Wolf Children - Alternate Ending

When the rain finally let up, Yuki's high spirits slowly turned to worry. Her mother should have arrived long before, and although her adventure around the school with Souhei was fun, a shadow of anxiety at her mother's absence was growing. Souhei's acceptance of her wolf nature, which had given her such relief and happiness, had distracted her from pretty much everything. But with the morning coming, she wondered if something had happened. Did her mother get swept away with the rain? Was she safe? Did she forget about her?

Souhei tapped Yuki's shoulder, startling her from her thoughts. Turning to ask what it was, Yuki's question was cut off when Souhei pointed out the window. There, running toward the building, was Yuki's mother, looking like she had been mauled by some forest creature. With a cry of surprise, Yuki ran out of the classroom, changing to a wolf so she could run faster to her mother. What had happened? Why was she covered in mud? Why was she limping?

Yuki nearly ran into her mother in her haste, both of them reeling back so that a collision would be prevented, and both falling down in the process. Panting, both began asking questions at the same time.

"Yuki, what are you doing-"

"Mom, why are you-"

"You know what I told you-"

"But what happened your-"

"Yuki!"

The young wolf forced herself to stop speaking, her head lowering against her mother's rebuke. Her mother Hana took another few breathes to recover herself, before putting a hand on her daughter's head, "Yuki, what if someone saw you?"

At this Yuki perked up, "There's no one here but Souhei and I, and he-"

Hana looked up to a point over Yuki's head, and as Yuki turned she saw that Souhei had followed her down, holding her discarded clothes. "Souhei!" Yuki ran up to him, but at the look of amazement on his face she remembered she had never gone full-wolf in front of him before. She slowed down, looking away from him in sudden anxiety, stopping a bit away from him. There was a moment of silence, before Souhei whispered under his breath, "Cool."

Yuki looked up at him then, and saw a smile of awe had appeared on Souhei's face. He knelt down offered her clothes, "But you know, you better change back in case a teacher or something comes. But wow. Cool."

Yuki grinned at him, laughing as she ran around him a few times to show off, and then snatching the clothes in her mouth. She retreated to a nearby room to change, leaving Souhei and her mother alone. Souhei stood, a bit nervous being alone with Yuki's mother, especially with the serious expression on her face. Hana approached the young boy, who was rooted to the spot, avoiding her gaze.

"Do you swear you will keep Yuki's secret?"

Souhei meets her eyes then, a bit scared at the intensity in the question. When he didn't answer right away, Hana pressed again.

"Do you swear?"

Souhei opened his mouth to answer, but hesitated, took a deep breath to steady himself, and replied.

"Yes. I swear I won't tell anyone about Yuki being a wolf. Never in all my life, I promise."

A few beats of silence pass, but Hana relaxes and smiles gently at Souhei, surprising him, "Good. I'm glad she has a friend she can share this with." Souhei sighed in relief as Hana took a few steps back, looking to where Yuki had gone. She appeared only a moment later, back as a human and dressed, a grin still on her face.

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They dropped Souhei off at his house and continued on to theirs, Yuki babbling happily about her adventures and Souhei the entire time. Hana did her best to respond with equal joy at her having a friend that would keep her secret, but she couldn't help but continue to be worried for her daughter. Souhei was a good boy, but so many things could happen. And it was hard juggling this new worry with what had happened with Ame...