Warnings: Angst, mild violence.

Part Four

Dances with Wolves

The woman’s scent permeated the air like thick fog on a cold morning. Overwhelming and sinfully fragrant, it filled Tsume’s senses and into the very pores of his skin as he struggled not to give a low whimper in response. No, it wasn’t a whimper of weakness per se, but more of a gut reaction to the scent that reeled off her. Some deep animalistic instinct within him longed to reach out to her, to taste or lick her pale skin – perhaps a bite or two would suffice. For his part, he longed to feel her slender hands upon his now feverish skin. He wanted, no needed her to touch, stroke and caress him. He felt extremely hot and flustered but gritting his teeth in determination, he struggled not to let it show.

It was rather disconcerting to suddenly be the center of attention. Behind her gold mask which covered only her eyes from view, Tsume could feel himself being scrutinized and dissected like a rare insect. The driver of the car was apparently the man who had so kindly led him to the car in the first place. The long hair that he had once thought black inside the bar; was instead a dark sheen of blue. Tsume watched with mild fascination as he began to maneuver the vehicle out of the narrow alley as if already accustomed to such an act.

“Where do we head to now?” the man asked quietly but firmly.

For a minute or two, the woman said nothing as if contemplating a suitable course for action. Finally,

“We will head over to his place to pick up the white wolf. I do not really need this one, but I guess he will have to do as a suitable replacement if things do not go as planned.”

Tsume gave a low growl of irritation at the dismissal. How dare they disregard him as nothing important? It was obvious that she was only after Kiba and for a moment, Tsume could feel a low coil of jealousy weave its way up the pit of his stomach.

“What do you want with him?” he asked tightly. “And what makes you think I’ll take you to my place to get him?”

“Oh?” The woman’s full red lips curved into a knowing smile. “Do you already have affections for him?”

“Fuck that!” Tsume bellowed, mildly aware of the flush of embarrassment that had come to his cheeks at the speculation. “This isn’t about me and Kiba! I want to know…”

“Why?” came the soft question.

Tsume was almost tempted not to answer but his curiosity was getting the better of him. “You called me a wolf,” he began in a tight voice. “Why would you call me that? You almost make me seem as if I’m an…animal.”

“A beast,” the woman corrected in a low croon as she moved closer to place a cold hand beneath Tsume’s jaw. “A beautiful magnificent beast.”

She caressed his lower lip gently, her long pink tinted fingernails scraping gently against his skin as he reluctantly parted his lips to let them wander in. His breathing seemed to be getting heavier by the second. Her close proximity was overpowering. He could see each fine hair on her flawless skin. He watched in fascination as her tongue peeked out to lick her lips slowly. She was saying something and he could barely understand a word. Tsume had a vague notion that he was being hypnotized or was drugged by her very perfume and he was completely powerless to stop it.

“I can smell him all over you,” she continued in a husky whisper as she moved even closer. Her lips were now mere inches from Tsume’s and her well-endowed bosom was beginning to press tightly against his body forcing a certain region below his waist to react in more ways than one.

“You must have touched him last night.”

Tsume had the grace to flush at the memory of Kiba’s lips and the feel of that strong, sinewy length of Kiba’s body pressed tightly against his.

No…oh no. He didn’t need that now.

“You’ve done your part by making him a little bit vulnerable,” she was saying in that same husky whisper. “For some time now we have hunted for the white wolf who will lead us back to Paradise.”

“Pa…paradise?” Tsume asked in confusion. “What do you mean by that?”

The woman pulled back to laugh heartily. It was a rich sound that reverberated within the automobile. “He asks what I mean, Darcia, my love.”

The man behind the wheel gave a small nod, but Tsume could see the wry smile upon Darcia’s lips as he glanced into the rearview mirror. “It seems like they are even more naïve than we thought, my Lady Jagara.”

Lady Jagara and Darcia. Tsume memorized the names and tested their weight on his tongue. They were clearly Outers. No Inner could have such noble names like these or be this wealthy. However, their cryptic words about Paradise and Kiba’s connection to it were beginning to worry him in more ways than one.

“We are here, my lady,” Darcia announced as the car pulled up to Tsume’s apartment building. If the silver-haired man was surprised that they knew his home, he made to qualms to show it.

“What…?”

“I did tell you that we have been keeping a close eye on him,” Jagara explained softly. “We have always known his whereabouts…”

“So why didn’t you get him since?” Tsume growled. “You just waited for him to…”

“To find another of his kind,” the blonde agreed with a knowing smile. “But also to figure out why we’ve been unable to ‘reach’ him since last night. Apparently, he must have changed his clothes.”

At Tsume’s frown, Darcia explained. “His outfit was specifically catered for him, although he does not know it. But that is not important now. We need him to come with you and since he must trust you a bit, you will bring him down to us.”

“And If I don’t?”

Darcia’s lips curled into a cruel smile while Jagara’s humorless laughter caused his head to ache.

“Oh, but you will, Tsume, my dear,” Jagara coaxed softly as she lifted up her long black skirt to reveal a gun unlike any Tsume had seen before. It was secured around her upper thigh with a black and rather sexy garter. “This is no ordinary weapon, my feisty beast for one shot of this will take your life faster than you can think. Now go…go bring me the one I want and I just might spare your life.”

Tsume gave a light snort and stepped out of the car. The gust of cold wind that hit him was a refreshing reprieve from Jagara’s intoxicating scent. Without a second glance, he began to stride towards his building, eyes narrowed with thoughts of how to convince Kiba to run away with him.

Fuck! I can’t believe I’m actually trying to help this guy who’s now making my life a living hell!

He knew that Darcia was already following him. It was clear that those two did not trust him and for a moment, Tsume allowed a cold smile on his features. They were no fools that much was certain. However, as he walked up the stairs, he felt a cold prickle of worry creep up his spine. There was something not right about the atmosphere and it had nothing to do with the musty smell that always filled these dingy staircases. There was a mingle of scents within those – a smell that vaguely reminded him of raw meat and soft lilac.

His footsteps quickened and soon enough, he was leaping up the stairs two at a time. He all but threw the door to his apartment open and one glance was enough to tell him that things were just as he had imagined.

“Kiba…?” he called out softly, but then a bit louder. “Kiba!”

“He’s not here,” Darcia growled softly as he let himself into the room to eye the small surroundings with slight disdain. He pushed open the bathroom door and reached for Kiba’s clothes. With a grunt of impatience, he tossed them away again and stepped into the living room to glare icily at Tsume. “Where is he?!”

“How the fuck should I know?!” Tsume bellowed in fury. “You were the ones following him, how come you can’t figure out where he is now?!”

But he was concerned. More than concerned. Kiba wouldn’t leave his apartment with only a pair of shorts and a t-shirt in this weather. It didn’t look as if there had been a struggle either. The futon Kiba must have slept in still lay on the floor and as Tsume sniffed the air lightly, he made out the scent of another.

“Someone…” he muttered thickly. “Someone else came here…” He stalked towards the door, trying to retrace Kiba’s steps as he shoved Darcia aside rudely. “At the door…he or she…more she…feminine smell…Kiba…opens the door…and she…goddamnit!” He slammed a fist into the wall, ignoring the well of pain that shot up his arm or the small trickle of blood that smeared the wall he had just punched.

What kind of power had this person had over one as strong as Kiba? How could the proud man let his guard down so much to be taken away so easily?

“You!” He suddenly barked coldly as he pointed towards Darcia. “You! You know something about this and you’ll take me to him!”

Darcia snarled and took a threatening step towards Tsume. He had no problems showing his dislike for the uncontrollable man and had always doubted Jagara’s decision to have Tsume tag along. Since Kiba wasn’t around, Darcia knew he would take great pleasure in destroying Tsume.

“You are no longer of any use to us, Tsume,” he began coldly as he pulled out the gun that Tsume had noticed strapped to Jagara’s thighs earlier from his jacket. “With Kiba missing…”

“He might end up as good bait,” came the blonde’s smooth voice as she walked into the apartment. She was even taller than Tsume had expected and the slinky long black skirt and matching strapless top revealed a slender body that could rival any models'. “But better yet…look at who I found loitering ‘conveniently’ outside on the streets.”

She tugged a leash that Tsume hadn’t noticed earlier and stumbling into the room, with a rather sheepish look on his face, was a slightly portly man with shaggy brown hair. He was dressed in an ugly orange sweatshirt and loose gray sweatpants with sneakers that looked like they had seen better days. Tsume could feel Darcia stiffen beside him and he raised a brow in question.

“Say hello to Hige, Tsume. He’s one of our trusted detectives although he has been missing for quite a while. I’m sure he’ll be able to find Kiba for us in time. And yes, you guessed it,” she continued with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “He’s just like you. A wolf…albeit a lazy one.”

Hige opened up his mouth to protest, but the leash was tugged again and he fell to his knees trying to catch his breath. Tsume watched the proceedings with a bitter taste welling within his mouth.

Just like a dog, he thought as he clenched his hands into tight fists. We are being used as nothing but common dogs.

And he hated it with a passion.

__

The sounds were faint at first, but gradually grew louder as Kiba opened up his eyes slowly. His lashes felt incredibly heavy and his vision was blurry and unfocused. It took him another minute to realize that he was shivering with cold and that he could barely feel his arms or legs anymore. He tried to move and winced at the loud clanging sounds which followed soon after. Blinking rapidly, he tried to move his arms again and almost screamed in agony as the muscles protested the severe action. He lifted his head slowly to see that his hands were chained to either side of him. He saw that his wrists were now bleeding from the tightness of his chains. They fell in thick drops to the ground which seemed several feet below him.

He was apparently hanging from the ceiling and bleeding like a stuck pig. He tried to move again and was greeted with a soft giggle from somewhere on his left. Turning his head as quickly as he could (so as not to aggravate his already aching appendage), he stared blankly at the young boy who was sitting crossed leg on the ground and staring right back at Kiba.

He was chewing an apple and grinning with pleasure as his bright brown eyes watched Kiba’s every move. His hair was a much darker brown…almost red in the faint light that filtered into the…

A dungeon, Kiba thought hysterically. I’m in a dungeon of all places. I never knew such places existed anymore.

“Hey…” He cleared his throat and tried again for his voice had come out in a thick croak. His mouth felt like it was stuffed with cotton wool and he longed for something to drink. “Hey, you.”

The boy, who had been ready to bite into his apple again, lifted his gaze in surprise. “Me? Did you call me?”

“Where am I?”

“You’re Tsume, aren’t you?” the boy continued as if Kiba hadn’t said a word. “You made the boss really angry.”

“The boss?”

“Uh huh.” The boy took another bite and chewed it slowly. Spitting out the core, he rose to his feet and stretched. “Blue told me to keep an eye on you. My name’s Toboe by the way.”

“Are you a prisoner too, Toboe?” Kiba asked in the hopes that he could keep the boy around a little longer. He wanted to know where he was and why they kept mistaking him for Tsume.

However, Toboe’s giddy laughter had Kiba frowning with impatience. “I’m not a prisoner! I’m a thief! I work for the Boss.” He finished proudly as he reached into the pocket of his brown jacket. Whipping out a rather wicked looking knife, he gave another grin, this time a more feral one that looked quite out of place on his innocent features.

“I’ve killed before,” Toboe bragged. “It wasn’t fun at first, but after a while, you kinda get used to it. The Boss says I’m good at what I do…”

“How long have you been working for him?”

Toboe raised a brow. “I don’t have to answer you. You’re the prisoner…” His words were stalled as the door to the dungeons were thrown open to reveal the woman that had brought him here in the first place. Blue, looking even prettier than before, stalked into the room with a frown of disapproval on her features.

“Talking to him now, are you?” she asked curtly.

Toboe had the grace to blush as he tucked his knife away. “He was the one asking me questions.”

Blue’s frown deepened and she lifted her gaze to the man hanging above them. If she wasn’t already enamored with the man that she worked for, she knew she would go after a fine specimen like this Tsume. But this was no time to admire the human. She had to bring him to the Boss’s office.

Punching a button on the wall, the chain was lowered rapidly and Kiba fell to the ground in a rather painful heap. He groaned and tried to sit up but a quick snap of Blue’s fingers had the two burly men that had dragged him earlier, coming in again. They dragged him along, each holding either arm as they led him out his cold cell and up a long flight of stairs that seemed to go on forever. Whatever drug Blue had pumped into his bloodstream was still making him feel incredibly weak and the way he was being treated wasn’t helping him much. He was beginning to ache in places he didn’t even know existed.

All too soon, a set of large gold doors were flung open and Kiba found himself standing within the ostentatious room where Sykes had met his end sometime ago. He sank to his knees as the men released him, incredibly grateful for the plush carpet that cushioned his fall. He groaned and closed his eyes, raising his hands to his head as a sharp pain ripped through it almost threatening to split it in two. It was the smell of this man – this man that was now walking up to him in long confident strides.

He felt the strong hands sink into his hair and his head was yanked up roughly. Widened teal eyes met astonished golden ones behind the dark sunglasses. He could hear the Boss give a sharp intake of breath and Kiba wondered if he was going to be killed off right there and then.

But not without a fight, he thought fiercely. Although he had a feeling his chances for survival were quite slim in his current condition.

“Interesting,” came the man’s soft drone as he continued to eye Kiba with a look in his eyes that was now akin to hunger. “You are quite the piece of meat, Tsume.”

He licked his lips and smacked them noisily before seizing Kiba’s in a wet and sloppy kiss that had everyone, especially Blue, gasping in shock. Kiba, for his part, felt the dull kindling of rage within the pit of his stomach. He had no idea where he mustered the strength from, but with a huge effort, he lifted his chained hands to shove away the bigger man roughly. He shuddered in revulsion at the lingering taste of the man’s lips and the thin trail of saliva that dribbled down his chin. This was nothing compared to Tsume’s demanding kiss of the night before and Kiba would be damned before he allowed anyone else to touch him.

“Haha! A fighter this one is,” the older man smirked in approval. “I think he’ll be much better than you, Toboe.”

The young thief flushed in embarrassment and lowered his head. If Kiba felt sorry for anyone, it was for the young woman, Blue, who was doing her best to keep her expression as blank as possible. Whatever relationship this ugly bastard had with his employees, Kiba wasn’t sure he wanted to know or find out.

“Hmmm, you made my business go down the drain tonight, Tsume, but I think I want to keep you around for a while.”

“Like hell you will,” Kiba growled in annoyance as he crouched away.

“Oh but I will, Tsume!” The man took off his glasses and Kiba sucked in a harsh breath at the pair of golden…

A wolf!

…eyes that glared back at him. He tried to back away and fell rather gracelessly on his ass as the older man’s mocking laughter drew closer and closer.

“I will train you to become one of the best thieves in this city,” the Boss crooned in delight as he placed a hand beneath Kiba’s chin to hold him prisoner. “You will become my special pet and everyone knows how much I treasure things that belong to me.”

Both Blue and Toboe looked hurt at the announcement but knew better than to voice their opinions to their owner. Once upon a time, they had been told the exact same words and now that new prey had been found, they realized they’d have to learn how to work with their boss’s new plaything.

However, initiation was always the painful part of it all. And as they watched Kiba being lifted upon the bigger man’s shoulder and taken away, they hoped he’d be able to survive the night. If not, it would only mean that Kiba would be taken out of the picture.

And that would be one less person to worry about.