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Another Me	By : Resting-Madness Category: +S to Z > Wolf's Rain Views: 1788 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Wolf's Rain. I make no profit from this work of fiction. I also don't own the Wolf's Rain environment.

Chapter List
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Today Kiba chose to live with one word in mind. Allowance. He knows that in three days the funeral is going on, and as he laid his head down on the pillow last night he realized that he was crying as he lay there in a pool of wetness that didn't come from his sleeping mouth. Once his mom and dad are in the ground that'll be it. He'll really never see them again. He can't even see them now! But he knows that they're in the hospital, the very one he and Toboe were in not that long ago. Only they aren't hanging out in the coollers and waiting for a second chance. They weren't given the chance. But he and Toboe were. And so when an hours sleep managed itself for him, he chose to live today in allowance. And if it worked out, he'd do it again tomorrow, and the next day and the next day.
Kiba slipped out of bed to run himself a bath. His mother usually ran him a bath but he's gonna have to learn the fine art of temperature some time, if he's gonna take over as Toboe's caregiver. He looked at the hot and cold noticing quickly that it was one knob to use both. Turning the handle of the knob so it's facing the red line, he shoved his hand under and waited for the water to heat up.
"Ow." He jerked his hand free and gave it a shake.
It stung more than he'd thought it would, and looking at the coloring from his scroched hands he could only imagine what it would have felt like if it were his arm he'd stuck under the hot stream.
'Makes sense since the fat was burned away there.'
Turning the knob a bit more towards the blue, he stuck his hand cautiously under the stream, smiling when nothing happened. Shaking the water from his hand; he stripped from his clothes then reached beyond the shower curtain and turned on the shower-head. Why not? Adults take showers. It's quicker after all.
Kiba stepped carefully into the shower, holding on to the little bar just above the soap dish to keep his balance. Proud of himself so far, he then retrieved the wash rag from over the side of the tub where he left it and his towel behind the curtain then he began to wash. Kiba allowed himself to relax and just wash. Not to look at his burns, not to think about them and what they represented. Loss.
Once the shower was over, Kiba grabbed something to wear from his suitcase and once clothed, he allowed himself to treat the borrowed bedroom as though it were his bedroom by packing the drawers and closet space with his and Toboe's clothing. And once he's back from school, he'll allow himself to put away their books and toys.
Winter break truly begins in a week; and during it he'll allow himself to play outside in the snow with his brother and Cheza. He'll allow himself to help Mr. and Mrs. Lebowski with anything they need.
Slipping his arm through the strap of his packed backpack, he then marched downstairs to the kitchen for a quick breakfast of Fruit Loops and a peanut butter pop-tart. He figured he'd need the sugar-high today. If Kiba's going to get better and become stronger he can't slack off. He can't get a job if he's not educated, and he can't get an education if he stops going to school. Just as he has to keep his strength up by eating, though he isn't hungry. In this day of allowance he even allowed himself to laugh at the cartoon he'd left on the television, that he can see through the opening in the kitchen. As he looked around the kitchen he began to wonder where was everyone else? The funeral wasn't until 3 days from now, so why is the house a ghost town?
'Maybe I should wake them?' Thought Kiba as he left his empty cereal bowl at the table, it's a bowl he'd brought from home when they were removing their lives from their house to bring over to miss Cher's, it's a white bowl with a wolf on it that came in a set of four. They're his and Toboe's favorite. Walking over to the cabinet he tilts his head back and stares at the height. Not too bad. Opening the cabinet he spots the instant coffee on the second shelf, out of reach. With a smirk he qouted the commercial in his head. 'The best part of waking up is coffee in a cup. Cher and Hubb drink tons of this stuff.'
Back over at the table, Kiba pushes his chair over to the counter climbing onto the seat. Reading the coffee's instructions he figured it looked simple enough and set to work with fixing a pot for the couple. As the brown crystals percolate, he smiles at his progress in becoming older and more mature. He might even have a cup himself.
Biting off a hunk of his pop-tart, he savoured the peanut buttery taste as he waited. 'Maybe I should make them breakfast too?' He knew school days were always good because his mom made him and Toboe breakfast. They ate cereal on weekends. Which, when you're denied the amount of sugary treats that you know your friends are eating, it becomes a special treat when you get to have cereal. Recalling what he'd eaten for breakfast, Kiba thought to himself. 'Guess cereal isn't a treat here.' It was something to get used to, not hard, but still a change.
"Kiba?"
The young boy jumped out of his skin. He was so lost in thought that he hadn't heard Hubb coming. Spinning around to face the man, he looked like he'd knocked over a prized lamp. "I... I was getting ready for school."
"School?" Hubb said as though he'd never once heard the word. "Kiba, you don't have to go to school today, or even tomorrow. Not until you're ready." He tousled the boy's hair as he passed by him to the coffeemaker. He could have sworn Cher was still in bed. 'Maybe she started a pot then went back to bed.' He explained to himself.
"But, I made coffee and... I could get you a pop-tart heated in the toaster." Kiba followed the man around the kitchen as he fixed himself a cup of coffee, and the Wolf child stopped at the pantry to retrieve both boxes of the toaster treat.
With two creams and a pinch of sugar, Hubb brought the mug up to his lips and took a drink, nearly choking on the swig. "Oh, that is..." But he stopped when seeing the look on the child's face, his big blue eyes seeking approval from his soon-to-be adopting parents. "Mmm. Kiba, how much powder did you use?"
"I filled up the holder; it took a minute to find where the crystals go in... Sorry for the spill."
Hubb raised the lid and saw that Kiba had put the coffee into the area where the water goes and where the coffee actually needed to go, there was no filter. "It's fine. I um... Are you sure you wouldn't rather stay here today?"
"I have to go to school. I can't miss any more days." He touched his bandaged arm. "I'm already behind because of the..." Meeting Hubb's eyes he pleaded. "I have to do this... Please?"
With a small smile, he nods. "Yeah, I'll go up and get dressed."
Smiling in return, he can feel his spirits lifted. He thought, because he's a child, he'd be made to stay. But Hubb agreed to take him; and after removing a blueberry pop-tart from the box he hurried upstairs to change. Curious, Kiba walked over to the man's mug and took a gulp. The gulp promptly found its way into the sink. He was never gonna touch that stuff again. Bleh!
To Cher's disparaging words Kiba went to school. It was going to be weird being back when he's missed the beginning of a new year being in the hospital. New teachers, a new class, some new students. This was going to be awful. 'And what if they saw the news? I didn't think this through! They'll know it was me and my family, they'll ask a bunch of horrible questions. Throw me pity parties... What am I gonna do?'
Seeing how hard the male's chest rose and fell, Hubb inquired. "I can always turn around?"
That seemed to stop the panic growing in the young boy's chest. "I... No, I'll go. I was just a little nervous."
"It's understandable. But, two weeks and we get Christmas, that should be..." The car door popped closed. "Fun..." Calling out the window, he says. "Have a good day, Kiba! And call the house if you need anything, Cher will be there!"
Kiba waved to the man then darted into the building.
0 0 0
Kiba was right in thinking he'd be gawked at by his fellow classmates, mostly just by the kids he knew from last year. Each of their gazes, different in color and size, all had the same wonder in them. "What happened?" or "How did it happen?" However it was going to be worded, he could tell they wanted details. But as luck would have it, he wasn't the only new thing rolling into class today. And the random burst of sunshine stole all the dark cloud's attention away.
"Class, this is our a new student. He'll be starting here from today." Says the teacher with her manicured hands on the new boy's shoulders. "I want you to be nice and welcome him in," to the child held by the shoulders at her side, she says. "I'll let you introduce yourself from there, then you can have a seat in one of the empty desks."
The child smiled a picket-fence toothed grin at the spastic woman then turned to the class and raised his hand as if to give the idea of a wave. "Hola," that was not what the class had expected to hear. "Mi nombre es Hige Luna. Estoy mixta, Mexicano y Japonés, por parte de mi mamá." Hige grinned when the class busted out laughing. Rubbing a finger under his nose, he then skimmed his gaze over the empty desks, and seeing a free seat behind the only kid who's not laughing or talking excitedly to someone, he chose to sit there.
Kiba was wondering what was so funny, because he didn't understand a word the kid had said. It would seem he'd missed more than some three and a half months of math, grammar, and reading. Like the impromptu lessons in a foreign language. He leaned his weight forward when the new kid breezed past his desk, hunching over as if to hide himself from the boy or the class, or maybe even the whole day.
Behind him he doesn't see the new kid scribbling furiously on a piece of notepad paper, and once he was finished the folded sheet came into contact with Kiba's bowed back. The Wolf boy thought he'd imagined it, but the touch came again only this time to the bare back of his neck.
Making sure the teacher is occupied with starting the lesson by writing on the board, Kiba turned around ready to say something to ward the unwanted attention away, when he noticed the note in Hige's hand. Brows furrowed in wonder of what on earth the kid thought he was doing handing him notes, when he doesn't even speak the language, Kiba was more than surprised to see the language was in his native tongue Japanese. And it reads:
Hey kid,
I was just messing around up there. My names Hige, I'm mixed. My Asian side is from my mother, so my last name is Moon. It'd be cool if we could be friends. Just give a nod if we can sit together at lunch.
Hige.
Kiba blinked at the note then gave a blank nod. He didn't care who sat by him at lunch, just as long as he ate it without fail. Sometimes guys like to eat off each other, or talk so long they can't really get anything down. That's never been an issue for him, but he's seen things. Kiba gave an 'oof' when Hige clapped a hand to his shoulder as a 'good' gesture and thanks to his agreeing to sit with him.
A little embarrassed that the new guy thinks that he's new too, Kiba put full attention on the teacher and the lesson plan. If he didn't, he was sure he'd have a knot in his stomach over the events of lunch coming. The Wolf boy kind of wanted to keep things low key on the first day, and this kid hardly seemed like the library visiting bookworm type.
x x x
Kiba saved Hige a seat while the male lined up for lunch, and once his food was down on the tray he skimmed the cafeteria for Kiba who waved his hand to catch his attention. Hige smiled when seeing him and hurried over to the table taking a seat. He said 'hi' to a kid beside him, then turned his attention to Kiba.
"Can you only write in Japanese, or do you speak it too?" Asked Kiba once Hige was settled and opening his carton of chocolate milk.
"Oh, that? Naah, I speak it, read it, write it." responded Hige after taking a deep swig of his milk. "I just like to see what type of people I'm dealing with whenever I play the foreigner card. Sometimes kids can be real jerks and other times they try hard to be your friend any way." He reached across the table taking a few crackers from Kiba's lunch; he doesn't close the sandwich bag they're in, instead the side of his hand smashed the opening down. "Wheat crackers? Your parents "health nuts" or something?"
"Or something." Replied Kiba lowering the turkey and swiss sandwich from his lips.
"Mm," Hige intoned thoughtfully. "They're still good. I like the ones from that elf myself." Hige looked across the table, a smile spread across his face when Kiba looked back. "Y'know, I never caught your name."
"It's Kiba Wolf." Replied the Wolf male. "Nice to meet you."
"Yeah." Eating from his scoop of mashed potatoes with gravy and cubes of ham, he snickered. "This is going well, huh?"
Kiba set down his drink pouch and shrugged.
Hige snickered around a spoonful of olive colored peas. "That's ok, I know guys who zone-out at school but are completely different people once they're at home. Is that you?"
Eating his sandwich, Kiba shrugged.
Three kids came over to their table chattering happily with Hige, who spoke to them as though he'd known them forever and was only sitting at the table with Kiba to throw the poor new kid a bone. Kiba was then touched on the shoulder when the cheerful foursome were ready to part ways; and all the kids wanted to wish Kiba well for his loss. The Wolf teen slid them a glance before nodding, then he went back to his lunch ready to full-on-ignore the question that was going to come out of Hige's mouth.
"Hey, Kiba," he began, but what followed wasn't a question of wonder that the two girls and boy would put there, instead he asked. "Can I have some more of those health crackers? It doesn't taste so great when you eat it, but after it's fantastic."
Curious if this were a joke or not, Kiba offered Hige the sandwich bag filled with crackers.
"Thanks." He ate two then said happily. "My mom never makes me lunch, she doesn't have time."
"What about your dad?" Kiba asked, although he wondered who'd just spoken because he was trying to stay out of it. But it would seem his subconscious remembered that he was living the day in allowance, which made him curious enough to interact and have Kiba look at the kid in front of him.
"My parents are divorced." Hige shrugged a hand. "We've all got something, right?" With a smile he said. "Maybe someday you'll tell me yours." Reaching across the table, his balls his hand into a fist. "Deal?"
Looking at the pact being offered to him to spill his guts, Kiba couldn't believe that he raised his hand and gave Hige the promise. "Deal."
"Cool. Now leave that fist there, because I wanna come over and play at your house some time, or you can come over and play at mine. I've ditched the toys thing, but I've got video games and can be pretty imaginative." He wriggled his fist up and down asking that Kiba agree to a play date as well.
And leaning his fist forward he says. "Okay."
"Heh, here I thought I wouldn't any friends today." Finished with his lunch, he downed the last of his milk and wiped his lips with the back of his hand. "You're pretty cool, Kiba Wolf. I'll bet we could learn a lot from each other." Getting up from the bench he grabs his tray to put in the return slot.
Kiba watched his new friend walk away and wondered if he were ready for such a strong friend. During lesson change to math he'd asked after his friend Drew Akiyama and was saddened to hear that he'd moved away over the summer that he and Toboe were in the hospital. Drew was nothing like Hige. He was quiet and thoughtful- a reader. He liked Kiba to do all the leading. But with Hige, it seemed he'd be the one doing the following. Something about that was attractive to Kiba. Maybe they could be friends.
x x x
"How was school, Kiba?" Hubb asked once the boy climbed into the car.
"It was good." And he meant that. Since lunch, he couldn't remove the small smile from his face. "I met a new boy named Hige. He's mixed, and a little strange, but pretty cool." After a thought he admitted. "He ate most of my lunch."
Hubb laughed then replied. "That's wonderful!" The man could have kissed the random child, glad that someone put a smile on the miserable boy's face.
Kiba was glad to hear Hubb approved his friendship. So he kept going with telling him about his day. Kiba spoke of Hige when he walked through the door of the Lebowski home. When Cher inquired about his day, the first thing he mentioned was meeting Hige. Not the assignments and homework, or the pet hamster. Just Hige. He told his little brother; who watched him with saucer-eyes and interest. He liked anyone his brother liked, so he couldn't wait to meet this Hige himself.
"Come on, Toboe, let's brush our teeth." Kiba managed some new conversation now that he's all talked out of his new friend. It would only be worse tomorrow.
But as Cher brushed her hair before climbing into bed with her husband, she couldn't help but smile wide enough for her husband to see her in the vanity mirror's reflection. "I don't know where this kid came from, but I'm glad he did. Kiba needs a break from this week, what with the funeral the day after tomorrow."
"You think this boy he talked about can distract him that much?" Hubb has his doubts.
If his parents had died when he was young, he wasn't sure he'd be out of bed for at least a year. It was great that Kiba had a good day, but there was no way he was over the loss whim-bam-boom. Even when his parents approached old age and had passed away, Hubb was a mess for a month. He still cringes whenever he smells certain scents or eats certain foods. It's hard. You have to go through life and realize that certain people are no longer there.
There was no way Hige cured Kiba. They'll have to be strong on Thursday, and even stronger on Friday once the reality of it all sets in further that, this isn't a temporary thing for them.
"I'll skip work tomorrow and Friday, Toboe's going to need consoling. He's not at an age where he can quickly cope."
"I think he's the one who'll bounce back faster. He cares, but he's four... He can recover. Kiba on the other hand..." Setting the brush down on the vanity top, Cher crossed the room and climbed into the bed. Leaning over she kissed Hubb on the nose then snuggled in under the blanket. "I've only got time off to attend the funeral, so that works out for you to stay." Though she'd rather be the one to stay. But she'd only just recently applied for the job and began her part-time work.
"How was Toboe today?" Asked Hubb snuggled in beside his wife.
"He and Cheza sat at a table in back of the cafe and colored, and talked about four year old things. How cute is it that Toboe wants to live beside Kermit and Miss Piggy."
Laughing, Hubb asked. "And Cheza?"
"She wants the Smurf village beside her house and us on the other side."
"Aaaww, ver cute. I'll remember that, and hold her to it when I'm balding and frail."
Chuckling, Cher commented. "Me too." Closing her eyes, she sighs in contentment of sleep gripping her right away.
"Night, honey." He kissed her forehead then waited for sleep himself.
The next day.
Kiba was up-and-at-em the next morning eating waffles fresh from the waffle-maker, by Cher who'd gotten up in the morning to fix it for him, along with a glass of orange juice. Toboe had rolled out of bed as well and is eating a plate of waffles, cut into sticks so he doesn't have to cut them himself.
"Can I go to school with Kiba?"
Cher smiled at the boy, petting him on top of his dark cherry head. "I'm afraid you're too young for the first grade, Toboe."
"But I got to work with you," momentarily distracted by the appearance of his friend and Hubb, he greets them before speaking to Cher again. "Is school really hard?"
"Not at all, and when you go to kindergarten next year I'm sure you'll be the smartest boy in class."
"I hope so, then I can go to school with Kiba."
Cher only blinked at the four year old's reasoning; she didn't have the heart to tell him otherwise about how school systems work. Although, he could be a genius and skip a couple grades. Anything was possible.
"Kiba, do you think Hige can come over and play? I wanna meet him." He stuffed a waffle stick in his mouth, biting off a good portion before setting the fork down to reach for his milk.
"I don't think so..." If Hige came over he would know the Lebowski's aren't their parents. And he's not ready for his fresh new friend to look at him as all the other students are. "Maybe you can come with me to his house." Looking at Cher the older Wolf child asked. "Miss Cher, if Hige invites me over, can I go?"
"Of course you can, as long as his mother or father drives you over."
"But, if I'm with you... How can I go?" Toboe wondered.
"The days are only half," replied the woman. "But maybe Hige's mother can get you on our way out."
"I'll ask." He felt his happiness on a rise once again as his plate was emptied. Setting his dishes into the sink, he then turned on the water and washed them up. "Where do I put these?" He asked while holding the wet items in his hands, side-stepping the dripping water that's aiming for the floor.
"The dishwasher." Replied the woman standing.
With the door slightly ajar, Kiba toed it open then set his dishes inside. Hubb finished his coffee at the sink, and rinsed the cup once it was empty; he turned the glass Kiba put inside so that's its now bottom up and won't hold water during the wash, and he slid the plate aligned rather than diagonal with the tongs sticking up.
"I'll see you later." He said to his wife, and child, and Toboe.
She waved then looked at the two still eating. "Who's ready for another fun day at the coffee house?" She asked with enthusiasm.
"Yay!" Both kids cheered.
0 0 0
Kiba looked around the classroom and took a seat where there was an empty desk beside it. He hoped that Hige got in before some other kid did to take the seat beside him. He was so excited to see the happy new kid, he didn't even have to remind himself to just allow events and happiness that came up. He just knew it would be there. That everything would be fine.
"I'm sorry, Kiba." Whispered a boy behind him, after tapping him on the shoulder to get his attention.
"Thank you." He muttered in response; while wishing with all his might that the boy would shut up about it, but he went on.
"When's the funeral? My mom wants to send flowers."
"I um.. It's tomorrow." He quickly whispered over his shoulder.
Across the room Hige just walked in, and his rust-colored gaze was skimming the taken seats for him. At least, Kiba hoped so. Locking eyes with his new friend, he hid his glee when Hige waved before parting through students and other empty chairs to take the one beside him.
"Where should we send them?" Pestered the child.
Though he had good intentions, Kiba had had about enough of it and wanted nothing more than to scream at him that he doesn't want or need something as useless as a 'well-wish'. But he kept it in, and instead said he'd give him the Lebowski's address later. Hige watched the exchange with little interest. He's never met any of these kids, and has only been here for two days, counting the one that's just started, so whatever they've all got going isn't any of his concern. But he isn't so blind that he can't figure it out that it has something to do with Kiba.
Class went as per usual with little conversation and lots of writing; but Kiba noticed the stares, felt them on his back. He ignored them, and was able to because of Hige sneaking notes over to his desk. He passed the whole notebook so that it looked as if he were just sharing notes with Kiba in order to understand the lesson. It was simple either way. Addition with points. Hige's no fan of math, but he's no stranger to a good grade.
The two wrote back and fourth about their plans for later on that day. Kiba asked Hige if he could come over, and if he could bring his little brother when he does. Hige didn't mind, though he did ask just how 'little' this little brother was.
When lunch rolled around, Hige went to work sorting through the male's offerings. He muttered to himself whenever there was a good find amongst Kiba's food.
"Okay. Now what do you want from my lunch?" Asked Hige.
"Couldn't we just eat our own food?" He eyed the left alone bag of carrots, and a half of Hige's sandwich which consists of salami and cheddar cheese on white bread.
He kind of really wanted what miss Cher had packed for him: a sandwich of cinnamon raisin bread loaded with sliced baked apples sprinkled with cinnamon over a cream cheese spread, and a bag of carrot sticks, with a juice pouch, and some Planters peanuts. A feast really.
"Come oooon, Kib'," groaned Hige. "I specifically brought my lunch so we could do trades- my mom made a whole big stink about how she had to make it the night before.. It wouldn't work out so good giving you a spoonful of soup and half a cheese sandwich from the cafeteria menu."
The logic behind that was so simple and so stupid Kiba had to laugh. "Okay, whatever you say." He ate the offer of sandwich from Hige's lunch.
"I can't swap tomorrow, it's pizza- you know how it is?"
"I've never had the pizza at school."
"Never?" Hige ate Kiba's half of sandwich.
He found the taste too weird, at first, but like the wheat crackers he really began to like it. It was creamy and sweet, the bread gave it a little extra kick. If Hige had to explain it to someone he was sure he couldn't, the explained to would just have to have a bite.
"Hey, Kiba..." Hige set down the gummy worms from his lunch to look his friend in the eye.
He's never been one for serious conversation, but he thought that with all the whispering going on that Kiba needed it. He hoped his father's words worked for whatever Kiba was going through with his parents. He knew the signs of trouble-at-home, having had them himself before his parents split from each other.
"I'm not sure what's going on with you, but whatever it is... You can call me and talk about it- or just call me and say nothing, and I'll do all the talking. Ha," his smile beamed at Kiba's searching eyes. "I'm never at a loss for words." And with that he slid his phone number over to the other boy.
Blinking, Kiba's dumb-founded expression softened as he took the paper. And with a small smile he said. "Thank you."
x x x
Commentary: I broke this chapter up so that it'll save the funeral for next time. I wanna get the wording just right, but my brain's too distracted right now to do it. So until next time, enjoy the rest of the week. Thanks for reading! You keep Wolf's Rain alive haha.
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