She stood then, moving into the kitchen area to do the dishes that Hana had no time to finish. It was a couple minutes before he came to stand silently beside her, almost startling her with his sudden appearance. From the corner of her eye she glanced up at him as he handed her the plate with an unreadable expression on his face. The silence between the two was almost too much to bear currently. "Told you you were hungry" She mutters, a half smile playing on pale pink lips.

She sees his brow furrow, placing the plate in the water abruptly as it splashes up onto her. She squeals, and he can't help but stifle laughter. "What was that for!" her voice raises, cupping her hand and throwing water at him in return. He flinches, arms coming up over his face as he backs up with a charming crooked smile. It lifts higher in the right than the left, but is contagious none the less. Anna can't help but return the expression. "You jerk"

He just smiles, watching as she returns to cleaning the remaining dishes. His expression fades into something else, lost in thought as he watched her hands almost rhythmically wash away any grime. Ame couldn't help but question who she was. Where did she come from? He found it ironic the more he thought how the only other beast like himself ended up finding them. He believed not in fate or luck, but this was changing his perspective slightly.

"Ame?"

He blinks, looking into her blue eyes "Hmm?"

"Are you alright?"

"Lost in thought" He mutters after nodding her response. She smiles, and something stirs in his stomach. "I think I had better be heading out"

And there it goes, fading into something else. "Oh," Her hands play with a long strand of blond hair that cascaded down past her shoulder "Well, it was nice to get to speak with you"

"Yeah" he scratches at the stubble along his jaw line nervously " Same I guess" He puts his hands in his pockets "I'll catch you around then?"

She nods, "Yup, other than classes I spend most of my time here" She grins widely, eyes squinting shut.

He couldn't help but smile back, softly "Goodbye Anna. I'll come check up on you later" He puts his head down and walks to the open door. He jumps, landing on all fours and darts towards the edge of the forest. Ame stops suddenly, craning his neck to glance back towards his home to see her leaning against the doorway watching curiously. He huffs, tearing his gaze away and focused it upon the darker shades of the wood.

His paws carry him fast across the rocky ground, his mind racing with unexplained questions. He was morbidly curious to say the least, he wanted to know more. Did she also have the same questions about him? Why didn't he just ask? Higher and higher he climbed, the mountain air cool in the spring air. He could taste rain on the air, and a growl emits from his razor lined mouth. Rain was what had taken his master away, his teacher. But he couldn't hold nature at fault; the old fox was ready to go. However, to say Ame never thought about what life would have been like in the human world would have been a lie. It was lonely here, being the only wolf in the wild. The constant threat of hunters, poachers, those trail guides—he had to remain almost invisible. In a strange way, he was almost happy someone else knew now.

In a way he was no longer alone.

He stopped running only when there was no more room. A few rocks slid off the cliff and down into the water, the falls roaring beside him. The mountains here touched the sky, the horizon dark with oncoming clouds. He sucks in a breath through his nose, and releases a howl into the daylight. A warning to those he had sworn to protect on his mountain.

xXx

The rest of her day had been spent alone, reading and catching up on school work. However, Anna found it increasingly more difficult with each passing hour to focus. There was so much she wanted to ask him, Yuki and Hana. What was stopping her? Surely they had to want to know more about her as well? It was an elephant in the room that everyone wanted to pretend didn't exist. At least, that was what she getting.

Putting the book down on the desk she sighs, giving up. A crack of thunder rolls in the distance and the wind slowly picks up speed. It was relaxing, silent as the birds stopped singing to hunker down. She pushes the chair from the desk, moving into the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea.

The rain started slow, pitter pattering against the top of the house until it began to down pour. Like a damn had broken, it washed over the valley making the colors pop. Anna, holding her tiny warm cup, opened the door once more and sat along the long porch simply watching. There was something she'd always found relaxing in watching storms roll through, even as a child she'd sit out and simply listen. She takes a deep breath, a sip of tea, leaning her head against the pretty woodwork.

What she wouldn't have given to be out in it like she used to be.

Her eyes shut and her mind wandered. What was it like up on that mountain? Was he the only one up there? Something in her gut told her the answer was a yes and for some reason that made her all more flustered. She knew the feeling, all too well.

God knows how long she sat there, half asleep listening to the large raindrops fall. But as the sun sat and the storm passed, the low rumble of a car woke her from her half slumber. Placing the cup down, Anna stood brushing herself off. Hana emerged, umbrella up as the last few drops fell. A smile was on her face "Good evening"

"Likewise" Anna responded, holding the door open "How was work?"

"I've had better times" She muttered, taking her shoes off, her jacket and placing the umbrella down. "The old wolf we had there passed away"

Anna blinked "Oh, oh that's sad"

"It is, he was such a gentle beast" She sighs, "But it was his time. He lived a long life" She smiles at her "How was your day?" Hana steps in further, looking around

"He left" Anna responds "About two hours after you did"

She smiles and nods "Well, are you hungry? I found a recipe for an American chili I'd love to make"

"Of course" Anna speaks with a slight laugh "Sometimes I think I could eat a whole cow by myself"

"My children used to tell me that all the time"

xXx

Sorry it has been so long! Hopefully these will be weekly again 3 Thank you all for your comments! I love reading them and your thoughts on the story as well. Thank you for being so patient!