A Raging Storm

Chapter 7: Devastation Has No Allies ….

Xana was waiting for Icis at the edge of the village but when she laid eyes on the youkai her eyes looked to Icis a silent question being asked. "This is Daisuke; he will remain with us permanently. He knows much of the dragon and he will be useful during our battles."

Xana only nodded her eyes taking in Icis's appearance and attitude, she seemed wounded and about to burst forth into a furry, frothing demon and attack. "You are upset, what has caused such?"

Icis's ice-like stare landed on Xana and the old sorceress shivered, "After this battle I am going home."

"But Hatori-."

"I am going." Icis snarls and Xana felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end at the closeness and darkness of the hatred in Icis's aura.

"You cannot go when you are so angry!" Xana scolds and Icis straightens the sign of any emotion wiped from the pup's face as she stared at the sorceress, "I am not angry." Icis informs monotonously the atmosphere growing frigid.

Xana looks to Icis pleadingly a first time in all of Icis's life she has seen such a look on the woman's face. "You need to listen to me this once Icis. Please, do not go so soon. You are still young; you lack experience and the power needed to defeat such a demon. You will need an army that can stand against his. Have you forgotten the nightmare that once was your life? How easily he destroyed all you knew as if it was nothing? Please, Icis, I care for you and want you to finally have your revenge and be content but it is not worth your life!"

Icis felt her beast calming and looks to Xana seeing the love and care in her eyes and admits the old woman has become her mother in all the years they have been together. With a nod Icis accepts Xana's words and lets her shoulders slump slightly so Xana knows she understands and will not push the topic any longer.

"The army is approaching. Has Hatori returned from delivering the people to the next town?" Icis asks and Xana sighs smiling happy the child listened to her.

"No he has yet to return, but I sensed that his aura was troubled. He seemed in pain."

Icis tensed, "In pain?"

"I sensed a battle between youkai on the way here. There was much blood and a few scattered humans about." Daisuke informs gaining both females' attention.

"Show me." Icis orders startling Daisuke with the fierceness.

"I am coming too. These bones may be old but they are in need of a good fight." Xana informs and Icis looks to her, "What of the group of shard hunters, are they attending?"

"They left ahead with Hatori's group." Icis nodded then looked to Daisuke.

"You will lead us?"

The trio soared above the clouds Daisuke's nose leading them assisted by his memory. Xana followed on one of her creepy giant crows the bird's beady eyes staring at nothing in particular just mindless to its masters whims. Icis sat upon Daisuke's shoulder his arm anchoring her about her waist the wind blowing her long hair about.

Smoke was visibly spouting from a point on the ground and Daisuke points to it, "There that is where I had smelled the battle while on my way here."

"You are certain this is…" Icis sniffs but the moment she smelled Hatori's blood her eyes went red. 'No, not Hatori. He cannot die! There is too much of his blood…' Icis jumped from Daisuke's shoulder her youkai speed rocketing her to the ground as the battle comes into her view.

…..

Xana cursed smelling the same Icis did and knew the pup viewed Hatori as a father figure and alpha and after so much her beast will not be held back any longer. "This is not going to turn out well for the idiot who harmed her Hatori." Xana grumbles and Daisuke follows Icis's plummeting form as her youki pulses violently.

"She is breaking your spell?" Daisuke asks bewildered at the force of Icis's aura.

"Yes, her beast has grown too strong for me to hold back and Icis and the beast are both in sync, they are one in this moment." Xana growls forcing her crow to dive toward the ground.

"Should I stop her?" Daisuke questions.

"You will not be able to. She is too far gone. I just hope…oh my…" Xana trails off seeing the destruction that was laid out before them. The evacuation had been cut off and murdered where they stood. Humans: woman, man, and child all slaughtered.

….

Icis landed in the middle of the massacre her eyes flowing over everything in her view. Humans, her humans, lie in their own blood dead without a care as to how much pain they were in.

'What would do such a thing? How could someone kill so carelessly and for what purpose?'

Trembling Icis takes a step over a body and feels her beast brush her conscious wanting attention. Focusing inward Icis looks to her beast seeing pain and anger also failure.

"Our humans. Someone killed our humans and we did nothing. Knew nothing! Have no humans to protect! Failed to protect!"

"We are not fit to lead anything…Xana was right we are still too young and weak. Look at what we have done!" Tears of regret and pain fall down Icis's cheeks as she looks down at a young child whose face was that of terror as she died and the pain in her chest expands to a crushing pressure. "We will not let them die for nothing. We will defeat this monster and become more powerful."

A small whimper sounds and Icis's head jerks to the side and she sees a small child huddled against his dead father's side his eyes wide and terrified. "Icis-sama…they got papa."

Icis pushes her beast back and kneels down not getting too close to the kid so she doesn't scare him, "Who got him?" Icis asks softly.

"The evil, ugly man. He sent out his nasty demons and they stole people's souls and were chopping people up. Papa saved me by hiding me!" Icis gave a nod trying to calm the little child as she tried to figure out a way to get him to a safer place. "Did any others get away?"

"Hatori-sama and the soldiers protected a bunch of people as they ran toward the mountains. The mean man and his demons followed them."

"Come to me now, I will take you to Xana she will make sure you are safe."

The little boy hunkers further into his father's side, "Is it true Icis-sama? Are you a mean demon too?"

Icis feels a sharp pain in her chest, "I am a youkai, yes, but I would never hurt you. I protected you and your family remember?" Icis asks hoping the boy would understand.

"The mean man said you lead us right to him! Did you Icis-sama? Would you hurt us that way?"

"No, I would never! I will make that mean man pay for what he has done to you and your family. I promise."

The little boy sobs using the back of his hand to wipe his tears away then stares at Icis awhile but gives an uncertain nod standing and rushing to Icis. The moment the child was in Icis's arms a growl sounds and spirit youkai jump from the dead bodies lunging at her and the boy.