings. He gaped at the ground, looking for a certain distraction. He found a small, skinny log and though it was good enough. Riku quickly reached down and clasped it in his claws. He turned to the lake and its alligators. Picking up momentum, Riku swiftly stepped forward and let the log leave his hand. The log spoun in a circular motion as it glided through the air, cutting it as its path lead straight on an alligator’s head. Riku smirked as the alligator growled with rage while turning its head to see the source of the flying log. Softly, Riku spoke to himself as the alligator swam closer to him, away from Madoka.

“Well at least I got one’s atten…”

Riku noticed more alligators trailing after the first one. Since he was in range, closer to the water edge, it was obvious that they would come after him as well. Unfortunately, some stayed back, snapping at the female wolf.

“…Now that’s more like it. Come one, come on…a little closer. There!”

His leg muscles pushed Riku into a jump, quickly landing on the first alligator’s muzzle. When the gator opened its jaws to snap, Riku felt a quick pain as he jumped away, but he ignored it, and his reflexes kicked in. Riku’s wolf agility and flexibility allowed him to do the jumping motions right down the line of three alligators. The fourth one he landed on, positioned him right below Madoka. When its jaws of death opened, it boosted his jump, allowing him to get on the branch that Madoka clung to. Riku’s jade eyes were concentrated on her. His hands reached down and grabbed her feminine wrists with strength, yet gentleness, pulling her up to his side, holding her closely, and looking down at the monstrous creatures.

Riku’s eyes did not gaze at Madoka after she was safely in his grip, they just a steady gaze on the still hungry creatures. He slowly let go of her, but the jade eyes continued to stare. As a second or two passed, Riku stepped cautiously and lightly to turns towards Madoka. But as soon as he laid his left leg back down, a sharp pain shot up through his leg. The sudden pain wave through Riku off balance off. His left leg slipped off the branch, and his heart jumped in a panic. Riku caught the branch under his arms, but it was a harsh catch, it scraped his skin, actually it was unexpected. His head came down fast upon the branch, bashing his chin against it. The sudden impact knocked the wind out of him. His legs swung and so did his silver wolf tail. They both swung above the disease filled lake. The impact of the chin, knocked so much out of him, his eyes began to drift shut. Fortunately, Riku shook his head, the energy was knocked out of him, but he still had consciousness…barely.

Blood ran down the sides of Riku’s rib cage and down his jawbone and neck as he struggled to pull himself up. He picked up momentum in his legs and he was soon able to swing his right leg up and over the tree branch. He sat there straddling the branch soaking in the pain from the sudden accident, just letting it fade away.

Owww…

He looked up at Madoka, into her eyes and gave her his usual warm, kind smile. It was hard to do so though, because he was holding, more like trying to hide, the pain seeping through his body.

“Are you alright?”

[Madoka Hamada]

Madoka had felt her grip slipping, but she grasped on tighter to the wood of the the tree. Her ears perked up when she heard Riku's voice.

"Riku!"

She felt her heart skip, he had heard her, and he could help her up. She watched as Riku distracted the alligators that were swimming beneath her feet. She watched intently making sure that Riku didn't make any false moves. As the alligators swam over to Riku, mostly all of them, Madoka began to worry. How would Riku get to her if all the alligators were near her? Riku soon answered her question as he began to jump upon the alligators.

"No, not that way. If he makes even the slightest mistake, those alligators will drag him under."

Madoka gasped as she saw Riku's leg get dangerously close to one of the alligator's mouth. She watched worriedly as Riku made his way up to her. Before she knew it, Riku had pulled her up onto the branch. She gave a sigh of relief too soon however as she turned to Riku, he too had lost his balance. Luckily, Riku's reflexes were quicker than hers and he caught himself rather well, but not as well as Madoka had hoped. Madoka looked on as Riku pulled himself up.

"He got hurt, he got hurt because of me. Because I was stupid and got myself into trouble."

Madoka gently sat herself down on the branch and straddled it with her slender legs. She scooted herself that way up to Riku, so that she was behind him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, fighting back the tears and the guilt that had welled up inside her.

"I'm fine, but you got injured. I'm sorry Riku, because of me you got injured. At least, let me wrap you're wounds..."

She held onto his neck loosely as she nuzzled him gently at the bend of his neck. Her emotions were overwhelmed with guilt, she had taken full responsibility for Riku's injuries. She removed her face from him and looked down at the swamp. Most of the alligators had dissipated either, tired of waiting for food or they had given up on having a wolf demon lunch. She reached into a pouch she had tied to her waist and grabbed the roll of bandage that was in there.

"I'll have to stop at a village, whether Riku likes it or not. If we're this injury prone, which I know I am, this roll will be gone in a couple days."

Madoka around at the ground around them, seeing a slightly less swampy area a couple yards away from the swampy lake and a fallen log on which Riku could sit nearby.

"We can go over there, it will be easier for me to wrap your wounds. Can you move, would you like me to help?"

Madoka pointed to where she wanted to go. She got up off the branch slowly, keeping her balance this time. She looked down at Riku and held her hand out for him incase he needed extra help to get up.

[Riku Naoya]

Riku breathed heavily through his mouth. Even though he was smiling, pain swelled up in his body. He closed his jade eyes slowly; continuing to soak in the pain. Blood ran down his neck from the bashing of his chin when he slipped. Not to mention, a few drops of blood slid down his side from the scraped off skin under his arms. Riku’s smile disappeared as he swallowed hard. The effect of the chin hitting against the branch had an awful consequence that Riku had never foreseen. The shock moved all around his head. It began to pound and a nausea feeling came over him. Dizziness clouded his mind and eyes. It was like he was living all in a blur.

Riku wrapped his fingers around the branch, which he sat upon, as Madoka straddled the branch to wrap her arms around his neck. Riku tried focusing on her warmth and voice, but he could not. Lightheadedness and queasiness were filling too high in his body. The thought of Madoka wrapping his wounds sounded nice, but he felt guilty. He felt the guilt because she blamed herself because of the injuries he had received. His eyes still remained closed and his breathing profound. Riku winced from the pain. His fangs were clenched shut. Riku spoke hoarsely through his teeth, breathing deeply between each spoken word.

“No…it’s not your fault…I’m fine.”

Riku noticed how the alligators were no longer circling them, but they were still nearby. His mind continued to drift from the nauseating vertigo. The scent of the environment was not making his headache much better either. Riku could not react to Madoka’s action. He just sat there trying desperately to hold everything back. The only few things that he could sense were her warmth and guilt, but everything else was being blocked.

When Madoka stood up, he could feel her warmth vanish. The area where her are were lying grew cooler. He held on tight to the branch as she stood up. To him, the whole world was shaking, but it was only the branch, which it was barely doing so. He didn’t look to where she had pointed. Riku kept his eyes closed this whole time. Her question echoed in his pounding head. Can he move? Can he move? It echoed ovr and over again. Does he need help? Her help, does he need help?

Riku continued to swallow hard and breathe with great amount of pain. He slowly shook his head. It hurt severely. Riku winced from the headache. His body slowly bent over, leaning away from Madoka’s offered hand. Riku wrapped his arms completely around the branch. He did not want to, he refused. His cheek pressed lightly against the tree’s bark. He took a long deep breath in and released it through his mouth. His heart knew he could not contain it any longer, and so did his body.

He licked his dry mouth and concentrated. Riku tried so hard to regain control, but his spirit lost to the overwhelming dizziness and nausea. Riku’s gripped on the branch soon tightened as his body began to heave. He coughed and choked on the scent and the fluids that were coming up. Tears of pain rolled down his face without his consent. Riku felt so weak and vulnerable in this situation. He gasped for air as he got a short break. But soon more came up and would not stop. He gagged as he spit the remainder out. Riku lay there silently, he heaved for air and he let the tears keep falling.

He opened his jade eyes slowly. His mouth gaped open, gasping and coughing. Saliva sat in his mouth from this unpleasant experience. As he breathed, his eyes drifted shut without his commanding or permission.

Darkness filled his sight as he lost consciousness. His arms relaxed and draped over the branch. Riku’s body began to tilt and slip. He had no idea what was going on. He just felt tired and so weak. His fatigued body gave way, completely falling off the bough. With whatever strength was left, Riku tried to grab a hold of the bough but his claws only scraped the bark away.

A splash was heard as Riku plummeted into the disease filled lake. The last thing he could see was Madoka as the water flooded his gaze. The last feeling he experienced was the sting of the wounds as the water entered them. Darkness over came his sight. Weakness and fatigued over came his body. Pain over came his wounds, his mind, his spirit, his heart as the last thought penetrated him.

Madoka…

[whisper=madoka]I know it's shorter than usual, but I hope it gives you enough to work with. *ears twitch*[/whisper]

[Madoka Hamada]

Madoka's fingers didn't reach Riku as he fell into the swamp.

"Riku!"

Tears welled up into Madoka's hazel eye as the tears splashed onto the tree bough. Madoka shook away her tears, this was no time as she dived into the swamp below her.

Once she hit the water, she could barely see and the smell was unbearable to her keen sense of smell. She felt around under the water for Riku. She felt his wrist and grabbed it and pulled him up and then swam onto the shore. Madoka coughed harshly, keeping down her own stomach contents.

Once Madoka had cleared her senses somewhat, she got up and with all her might she picked up Riku. She placed him on her back and slowly but surely made it back to the lake.

After a while Madoka made it back to the lakeside. She set Riku down, panting. Madoka stripped off her top shirt, and sniffed the tank top she had underneath and gagged. That too smelled like the wretched lake. She sighed and looked at Riku and stripped that off as well, revealing her bandaged body. The wrap went from under her arms down to her mid stomach and worked like a sleeveless top. She put her shirt and everything in the lake. If she worked on Riku with those clothes on, she would make him sicker.

She then looked to Riku and stripped off his shirt and placed it in the lake as well. She reached in her pouch and groaned.

"Every thing's ruined and has the stench of that damn swamp, ugh, including me..."

She picked up Riku gently and placed him in the lake, holding his nose, she pushed him underwater and went under with him. She kicked back up to the surface with Riku's limp body. She sighed, the stench had lifted off of both of them. She then pulled Riku back out of the lake and set him against the tree.

Madoka then examined his wounds, gently her fingers ran over his wounds.

"They don't look too bad, maybe that's from washing them off.."

Madoka went to the edge of the lake and began washing off the roll of bandaging she had. After a few minutes of soaking them, Madoka lifted them to her nose and sniffed it. The smell had dissipated off of the cloth. She went back over to Riku and wrapped his wounds gently.

Once she finished she grabbed her tank top shirt out of the lake water, it smelled clean as well. She put it back on to cover her bandaging. Then went over to Riku. She sat by him and pulled Riku down so that Riku's head laid in her lap. She ran her fingers through his hair ever so gently.

"Please be okay, Riku. I'll never forgive myself, please, you have to wake up..."

Her words were soft, and brought tears to her eyes. The tears ran down her cheeks and a few splashed upon Riku's face. She picked up the upper half of Riku's body and held him closely.

"Riku, please be okay, please be okay..."

She sobbed softly as she nestled her face in his hair, holding Riku closely to her.

"You promised to keep me happy, Riku. I won't be happy if you're not here with me..."

[Riku Naoya]

“Riku, I got a new book to read to you.”

She waved the book in the air with a smile on her face. She gently set herself down on the floor by the fire they had built inside of their den. She placed the book to her side and reached out for her son.

“Come here.”

She gently wrapped her arms around him and placed Riku’s young childish body in her lap. She picked up the book and opened it in front of her son. Her beautiful eyes gazed at the painted pictures and the words, softly reading them for Riku’s pleasure.

“Once upon a time, there was a majestic castle of great beauty. Inside this castle of enchantment was…”

“Mommy…?”

“Hmm?”

Her azure eyes looked into his with curiosity and kindness. Riku’s innocence made her smile. His silver ears twitching and she could feel his small cub tail wagging away. Riku positioned his small hands on the book’s pages, one hand on each side of the binding. Riku them looked at his mother and asked her what he had been pondering all day. His eyes were so innocent and bubbly, not to mention his voice was untapped by puberty.

“Why are all wolves mean in the humans’ fairy tales?”

His mother’s eyes went wide in shock and amazement. Her black wolf ears twitched from side to side as a slight giggle left her shimmering lips.

"What? What brought this up?”

Riku’s head ducked down and he poked his childish fingers together at the tips. He pointed at a stack of books by the fire in their den and began giving his explanation for his out-of-the-blue question. Every now and then, he would turn his head to look up at his loving mother.

“Well…umm…umm…I was reading, well trying to read, those books over there, and one was called the Big Bad Wolf.”

His mother just smiled at him and his toddler voice. On the inside though she was thinking of how she was going to use that book as fuel for the fire before her son’s eyes gaped at the pictures of the story.

“Oh, well you see Riku, not all wolves are bad. Besides, these stories are just to entertain the small ones of this village. These fables are not at all for real. Also, wolves are not mean or bad…they’re…”

The mother set the book aside and quickly moved her hands to her son’s sides and stomach. She began to poke and tickle her young cub. She laughed as his juvenile and naïve laugh filtered through their den and she finished her sentence while doing so.

“…ticklish!”

By this time, Riku was squirming around the floor trying to escape his mother’s tortuous tickling hands. Tears rolled down his rosy cheeks from the laughter he was releasing. This night was a perfect ending for a perfect day. Riku and his mother fell asleep together that night. His petite body was curled up in his mother’s affectionate arms and his small head was buried under his mother’s chin, resting peacefully on the bend of her neck.

Riku’s eyes remained closed in reality as his dream continued. His face was peaceful as well as his heart. His mind was enjoying the flashback for the time being. A few minutes passed and Riku still remained in a slumber, but he was no longer at peace. The dream became a nightmare. Riku whimpered in Madoka’s arms. Sweat rolled down his temples and his adrenaline picked up. The blood was pumping and his heart was racing. Another whimper escaped his sleeping lips as his head leaned back hard against Madoka’s neck, as if dodging a blade to his neck. Riku had no control over what he did in his real world, he just wanted to wake up, unfortunately he had to hang on for the ride. He did not want to see this again. The dream continued against his will, against Riku’s heart.

Three years passed. Ten year old Riku. Shimmer of a blade from the moon. Fire. Soft human whispers in the night. Lack of warmth from Mother and Father. Eyes open. Alone. Panic. Paws running…searching. Bright fire. Human laughter of death. Howl of pain. Pelts…Blood.

“No!”

Riku’s jade eyes shot open as he called out in a voice of pain. His mouth gasped for air after his yelp. Sweat ran down his body, all over. His chest went up and down as he heaved for air. Riku shook uncontrollably from the recalls of his past. His heart began to settle as his breathing calmed. Oxygen was required through his mouth, both in and out. Riku was just about calm until panic jolted right back through him. His head shot a look down to see arms wrapped around him, and his shirt off. Riku’s mind didn’t give time to think of who it might be. Reflexes kicked in as much as terror did, this feeling temporarily erased his memories of Madoka and his acquired injuries.

His arms swiftly slid out from under the restraining arms. Riku’s hands gripped the wrists with fear and roughness of the arms about to push them off of him when a sudden lightning bolt of remembrance struck him. Riku recognized the feel of the skin and its warmth. His head slowly rose to see her. His jade eyes gazed upon her face that had tears streaming down it. One droplet landed on his cheek wetting the area and then rolling down his cheekbone leaving a trail behind. Riku released his grip on her wrists since it was not his normal gentle handling, but harsh. He whispered his name in relief and sadness. He said it full of pain and terror that had yet to fade out of his system. As he raised his hand trying to rub her silky face flashes of the nightmare flooded his eyes. His hand stopped mid way, only a few inches from touching her.

“Madoka.”

[Madoka Hamada]

Madoka felt Riku's body jolt slightly and a tightness around her wrist, but that soon stopped as she looked at Riku. Her eyes wielded with even more tears as she held Riku's wet body.

"Riku, you scared me, I thought--I thought--"

She couldn't afford to speak the words 'going to die' to Riku. Her body trembled with the thought, she closed her eyes, then opened them once more. Tears ran down her pale cheeks and mixed with the fresh water that still lingered upon her flesh.

The white tank top she wore clung tightly to her skin. Water still ran down from her bangs and the rest of her hair. She gave a new meaning to 'wet dog' as she shook her hand slightly to get any excess water off. She then gently stroked Riku's cheek with one of her slender fingers. She retracted her hand a little as she closed her eyes once more.

Madoka began to have a not so good flashback either as she held Riku. She pictured herself when she was little, cradling her mother's limp body. She waited to see her mother's blonde wolf ears twitch upon her head to signal she was okay, but they never did. Madoka ran her fingers through her mother's silky blonde hair and her soft wolf-like whimpers never got through to her mother's empty mind.

Her eyes flung open as she looked to Riku, sobs still rocked her body as she held Riku close to her.

"Don't scare me like that, I really thought I was going to lose and I couldn't lose another person I love..."

She looked to Riku for his response as her body hung over him. Her salty tears had spoiled both her face as well as Riku from her leaning over him. Her large silver ears were drooping as she looked into his azure eyes.

"Don't ever do that, I-I-I don't know what I would do if I lost you..."

[Riku Naoya]

His jade eys straed at madoka's face for a litte bit after he had released her name softly. Riku’s eyes relaxed when he saw and analyzed that it was actually Madoka’s face adn not an illusion, or some sort of a dream. Though, what he saw, he did not like. Since Riku had stopped short of reaching out to her, he continued and followed through. He fully extended his hand out to caress her silky skin of her cheek. His hand held her at the side of her face with his palm. Riku slowly stretched his neck so he could press a light kiss on her jawbone, trying to calm her down. He could feel her trembling underneath his wet body, this feeling of harsh emotion he had placed upon her, made him feel like such a inconsiderate jerk.

Riku attempted to sit up a little more to relieve some of his weight off of her, but he was thrown back down from the sudden shock waves of pain. He winced at the pain and lay back down against Madoka’s chest and shoulders. Riku at the time did not know what to do, he could not stand watching the one he loved cry, he had to try and do something. Riku's mind refused to just sit there in her embrace and let her cry, allowing those tears of pain, worry, and suffering stain her usual happy and perky profile.

Riku just continued to lie there silently, watching the tears run down her face. His ears pressed back against his head, he felt so helpless. Thoughts raced through his head on how he could comfort her. His jade eyes closed slowly from depression of what he had done to Madoka, he hated himself. But when the warmth of her skin contacted his cheek his eyes slowly reopened to see hers. They were flooding with tears, with sorrow and depression.

Riku nuzzled her hand closer to his cheek and offered a warm, kind-hearted smile, that’s all he had at the time to offer. His silver ears with black tresses perked up when she suddenly retracted her hand away from his face. Riku didn’t want her to do that, she needed comfort, and that was what Riku planned on giving her.

He raised his hand to grab hers, the one that was retracting away. He curled his fingers around her feminine hand and brought once again to his face. Nuzzling it, then he turned his face to kiss her palm gently. Her stuttering voice caught his utter attention. He felt her tears falling onto his wet face. His silver hair draped closely and stuck as she cuddled over him and his ears were once again backing against his head. Madoka’s ears were too drooping low from sadness. Riku looked back into her eyes with concern. She worried so much about him, and as she spoke he realized he was not the only one who had a haunted past childhood life. Riku leisurely parceled his lips and whispered in a soothing voice hoping to calm all of her. Madoka’s voice, heart, emotions, and mind; these were all he wanted to calm.

“Shhh, Madoka, I’m so sorry, I did not mean to worry you. Look, I’m fine, you’re not going to lose me…I promised remember? I promised to keep you happy, and how am I going to do that if my life in taken or vanishes?”

Riku arched his neck and moved up to her lips. As he was moving in, he lifted his arms up and around her neck, ignoring all feelings of pain. He closed his jade with azure eyes and pressed a passionate kiss on her succulent lips. As he contacted his lips against hers, he slowly transformed into his wolf form. His body grew shorter and he unwrapped his hands so his forelegs could form. Riku’s muzzle slowly grew out, ending the kiss. His wolf body curled up on Madoka’s lap for a moment. Struggling, after a minute of resting on Madoka’s lap, Riku attempted to stand. At first, he collapsed back down from his injured legs and forepaws. But, a second try got him up in a sitting position. Riku stood his ears up fully and gazed his wolf jade eyes into Madoka’s.

Riku gave her a wolf smile of warmth of comfort. He slid slightly forward and leaned his muzzle inward to Madoka’s face. He lightly contacted his cold nose to her cheek and then licked her skin. He tasted her salty tears on his tongue, cleaning her face from the staining tears. He stopped when he thought he was done and backed away gazing into her beautiful eyes with a glint of warmth and comfort in his own. Riku leaned in for her touch, just incase she wanted to hug him, releasing a soft whine.

[Madoka Hamada]

Madoka’s eyes widen as her hand was snatched back by Riku and placed back against his face. She gave a saddened smile as the last of her tears streamed lightly down her creamy colored face. Madoka’s ears perked slightly as she listened to Riku’s words.

“But Rik-“

She was cut off as Riku’s lips touched hers. She felt her body get hot from the sudden change of mood.

“He’s in pain, but I-I, how do I refuse something like this?”[/i]

She returned the kiss with the same passion as Riku, but retracted as Riku began to turn into wolf form. Madoka quickly held onto Riku as he tried to stand up. She gently eased him back down so that he didn’t hurt himself. She looked into his jade eyes for a moment only for her vision to be covered up by his pink tongue. She cringed at the feeling of his slightly rough tongue, but once down she licked the excess slobber off her face, feeling wet enough. Once done with that she saw Riku lean in and whine ever so slightly.

She smiled and ran her slender fingers through his fur, avoiding his wounds.

“I want to change into my wolf form, but Riku needs my help now. I’m the most helpful when I’m in my human form and I can care for him easier.”[/i]

Avoiding his wounds, she leaned towards him and embraced him tightly. She could smell the slight stink of the swamp still, but mostly the clean water that she had cleaned him off in. She rubbed her head against the side of his head. His soft fur against her face acted as a tissue, wiping away any excess tears that were missed. She loosened her grip and then let go completely. She leaned against the tree, her eyes closing quickly in reaction to pain.

Madoka’s eyes wandered down to her legs, her left leg to be specific. She bent her left leg to bring her wound closer to her. She winced at the deep gash down her leg, the blood pouring from it.

“I was too worried about Riku to notice my own wound. I must have cut it when I dove into the swamp for him, that’s the only time I can think of that I would be able to make such a wound.”

She looked at Riku and smile slightly to show it didn’t bother her too much, but that was to hide her true pain as she limped over to the lake side. She dipped her wounded leg into the lake water as the blood mixed with the water. She let out a light whimper when the water began to clean her deep wound. She jumped slightly, hoping Riku didn’t hear her let out her sign of pain. She looked over at Riku to see what he was doing, hopefully not trying to get up again. Once she knew he wasn’t misbehaving she turned back to her own wound. She rummaged in her pack only to find about five inches worth of bandage.

“Well, I have to go into town, once Riku’s better, my wound should also be well, but I still need to get more bandaging...”

She looked at Riku out of the corner of her hazel eye.

“Hopefully, he will stick to his word and try to see humans through my eyes, because if we’re that accident prone, we will need more bandages. Luckily we are both demons and we heal quickly. Riku should be fine by tomorrow morning, as should I, meaning we can get out of this stupid swamp.”

[Riku Naoya]

Riku’s whining apparently got Madoka’s attention. When her smile reflected in his eyes, he began to wag his tail very slightly. Riku’s wolf jade eyes closed at the feeling of Madoka’s fingers streaming through his silky fur. He moved his head so he could nuzzle her hand or arm, whatever was in reach. Riku’s nuzzling stopped short when his love accepted the offer of embracing him. She was being so good to him. Riku was relieved though, when she held him tightly and at the same time avoided his fresh, yet healing wounds. Madoka was so warm, and comfortable to be held by. She would be a caring mother one day if she became one, even if she wasn’t his, Riku knew this for a fact, just by the way she held him. Madoka held him with the same embrace his mother always gave to him, it sort of lifted his heart a bit. Riku, for a second, opened his eyes when she first embraced him, but then slowly closed them as she tenderly leaned her head against his. Riku pulled back his silver with black tresses wolf ears. His tail befell still. Riku was at peace for the moment.

As Madoka pulled away from her clinch, Riku bestowed upon her one last kiss for the time being. His pink tongue stroked her across the cheekbone ever so gently, but swiftly. His jade eyes gazed contently as Madoka relaxed her head against the tree. But within a split second, his content was gone. Riku’s ears perked straight up forward, to Madoka’s sudden movement. He watched her eyes to where they gazed and his followed the path to see a bleeding gash in her leg. His ears flattened as he quickly shot his eyes back to Madoka’s face to only see a liar’s smile, unfortunately for his self esteem, Riku fell for it.

Continuing to stay in his wolf form, Riku struggled to get to his paws, trying to follow Madoka back to the lake behind them. Pain waves pulsed through him, denying him advancement. His forepaws stretched out in front of his body, placing him fully in a lying down position. He twisted his neck back, attempting to see what Madoka was doing after he heard a whine that was not from him, but he failed to do so. Riku turned back towards the tree where she once sat and rested his head on the upper part of his forelegs.

Because of my idiotic mistakes, Madoka got hurt. Because of my wounds, she did not even notice her own and tend her injuries. This whole thing is my entire fault! I hurt the one I love and—Huh?”

Riku’s silver wolf ears perked up twiching as a sound of grass rustling, only he would most likely hear, entered them. His muzzle lifted off its resting place for a better position for scanning. Riku’s eyes looked curiously in the grass. The rustling noise got louder as it came closer. He couldn’t find it. Suddenly, his head shot downward to the front of his forepaws when he felt a slight caressing of slithering. There it was, the source of the rustling noise, a snake. By the looks of it, the slithering creature was definitely not venomous, so it was no threat. But still, Riku slowly rested his head back down, he could not help but to release a low, humming growl from the back of his throat, not baring his fangs though.

I hate snakes.

Riku’s growl was toward the recent thought and not threatening for the snake, but that’s not how the scaled being took it. Riku’s jade eyes widened to a devilish hiss. His ears went erect and his head lifted quickly off his fur’s cushion. Jade yes stared at the offended beast as it flicked its slender tongue and pulled back its lips revealing its brutal fangs. Riku only had a instant to gawk at the shredding teeth, for the snake struck too quickly for the injured, lying wolf to react for safety or defense.

The fangs lunged at Riku’s muzzle. Within a moment’s notice, the snake embedded its incisors into the silver wolf’s cold black nose causing a loud ruckus from the demon. Riku wheeled his head back in pain as an ear piercing whimper escaped his throat. The whine continued as if someone was simultaneously stomping on his paws of tail. Riku jumped to all fours from the reflexes of agony, forcing him to ignore all signs of throbbing except for the one on his snout. His silver ears were flat against the top of his head, and Riku’s silky tail was tucked between his back legs. Baring his white teeth, releasing snarls and whines at the same time, Riku endeavored to get the resilient bite to let go.

The snake’s body twirled, tossed, and whipped in the air as the wolf desperately shook his head all about. Riku opened his jaw and swiftly clamped down when his opportunity came; the snake’s mid body length flew into his mouth. His fangs sliced down into the scaly flesh. Another devilish hiss came out of the mouth when it had let go from the sudden change of tides. Too quick came the second strike from the snake though, not granting Riku the proper time to release his clench.

Another series of high pitched howls of whimpering whines escaped Riku’s aching muzzle, but only this time, they were louder and more painful to bear. Fangs screwed deeply into Riku once again. But unlike last the last target of the snake bite, the creature became more ferocious as it bit harshly into a very sensitive area for both a wolf and human. Crimson blood dipped from the snake’s mouth and Riku’s jade with pools of azure eyes. A pair of fangs drove deeply into the wolf’s eyebrow and another into his high cheekbone. The driven force of the snake’s strike pushed Riku up on to his back paws, creating a taller stature for Riku in his wolf form. As the fight went on Riku collapsed on his back and rolled in the swampy grass, ruffling his fur. Yelps continued to fill the air.

Riku released the snakes body and slammed his paw on it when it draped across the ground. Shifting back into his humanoid form yelps whines and whimpers transformed to yells, screams, and cries of ache. Riku’s hand still pinned the snake’s body. Curses were released from his mouth as he took a hold, with his free hand, of the reptile’s head.

Crying and yelling out of tremendous hurt and exhaustion as he yanked the creatures fangs out if their two holding places, tearing his flesh, Riku collapsed on his back, tossing the struggling snake quickly aside and far off before it could snip its teeth at him again. As his chest heaved up and down, scarlet blood poured from Riku’s left eye area, bloodying his vision, and his throbbing nose. Snake blood trickled out of him mouth. Blood spread out on the ground from his now reopened wound on his left leg from the immense pressure put on it when he stood on the appendage when in wolf form.

Shocking waves of colossal suffering palpitated throughout his body as he tried to relax. Soft groans and sudden inhales for breath came from his lips. Riku bore his teeth and closed his blood filled vision, cringing in utter misery. Muttering under his breath in a hoarse, shallow tone, Riku soaked in the unbearable anguish.

“This just isn’t my day.”

Taking in some air while panting hurriedly, yet leisurely he used what little energy he had to call out to Madoka.

“Madoka…I don’t care…where we go…I just— I just want to get out…of……here.”

[Madoka Hamada]

Madoka kicked the water lightly as she washed her wound. She looked to the side of the water at a leafy plant that was leaning towards the water. It’s large leaves just scrapped the surface of the water. She reached over gently and pulled it gently from the earth with her slender fingers. She brought it close to her and stared at it.

“Mother used this as a pain medication, this will help Riku...”[/i]

Her thoughts wandered back to a time where she was holding a basket full of herbal plants. At the time, they all looked the same, but her mother pulled each one out and showed it to Madoka.

“This one here is used for stomachaches, and this one I use quite bit. This one eases the pain of wounds.”

She looked up at her mother with her large hazel eyes as her mother gave a sly grin.

“Your father always gets injured and the least I can do is ease his pain.”

Madoka smiled to herself at her mother’s words as she looked at the plant in her hand, the exact one that her mother had pulled out of the wicker basket and showed her. The unfortunate part of this herb was you ate the leaves, but the leaves were dreadfully bitter. She clutched tightly to the plant’s thin stem.

She began to turn around when she heard the hissing of a certain reptile. She froze, staring at the clear water.

“It-It’s a snake. I d-don’t like s-snakes!”[/i]

Madoka whimpered, hoping that the snake wasn’t near her. She shut her eyes tightly, wishing that the snake would go away. Madoka’s ears stood erect on her head as she took in the hissing noise and then a growling joined the pandemonium that the snake created.

“Riku?”

Madoka gasped turning around, watching the snake latch on to Riku’s muzzle. Madoka got up quickly, pulling her leg from the water, but she could only watch. If she got involved in the fight, Riku might accidently hurt her, or the snake would change it’s victim. Madoka shuddered at Riku’s hurtful yelps and the snakes retaliation of hisses and spitting. Madoka turned her head, her silver hair falling in her face.

“It’s unbearable, I don’t want to see it. I don’t want to hear it. Riku’s getting hurt again, and there-there’s nothing I can do!”[/i]

Madoka turned back hearing Riku’s body slam to the swampy and uneasy ground. She watched, against her better judgement, as Riku finally pinned the vicious reptile and ended it’s relentless attack. Madoka stuck the plant in her mouth and bent down and stuck her hands in the water and quickly pulling them back out, She went over to a now humanoid Riku and ran her fingers over his wounds with her wet hands to wash away the crimson liquid that spoiled his handsome face. Madoka’s ears perked up hearing that Riku wanted out of this land as much as she did. She pulled the plant out of her mouth once she finished washing the blood off of Riku’s face. She gave Riku a sadden smile.

“You’re right, today is not you’re day and I will help you out of this land as soon as day breaks tomorrow. As for tonight, you can rest here by my side, so that you do not open wounds or create new ones for that matter.”

She looked over at the snake’s withered and limp body. She looked at the head of the snake and how it’s nose was rounded, not a triangle shape.

“It wasn’t a poisonous snake, thank the gods and goddesses...” [/i]

She turned back to Riku and held up the plant she held between her fingers, she plucked two leaves off of the plant.

“This will ease the pain of your wounds, be careful, it’s bitter. I know from experience.”

She smiled slightly as she held the two leaves out for Riku in between her thumb and forefinger.[/font]

[Riku Naoya]

Blood consumed Riku’s sense of smell as it poured over his nose. It clouded his left eye’s vision as it trickled out and over his skin. Strong pulses of pain shot throughout his body from all of his wounds. Even trying to breathe caused waves of pain and agony to spread. His face burned and Riku’s left leg twanged from his wound reopening. Riku’s left eye remained closed quivering from the pain, while his right gazed at the darkening sky above them. The sun was not fully set, but the sky was painted with beautiful assorted colors of sunset. He heaved a sigh when a sudden rush of torture hit him.

“Oww!”

Riku flinched at the sudden cleansing of water running over his fresh wounds. He raised his right hand to Madoka’s dripping hands, trying to swat them away very slightly. This motion meant no offense to her, he just did not want to deal with anymore pain than he had to, he was fed up with it. Riku could feel the coolness of the water mixing with the blood. It ran down his face and neck, subsiding the scent of blood a bit. His jade eyes looked up to her face plagued by a saddened smile. Riku raised the back of his hand to her cheek, brushing some silver hair out of her beautiful face.

“That face does not suit you one bit.”

His ears flattened from sadness and his eyes became filled with sorrow and the feeling of being lost. Riku’s hand fell heavily to the swampy ground from the lack of energy he had. Though his ears were compressed against his untamed hair from the struggle with the non venomous snake, Riku still listened closely to Madoka’s words. She agreed with him on leaving this treacherous and cursed area.

“Honestly Madoka, where is there to go? I know of nothing around this notorious place. I was just wandering, becoming even more lost before I met you. A lone wolf…that’s all I was.”

Riku’s lips closed and listened to Madoka. His eyes lightened up as he heard the words “ease,” “pain,” and “wounds” all in the same sentence. But he was completely turned off when the word “bitter” drifted in his ears. Riku eyed the two leaves being held out to him between Madoka’s slender fingers. Regrettably, Riku raised his arm and gently took the two leaves out of Madoka’s grip. He slowly brought them to his nose and slid them underneath his keen nostrils. Riku’s eyes went wide and swiftly closed as a sneeze snuck up on him. The herbs even had a fragrance that spelled out “bitter.” He pulled them away from his nose and face altogether.

Riku shook his head back and forth, trying to shake the scent away. Showing stubbornness, he clenched his white fangs and lips shut refusing to eat that repulsive smelling plant. Riku turned away making sure to not look at Madoka knowing all too well what face she may have painted on her face. Mostly likely, she would have the same look on as his mother did, when he had refused to do something that would help him, for example taking nasty human medication for illness. His jade eyes still turned away from Madoka’s facial expressions, Riku grumbled through his tightly shut lips.

“I’m not eating that…it smells disgusting.”

OOC: Sorry, I know it’s short. But I did give you the opportunity to have fun with Riku’s stubbornness…hehe ^^ *ears twitch*

[Madoka Hamada]

Madoka watched as Riku sniffed at the leaves and gave a displeased facial expression. Madoka sighed knowing he wouldn’t eat it if he sniffed it. Madoka clenched her fist as she closed her eyes, holding in her slight anger. She exhaled trying to get rid of it, but her ears twitched signaling her anger.

“Eat it Riku...”

Madoka’s voice for once was slightly harshcolor.

“I’ll shove it down your throat otherwise. So you do it the easy way or hard way...”

Madoka was determined to get Riku to take this medication, even if it came down to bribery. Madoka opened her eyes with a slight smile. Riku said she was pretty, why not use it to her advantage? She double thought it though, Riku’s injured she couldn’t do it, but he was a guy and it normally worked. She sighed as she scooted next to Riku and ran her fingers through his hair. She gently avoided his wounds as she ran her fingers down his shoulder and onto his bare chest.

“Please Riku, for me?”

She asked in a helpless tone. She battered her eyelashes as she leaned in towards his one cheek. She gently kissed him upon his cheek and her eyelashes touched against his flesh. They made a slight tickling sensation upon his cheek. Madoka’s tail gently wrapped around Riku’s waist, not touching any wounds.

Madoka was sure this would work, if this didn’t work than she would go harsher and stick the leaves in Riku’s mouth and hold his mouth shut until he swallowed it. She didn’t want to go that way and was really hoping this way would work.

Madoka looked to Riku, her hazel eye looked to him with such innocence as the sky darkened and the moon lit up her silver hair and ears giving her a heavenly glow. Her hair was down from it’s ponytail so it all laid upon her shoulders illuminating her body where it fell.

She looked at the two leaves in his hands and sighed. Once he took those leaves, they’d be bitter enough that Riku might not be too friendly towards her for a couple moments and it would slightly ruin the mood she had created. Madoka looked down from Riku, realizing what she was thinking. Since when has she become so bold like this? Sure, if she didn’t like someone, she’d tell them straight up she didn’t like them, but when it came to Riku. She smiled at the thought, she could act as dumb as a rock and he’d still love her. She could be so graceful, sarcastically speaking, he’d pick her up, but he’d still love her all the same. She felt her cheeks redden more, what did she do to deserve him. He loved her with all his heart, and she did the same, but maybe this was for the lost of her parents. She had lost the two most important people in her life and they were somewhat replaced with the most important person.

She looked back up at Riku, her face glowing with a slight pink and she pulled her hand away from Riku and leaned away from Riku.

"Great now I made a fool of myself, and I’m blushing like mad. Stupid me...”

ooc: Just trying new colors, I like these colors together ^^, can u see them okay, just wondering