Okay, no reviews for last chapter yet, but thanks to AliceElliot for also reviewing chapter one! this chapter isn't very excited, its just building up for the next one. Also I just recently read somewhere that some believe Kurando wasn't able to fuse at all until he was being controlled by Guran and if that's the case think of this as AU. But I personally believe he would have had it before that, considering his mother is also a harmonixer. Anyway I hope you like the chapter!

Father's sword

Those with the fusion ability have heightened senses, so when Keiji returned early the next morning both his wife and son woke up and were there to greet him.

"Father!" A sleepy yet excited Kurando cried out. The Inugami leader smiled tiredly, picking up his son into a tight hug.

"There's my big boy!" He chuckled. "Did you like your present? Your mother and I thought hard about what to get."

"He hasn't opened it yet." Saki told him with a meaningful gaze. "He wanted to wait for you first."

"Well, why don't you go get it? We can't have you wait a moment longer!" His father insisted, making the young boy grin widely before running back upstairs. "Quietly though, or you'll wake your grandmother."

"He's really missed you Keiji." Saki said quietly, earning a flinch from her husband. "He's been training hard with me since you left."

"That's good, the sooner he unlocks his powers the better it will be for all of us."

"Keiji, he's not ready, he's just too young to try. I think training him with a sword would help first, it will teach him power and control; he will be able to protect himself and Tsukiyomi will be more understanding after that."

"Saki, it would endanger the village!"

"They're already in danger, this is the only choice!"

"Saki…I sense something evil at work, a great force trying to destroy us. It's after the Mumeiro and it's been plundering the Dog Shrine continuously. I had no choice but to bring the sword back with me."

"Then the village needs protecting. I can help you, but Kurando needs to be taught to fight soon. His fusion form is strong even when he is young, once he proves he can protect himself he will gain control over Tsukiyomi."

The two were left in silence, each stubbornly refusing to give up on their opinion. They would have continued on and vocally argued if their son wasn't heard coming back down the stairs.

"I got it!" He told them happily, sitting on the bottom step and staring up at them expectantly.

"Well go on, open it!" His father encouraged while his mother smiled warmly. The six year old complied, beginning to rip into the present, but then thinking better of it when his father was there and instead unwrapped it carefully. Saki couldn't help but chuckle; her son always tried to please his father no matter what.

"What is it father?" Kurando asked innocently, holding up the talisman in his small hands.

"Your mother can explain it better than I." Keiji announced, yawning loudly. "I must go and rest now Kurando, you be good for your mother." Kurando nodded his head happily, watching as his father began to disappear upstairs. He didn't ask to put his shoes away this time; he could see his father was in no mood to oblige.

"Mother?" Kurando asked her. Saki sighed, silently cursing her husband for leaving the task to her.

"It's a talisman Kurando, the colour it turns helps to show what level your malice is at."

"Malice?"

Oh dear Saki thought, resting her head in her hands. He's not ready for this.

"I'll explain it in the lesson later on, but we should go back to sleep now Kurando." She said aloud. "It's still very early."

"Will father wake up before my lesson?" Kurando asked her eagerly.

"I don't know Kurando; he's had a tiring journey." The young boy merely nodded in disappointment before turning back to the stairs, heading to his room. His mother watched him go with a heavy heart, wishing she could provide the love he longed for from his father.

Kurando lasted half an hour in his room pretending to get back to sleep before he snuck downstairs. It was now six and the sun was peeking out over the horizon. He thought of it banishing the feared night made Kurando smile to himself; he always felt more in control over Tsukiyomi once the moon wasn't dominating the sky.

The young boy paused a moment, wondering whether to try and cook breakfast for his father before he left. But the six year old knew little of cooking and decided against it, he would impress his father in other ways.

"Grr." Came a questioning growl behind Kurando as he headed for the door. The young fusionist silenced him with a scratch behind the wolf's ears.

"It's okay Matsunaga; I'm just going outside to train. Do you want to come? I'll take you for a walk." The wolf barked quietly in response, following behind the youngest family member protectively. "Father will be proud once he sees how much I've learnt."

"Awroo." The wolf replied quietly, which translated to 'I hope for you that is so', not that Kurando could tell.

The fusionist made his way quietly through the village towards the small wooden shelter near its entrance, where his birthday present Miyoko and her older sister Sayori had made for him. He planned to use it for practice as often as he could, and then prove to his father he was ready for the proper training.

"I'll prove I'm strong, to both father and Tsukiyomi." The boy told his wolf companion as he picked up the wooden sword hidden in one corner of the shelter. Kurando had only tested the temporary weapon once, on the day Miyoko had given it to him. He had hidden it from his mother, knowing she'd disapprove, and kept it a strict secret from all but Miyoko, Sayori and now Matsunaga. "It doesn't look like much, but I can learn the basic techniques with it." The boy said proudly to the disapproving look the wolf was giving him. "You'll see."

The wolf, now somewhat grudgingly, followed the six-year old as he headed for the seclusion of the Wind Forest. The wolf silently thanked the Dog Guardians that no monsters resided there; it was the only aspect of his job that was made easier when guarding the latest Inugami.

Kurando and Matsunagi didn't return to the house until a few minutes before the ninth hour. But neither Saki or Keiji had noticed their absence…or so the boy thought.

Saki watched her son eat his breakfast politely, deciding not to question his activities for the last three hours and risk him shutting himself off from her.

"When will father wake up?" Kurando asked once he'd finished.

"Not for a while, he's very tired after his long journey, but he wants you to learn of the talisman's purpose as soon as possible so we will begin our lesson shortly."

A few minutes before a late dinner began Kurando found himself staring in both wonderment and disgust at the talisman. Mother had explained its use to him during their lesson, and he despised the idea of having to keep it with him and monitor the colour.

The talisman is similar to the original purposes others like it have. But instead of monitoring the malice of monsters which you have defeated it is monitoring the malice Tsukiyomi is releasing in you soul. She's doing this in order to gain control over it, and this talisman monitors her progress in this task.

Kurando shivered when he recalled his mother's words from earlier, now finding himself checking the talisman's colour every ten minutes because of them. The young boy dreaded the moment it would begin to darken. When his mother had held it the colour projected had been a healthy blue, it was now a pale green.

"Why won't you stop fighting me?" Kurando asked aloud, the note of desperation clear in his voice. "I just want to fight for myself; can't you give me that chance?" The sunset was a terrifying image for the young fusionist and he found himself beginning to scramble towards the safety of his home. Maybe his father would have awakened now. Maybe now he could help make his son becoe stronger…

The thought of this suddenly made Kurando pause. His father make him stronger? It didn't sound right, as id the idea was one of a coward who had no inner strength.

Maybe that's why Tsukiyomi won't listen. He thought I'm relying on others to make me stronger. Mother, father, even Tsukiyomi herself. I have to train on my own more; I have to master some strength and power on my own…but how could I do that with a wooden sword?

"Are you coming in Kurando?" Saki's voice called to the frozen six-year old. Kurando blinked, realising he was halfway up the stairs leading to their house. "Your father is awake."

Saki noticed how little Keiji ate of his meal, choosing instead to gaze off into space while Kurando chatted happily away. His lack of response didn't slow the young fusionist's speech and Saki couldn't help silently laugh. Maybe he would turn out more Hyuga after all.

"…And Sayori said her father wants her to be taught how a proper lady behaves, but she's only eight. Miyoko says…"

"Kurando." His father suddenly spoke, causing the young harmonixer to drop his chop sticks in shock. "I can an approaching danger, so to your room and stay there." The young boy just bowed his head in respect and obeyed, knowing by the look on his father's face he couldn't convince him otherwise. "Saki, you must stay here and protect the village; I must go to the Forest of Wind and stop it."

"Be careful Keiji, whatever it is, it will be after the Mumeiro."

"I know, I will leave the sword here and ruin the monster's attempt to reach it. But if I am to fail…" Saki just nodded in understanding.

"I'll protect it and our son." After a quick kiss the Inugami leader left, a less powerful sword in his sheath, but one which had served him for many a year. Saki sighed, touching her lips as the warmth of his touch faded, wishing he could express such warmness towards his family more often. A warning growl from Matsunagi brought her back to her senses and she smiled her thanks, beginning to prepare herself for the battle to come.

Upstairs Kurando was oblivious to his mother's preparations as he crept from his room, having only able to stay there for a few minutes. He instead headed for his parent's room, hoping he could talk to his grandmother who was usually there during the day. It was only after he entered the empty room that he remembered she had gone to visit a friend in the village for the evening.

Kurando sighed and glanced at the talisman in his hand, noting it was now a sickly yellow colour. The moon had risen and he could feel Tsukiyomi's will growing stronger. He needed help, he needed to help himself and suppress her…

"Father." He whispered in silent plea, praying his father would return from the battle in good health. The young boy blinked, noticing something in the corner of the room which made him gasp. The Mumeiro.

Father had left his sword.

The concern for his father flooded through the young fusionist, any consequences for his next actions unable to register. With a determined nod he grabbed the sword and headed for the door, sneaking silently from the house.

It wasn't until he had exited the village entrance that the talisman began to glow red…