Whispers of the Heart
Taken
Long sighs were released as three women slid into the hot springs. The moon was high in the sky. One woman had scarlet red hair and green eyes with a matching red fluffy dog ears on the top of her head. Her skin was slightly tanned, on her back was a large red fire emblem. The second woman had blonde hair with big red eyes, on her head sat large kitsune ears. Her skin was a soft peach color, on her back was a large blue water droplet. The final woman had snow white hair and amethyst colored eyes. Large white cat ears sat atop of her head. Her skin was pale, on her back was a large black lighting bolt.
"Why do we need to be mated within the next week?"The white haired girl closed her eyes. "Luna, stop being ridiculous. You know that we cannot mate for love, it is our duty. We must keep the peace. Every woman and man has gone through this when they became of age." The red head explained. "I know, Ayame but i don't care, i will not give myself to someone i do not love." Luna said crossing her arms stubbornly. "It dosen't matter if you love him or not. We all will be mated. Is that understood?" Toshiko interupted, giving Luna a hard stare. Luna nodded sadly.
"Let's go we've wasted enough time." Ayame nodded and headed for her kimono. Luna wore a short black kimono that faded into a deep purple. Her kimono was decorated with white vines. Her sash was white. The front stopped at her thighs, while the back trailed to her knees. The sleeves stopped at her elbows. She wore black socks that stopped at her knees, and simple black slip on flats.
Ayame wore a black, sleeveless kimono that stopped at her knees, there was a slit on both sides that stopped at her thighs. The back criss-crossed. Her kimono was decorated with red and white butterfly's. Her sash was red. On her left arm she wore a glove that stopped at her elbow, on her right she wore three black bands on her upper arm. She also wore simple black shoes. Toshiko wore a sappire blue kimono that stopped a few inches above her knees. Her kimono sleeves stopped a few inches below her shoulders. Her kimono was decorated with white flowers. The sash was white as well. Her shoes were blue.
After walking for about 3 minutes they made it back to their came where their friends were waiting. Taka and Shinto. Taka had short unruly blue hair and brown eyes. He was the only neko hanyou to be born with a natural affinity for fire. Shinto is a dog hanyou like Ayame They are siblings. He has black hair and green eyes. He can control wind. "Hey ladies." Taka greeted with a smile. Giving him a smile, Luna and Ayame took a seat while Toshiko crossed her arms and said nothing.
That night Luna lay awake staring at the sky. 'Why did i have to be born into this?' Movement from the woods startled her. She sat up. "Guys wake up, somethings coming." She said sniffing the air. As everyone one got up, Luna winced and felt something hit her neck. She dropped to her knees as her hand went to her neck. Toshiko ran to her and kneeled by her side. "What's wrong?" She asked removing her hand from her neck. Toshiko gasped as black lines moved through her body. Toshiko looked at Luna in horror as her white hair slowly began to blacken. Looking back at Ayame and the others she nodded.
Luna looked up at Toshiko. "Shiko...I feel so weak." She whispered beginning to loose consciousness. "Toshiko! Ayame!" Taka said running to them. "Take Luna and get outta here!" Shinto said pulling out his sword. Ayame whipped around to face him. "We can't just leave you two!" "Ayame please, we don't know what's wrong with Luna, you need to get her to the fortress." Shinto said shaking Ayame." Ayame began to cry and hugged Shinto. "You better win, brother." She said letting go of him.
Ayame wiped her eyes, and handed her brother her sword. "You better give it back." He nodded. "Ayame let's go." Toshiko called to her. Ayame put Luna's arm around her neck and hey headed off into the darkness of the forest.
After walking/running for almost an hour Luna screamed out in pain causing them to drop her. Toshiko flipped Luna onto her back. She was drenched in sweat. After a half an hour she finally stopped screaming. Hearing foliage rustling and twigs snapping Ayame and Toshiko stood and prepared themselves for battle. "Come on out coward!" Toshiko screamed into the dark.
"I didn't think such a pretty face was capable of insults." A voice purred from the trees. A figure emerged from the darkness of the trees. He had long hair as black as night and his eyes red as Ruby's. Toshiko tightened her grip on her sword. "Who are you, and what do you want?" Toshiko asked glaring at him. Instead of him answering her questions and smirked. "Hmm. A neko, a kitsune and a dog demon. All hanyou." Ayame glared at him. "What did you do to her!?" "The same thing I'll do to to you and her." He said as if it was the simplest thing in the world.
Ayame looked down at Luna. 'Shinto...where are you?'
Else where
Shinto and Taka lay on the ground in pain. Trees had be knocked over, uprooted and blown to smithereens. 'Ayame...I'm sorry.' That was the last thing Shinto thought before his world went black.
With Toshiko and Ayame
Ayame ran at the demon with full force only to be knocked back with a tentacle to the face, sending her into a tree. Toshiko swung her sword at the demon and he laughed at her. "Is that all you can do?" Toshiko growled and jumped at him only to be caught by her neck. She dropped her sword and glared at him. "What's wrong little kitsune?" Before she could do anything she felt a sting in her neck and watched in horror as he held up something pointy.
She felt herself hit the ground and she groaned in pain. Ayame ran to her, sliding onto her knees. "Toshiko!" Ayame gasped as Toshiko's hair when from blonde to black. Ayame glared at the demon. "Why are you doing this!?" She screamed at him. He smirked. Before Ayame could react she was wrapped in his tentacles in front of his face. Ayame snarled. He smirked when he saw pain register on her face. He dropped her on the ground, her red hair going black. He looked over the unconscious women. He eyes going to his first target.
"Naraku!" Naraku turned to face Inuyasha. "Inuyasha. Like my handiwork?" He asked motioning to the three unconscious women lying behind him. "Where is Kagome!?" Inuyasha growled at him. "She is in my dungeon where these lovely ladies will be." Naraku said disappearing. "Come save her, if your brave enough." Inuyasha growled in frustration.
"Inuyasha" Came a female voice. Inuyasha turned to face her. "What is is Sango?" He asked his scowl still present on his face. "We found two injured half demons, most likely Naraku's doing." She explained. Inuyasha nodded heading in the direction she came. Sango scoped out the area once more before following.
With Shinto And Taka
Miroku sat and watched the two unconscious men silently. He and Sango had cleaned and treated their wounds and wrapped them in bandages. Clearly they were hanyou. One was a dog demon the other a neko.
After an hour of waiting Sango and Inuyasha emerged from the trees. "Was it Naraku?" Miroku asked. Inuyasha nodded. "Yea it was, he took three girls with him. "Ayame?" A voice asked. It was the man with black hair and green eyes. "Where is she? Where is my sister?" Sango kneeled before him giving him a soft smile. "Don't worry, we'll find her." "And Toshiko? Luna?" He rasped. Miroku perked up. "These women all have beautiful names, they must be beautiful themselves." Miroku said with a smile. "Of course they are. They were hand picked from the lords of the east to have them as their mates. They are the most beautiful women of age in our clans right now." Shinto explained. "Are you two their body guards?" Miroku asked.
Shinto shook his head. "We were chosen by two ladies of the east." He explained more. "So you're traveling to get married?" Sango asked. "Married?" Shinto asked confused. "Oh married is a human term for mating." Sango explained. "So why are you traveling so far to get mates?" Miroku asked.
Shinto looked back at Taka who was currently unconscious. "Since you saved us, I might as well tell you. Twenty years ago, we lived very peaceful. We were a pretty large clan that were half demon only. We don't have parents. People just leave their unwanted hanyou children. No matter what kind on hanyou." Shinto paused waiting for questions. No came up and he continued. "So when others began to realize what kind of power we could posses as we grew older, our numbers grew rapidly and the demons of the east realized how strong we could be, they came and slaughtered us to the brink of extinction only allowing us to live only if hanyou of marrying age become mates to someone in the eastern lands, of not we will be slaughtered." He paused again.
"I have a question." Miroku said and Shinto nodded. "How do you gain your 'special power' that others want?" He asked Shinto shrugged. "I don't really know. It just sort of happens. Not to every one. Only a select few, they have to get married to the lords and ladies of the east." Miroku nodded in understanding. Sango frowned. "I couldn't imagine being forced to marry someone I don't love." Shinto placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't feel sorry for us, we are happy to be able to let our people live longer." Shinto said flashing a smile.
"By the way, what's your name?" Sango asked. "Oh right, I'm Shinto, and that lug knocked out over there is Taka." He explained. " Where are they?" An angry voice asked. Taka was now sitting up, courting his side. Inuyasha stood up. "They were taken by Naraku."