Disclaimer: don't own anything.

AN: sorry for the long long long long long delay…no source of inspiration. So here I was listening to "The Wolf Who Fell In Love With Little Red Riding Hood" by Rin and Len Kagamine and then it hit me on the face. Yeah I know, I know, it's frigging lame. I don't know where this came from but I'm sure as hell pissed off with the Red Riding Hood movie. Anyway, enjoy.

"Tell you something different huh?" the woman repeated in dumbly.

The little ginger haired girl nodded sheepishly. Her big brown eyes were full of expectation and excitement. She was under the covers with her rosy red cheeks and an unmistakably sweet expression that can surely melt anyone.

What to tell? What to tell. Think Aiho…think. What's not inappropriate and striking? At least for this kid.

Aiho had loved fairy tales as a child but when she grew up it just doesn't seem likable once you found out how it isn't really kid-friendly.

A title appeared on her thoughts. No, not that. That's so…Er.

But does she know the real version, said a voice at the back of her mind.

Mmmm…

Change it? Alter it? Twist it?

Crap.

No choice.

It's better than utter disappointment.

Nope, Accelerator and Railgun, would never know.

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The White Wolf and Little Red Cap

In a village not long ago there is a place for special girls called Garden. One of its inhabitants is Mikoto Red Cap. She is always seen wearing a bright red cap given to her by her mother who lived outside town. Mikoto's mother is sick so she has to stay away from the village to avoid spreading it.

Her father travels a lot looking for a cure and had entrusted his wife to their daughter for few weeks. So they sent a letter to little Mikoto Red Cap. When the girl received the grave news, she hastily packed her stuff and went to the market with her pocket jiggling with coins. Her dearest mother would enjoy the bottle of sake she took from the cellar. She brought along a block of cheese, some left over plum cake and a jar of strawberry jam. She would see her as early as possible.

There were still some coins left as means of emergency. Recently there are rumors of vile and dangerous creatures lurking outside the village walls. But Little Mikoto was no ordinary girl. She put on her bravest face, took up the basket for her mother and adjusted her red cap. Nothing scares her.

She walked on the usual path taken to the house of her mother which is a league away in the middle of a forest. Mikoto loved the croaking sounds of frogs so early in the morning. She hopped on top of a rock to gaze over the pond. She could see little tadpoles swimming near a bunch of cattails. She smiled and wadded her finger on the cool water. It was so peaceful as if the whole forest was asleep.

Birds were exchanging songs and the wind rustled the trees with a gentle breeze. Little Red Cap stopped shortly. Not far from her was an unearthly lanky boy staring at her with blood red eyes that match her cap.

In the great forest reside many creatures, all of whom had different things to amuse themselves. Bears go search for beehives or perhaps traipse to the lake for salmons before winter. Beavers were diligently building their dams, causing humans to go up the mountains and plead for water to a forest deity. To his left he could see a hedgehog digging for worms to eat.

All was right in the world.

And sort of dull.

Everything seems to be in sync. The sky was a vast azure stretching over like a dome above. He was particularly no keen individual in the forest. He stood out in contrast. He had violated the order of things. He crossed the boundary between a human and an animal. He was not supposed to be.

Accel, that is the wolf calls himself, looked up at the sky with a grimace. At first glance he is nothing more than a tall and skinny boy, angelic and seemingly harmless. He was stark white from head to foot, a tangle of hair with two white tuft ears sticking out on both side of his head and a long bushy white tail. The wolf is easily spotted on sight, but during winter he was invisible among the snowy landscape.

Now what does our wolf boy fretting over?

What bothered our friend the wolf?

He frowned as his stomach grumbled.

Accel had not a decent meal for days.

While he was prowling for stags and foolish travelers his sharp red eyes caught something fast on the path that leads to the deepest part of the forest. Accel the wolf, who was both curious and the fastest creature in the forest, followed it. The thing which caught his attention was the bright red cap resting on top of a human's head. The color was so strong and vivid that he wanted to snatch it away.

The human as if sensing him turned around. It was a girl with the bright eyes he had ever seen.

Once their eyes met the forest grew silent. Mikoto red cap blinked. A wolf! Her mind was telling her to run, to move away quickly and resume to another path but her legs refused to move. She could hear her heart thumping loudly as the wolf crouched down and moved closer on all fours.

He stared at her for a minute. She was holding a basket and he knew exactly that it was food she carries. Accel the wolf neither thought of attempting to eat her nor take her possession. His eyes were no longer transfixed on her cap but her face. He suddenly stood back straight and more human like.

Little Mikoto red cap was astonished and forgot about her fear. She reached into her pocket for a coin when the wolf spoke:

"Who are you?"

His voice was low and hoarse as if parched.

"W-what?"

"Your name. I haven't seen you before. I don't want to eat you though." he tilted his head studying her face more.

Her fingers trailed the edge of her coin. A wolf is untrustworthy like those kids that bully her and the little foxes that steal her berries back at the Garden. She pursed her lips.

"I-I have to go somewhere…"

Without another word she began to walk away, forcing her shaking legs to move. She kept her eyes on the wolf. As expected he followed her.

"My name is…Accel."

"G-go away. I don't like you."

The wolf pretended not to have heard her but was a bit hurt she would say something like that. He bounded after her, watching her back warily.

"Would you like to play hide-and-seek?" he asked unnervingly.

She glanced at him with a furtive look. Mikoto Red Cap shook her head and remained silent until they reached a forked road.

"Oh," was all she said.

For once her day did not turn out well. Little Mikoto forgot which way to go. However the wolf, seeing her plight, crouched down between the faded signs and pointed his clawed finger to the right.

"That is where flowers of every season bloom."

Then at his left.

"This is the way to your mother, I presume? She talks of her daughter to the denizens, I included."

Mikoto was unconvinced. It could be a trick, she thought. This wolf might eat her or worse…but alas, she did not want to think so, she thought glumly. Sensing her reluctance Accel's pointy ears perked up. He could hear a traveler coming fast from his left.

No, he can't have her gone yet…

"I am telling you the truth. Perhaps you would want to see it yourself and bring your mother a bouquet? If I am lying you can have a snip at my belly."

Her brows furrowed.

"You are...sure?"

He nodded eagerly and romped away. Mikoto was all alone without another word. She had no choice but to head to the wrong direction where the flowers blooms the brightest.

She missed her father by a minute, emerging from the left path to gather some wood.

As she found out the meadow was laden with the most beautiful flowers. Chrysanthemums, daisies, poppies, lilies, amaranths, roses and many more. Her mother would love all these.

After picking a bundle she was quite eager to see her mother's face light up. Mikoto yelped as she felt something soft brush her forearm. She had not notice the wolf was beside her all this time who had taken pleasure watching her. He tried to smile but failed. He could not resist sneaking up next to her.

"Hello."

She did not answer. The wolf tilted his head again.

"What's the matter?"

"Mikoto."

"Mikoto to you too."

"No, it's my name."

Slowly a small smile spread across his face. His long white fangs shown in the sun. Little Mikoto Red Cap inched away but Accel inched closer.

"Mi-ko-to. Mikoto." he said as if tasting a morsel.

He licked his teeth which sent a shiver down her spine. Accel scratched the back of his head and laughed.

"Mikoto, may I have some plum cake? I am famished."

"It is for mother."

"Oh."

"I can tell her you want some so I will split it."

She opened the cover of the basket and used a knife to carve an even line in the middle. Accel the wolf observed her as she placed it in a spare plate for him. His bottlebrush white tail wagged in anticipation. Mikoto set it before him.

"Here."

Minutes later she was tensed at the way he devour the cake like a wounded dear. He reminded her of something cruel and bitter: a wolf cannot be friends with human even if she now wanted to. They are animals and therefore wild.

"Thank you."

The wolf had finished his fill and was rolling on the flowerbeds and trampling on the petunias. Mikoto suddenly stood. She had to go.

"Goodbye."

"Why so soon?"

He stopped and frowned.

"But you can't."

"Why not?"

Refusing to have her gone the wolf was enraged. He made a grab for her but she got wind of his sudden change and was on her feet on time. She pulled out a silver coin from her pocket which was feared in the forest. With one quick motion using her thumb the projectile was fired in parallel currents from electricity dancing around her, singeing the grass underneath her boots.

In truth she did not want to hurt the wolf. He was nothing but nice to her but she had to. The coin traveled towards him faster than light and exploded in sparks upon contact. Mikoto thought she had him. In the smoke he emerged unscathed. She had destroyed a small hill.

He deflected it. Once again Mikoto Red Cap took another coin from her pocket and aimed it. The shot took off in blinding speed but not at him. Bits of charred silver ricochet and she heard a distinct yelp. It rained dirt and the earth belched a massive smoke larger than before. The impact distracted him long enough for her to flee.

Little Mikoto escaped the wolf.

Or left the wolf?

She was heartbroken and worn out. The wolf was not bad, he was friendly. A tear slid down her cheeks and she quickly wiped it away. Her basket was still in hand, scorched and the contents swirling with the broken bottle, contaminating the rest of the food except the strawberry jam.

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"Goodbye."

Little Mikoto Red Cap proceeded on her way and met her father on the other path with a hunter named Touma. They were searching for a white wolf. She said nothing fearing for the wolf's life and the three of them head over to her mother's house and spent the rest of the afternoon showering the woman with attention.

Her mother had already fallen asleep after taking her medicine. Mikoto sighed as she stood back and surveyed the woman regained bit of her healthy color. Sometime later she was sitting next to the window to muse. This morning she thought that there was nothing to be scared of. Perhaps there was something she was scared of.

Saying goodbyes.

Not far off Accelwolf was hiding behind the rows of trees. He cannot be seen in the shadows though he was pale as the moon. The wolf watched little Mikoto Red Cap through the window, hoping she might catch his gaze. She turned her head to the woods but saw nothing.

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Last Order loved it although the ginger haired girl said it was sad and missing a part that Aiho shouldn't have skipped. The clone had mumbled something incoherent before drifting off to sleep. The woman tucked her in and left the flower night light on. Her small frame rising and falling in slow rhythmic pattern that not even the sound of Accelerator's loud entrance could wake her. The young man slammed the front door and returning to his daily excursions.

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"Why so soon?"

He stopped and frowned.

"It's not written that way." her voice was cold and distant, "Our meeting is…"

Mikoto trailed off here back turned. She felt his hand on her shoulder.

"I know. It's the end but sometimes…"

His words faltered.

"I understand. It's just how it is."

He could hear the bitterness in her voice but said nothing of it. Both were unaware of each other smiling half-heartedly.

"At least you took the wrong path for me this time."

Yes, what the hell.

-midnightgamin