Disclaimer: Nope, not mine, just the added characters :-)
Chapter 6
It was raining and dark when she awoke. The rain was not what woke her from her slumber though, it was a slight feeling of rapid tapping through her entire person. Opening her eyes, the tapping became more of a thrumming inside of her. Her eyes widened and she gasped when her vision became blurred for a moment, becoming grey. She was in the forest, she realized, looking around and she could see ookami youkai running towards her with swift speed. They did not see her, and she did not move. As they ran past her she tilted her head back and gazed upon a bleeding waning quarter moon in the black inky sky, eyes crimson, she then let out a mighty howl from her chest, a song for the moon.
Coming back to her own body with a slam, Iris lifted off the futon with a massive scream, her eyes transparent. Then she smelled it, felt it, the blood. The land was relishing in it, crying out for more. It was suffocating her, causing her to roll onto the ground on her hands and knees, gasping for air. Suddenly, a high pitched ringing began in her ears, causing her to squeeze her eyes shut and hold her palms over her ears. Stumbling to the entrance of her tent on shaky legs, she opened a curtain revealing a scene she had never seen before.
There were youkai...ooakmi youkai fighting and killing many ningen soldiers, having the upper hand of the element of surprise. The soldiers were putting up a decent fight, but they were sorely out numbered and too weak. She pushed her senses out, searching for familiar auras while searching around the burning tents visially. Hitoshi was on the far west side of the encampment, engaged in battle with a contingent of his army and a few elite soldiers by his side. Hiro, she noted was in the front of the encampment, where they had entered earlier that day, with a fair sized amount of soldiers with him as well.
Her breath hitched in her throat when a certain aura she was extremely familiar with was pulsing, not far from her tent. Turning towards it, she ran quickly, avoiding engaged soldiers and youkai, jumping over fallen tents and supplies. Arriving at her destination, there before her was Shippo on all fours growling and hissing. He was surrounded by two of Hitoshis' personal elite soldiers and three ningen.
Growling, she darted forward, scooped up Shippo, and held him to her chest. She nuzzled him lightly, gently giving a light rumbling through her chest while sensing just how injured he was. He was bleeding badly from deep wounds in her arms, she realized with despair. 'Why?! Why would they...why would they do this to one so small, so defensless? No! How. Dare They!' She then turned a heated gaze to her observers. With a snarl that shook the ground her eyes became a frosty white, causing those around to fall to one knee, while gripping their necks, suffocating... Narrowing her eyes upon the two elite soldiers with silver linning their auras, she sent a blast of energy towards them. They could only let out a quick yelp before they became ash in the wind. One of the ningen soldiers made an uproarious bellow while running towards her, his katana raised above him to strike. He moved forward with the others following, engaging to kill her for her actions against theirs. With one pulse, her index and middle fingers raised as one, she burned the intiator into dust, then a spark shot up from her fingertips and shot towards the last two attacking ningen. The sparks penetrated their armor, causing them to halt their movement immediately and fall to the ground, lifeless.
Sensing more ningens approaching them, she tightened her grip on her precious cargo, and turned, running into the forest. She did not have the energy to fight more, nor the time, Shippo was still bleeding out Iris couldn't understand why she couldn't run with her full strength, feeling tired and exhausted, but her blood still boiled. She soon realized that they were being followed by some of the ooakami youkai that attacked the encampment. Side swipping tree branches she realixed it would be easy for them to follow her; Shippos' blood.. She came to a clearing and had to force herself to stop before falling over a cliff with raging river rapids below.
Brows furrowed in uncertainty she looked to the moon, deciding to await her pursuers. She did not need to wait long, for a few seconds later they came sliding noisely to halt. She closed her eyes, pushing her aura out to see without her eyes. She made no movement when three ookami stepped out of the forest and into the light of the moon. There was no malicious intent in their auras, only caution, apprehension, and curiosity. The one whom was leading, risked a step forward, and in a calming, soft voice said, "Please, come. You will be safe with us."
A gentle breeze played with her pearlescent lilac tinted hair, making her body glow beneath the moonlight. Taking a small breath then opening her eyes, Iris gazed upon the ookami from the corner of her eyes. As the youkai took another step forward in an attempt to approach her, a black arrow with white feathers flew past them and into Iris' left shoulder blade, penetrating tendon and bone, all the way through, just above her heart. With a painful cry, Iris while holding onto Shippo tightly, went plummeting down, crashing into the river below with an explosive collision.
The ookami rushed to the cliff's ledge, fear and worry gripping their hearts. One turned towards the forest from the direction the arrow had came from, sensing nothing there. The two others followed the firsts' actions then looked at one another with mournful and confused expressions. With one last look over the cliff to the raging river below it was determined, she is lost to them.. With a nod from the leader they took off into the night to their pack Alpha; to relay their events of how they failed their one mission of this bloody evening. With a strong howl, they signaled their leader, ending the attack of the wolf tribe; leaving some human fighters confused and others feeling victorious.
Hitoshi, Hiro, and the remaining elite warriors were not so easily fooled, confused as to what it was they came to aprehend and if they got it. Hiro immediately took off towards the guest tents, finally realizing what they came for with apprehension. Hitoshi, realizing what Hiro did, rushed off as well to Iris' tent, praying that she was still there and alive. So many emotions ran through both men when arriving to her empty tent. Swallowing his fear and sadness, Hitoshi immediately began examining the area, leading them across the camp towards the forest, where four piles of ashes lay along the ground. With anger in his voice, Hitoshi turned towards Hiro, "Those who survived, have attend me before my quarters, those who are wounded send to the healers, once your tasks are complete attend me as well." Waiting for no response or acknowledgement, Hitoshi turned and marched heatedly to his tent to wait for his orders to be followed. Hiro nodded his understanding and advised a few soldiers to gather others and see to the wounded, and to another set to follow their lord.
Nodding to two trusted men in his army, he followed the trails leading into the forest, his two men at his heels. Having many years experience with tracking and hunting, it was not difficult for Hiro to trace Iris' tracks to the cliffs' edge and over. With a firm expression, he turned towards his men and nodded for them to relay thier findings to their lord. Once they left, he peered over the cliff edge one last time with a mournful expression. Heart heavy, he turned around, his face towards the ground, shaking his head with the enormous loss they have recieved. Upon opening his eyes, he then noticed a lone white feather on the ground near the edge.
Picking it up, he examined it closely but determined he would have to wait until there was light to properly look at it. Placing the feather within his haori, he began his walk back to Lord Hitoshi to confirm that their celestial maiden was indeed lost to them.
-wWw-
Floating among the currents, almost lifeless, Iris remained unconscious as the river led her to a larger body of water. Minutes turned into hours, hours became days; still she remained unconscious as the sea carried her form to a small island. Down a soft river, and into a wide lake was her body deposited quietly. A male, whom was fishing in a small boat, nearly stumbled and fell in when his eyes caught sight of someone drifting on the waters' surface.
Without hesitation he dove into the lake, causing the fish to scatter and swim in different directions immediately. He reached the body, grabbed hold of their waist and pulled them towards his boat, stealing quick glimpses of the one he was rescuing. Pushing them onto the boat, then pulling himself up, he finally got a good look at the person he rescued and his breath caught in his chest. His eyes widened as he gazed upon the strange woman with lilac-pearl hair that shimmered in the light like glittered silk.
Checking her visually he let out the breath he was holding after determining that she was alive, but the wound in her shoulder was blood knotted and infected. There was a black wooden shaft lodged from her left shoulder blade to her left breast, right above her heart. She was dying slowly, he realized and quickly began to row back to shore and take her to his village healer.
Slightly pushing his aura against her, he shook from being startled by the quick zap and what seemed to be a slapping kind of sensation coming from the woman beside him. He shook his head and continued to row, determined to save her life. Another day had passed, and the fisherman was about to lose hope for the woman he had rescued. The healer and her helpers gave him no words nor attention for that matter, their disturbed faces and auras saying more than words could.
As the sun crested the horizon the following day, one of the helpers approached him and gave him permission to see the woman since she was awake, but also informing him to speak with the healer first. With one nod he entered the healers hut, immediately scenting herbs, insence, and potions, but one scent stood out from all the rest. It was pure, clean, almost like rain in a spring morning.
The healer approached him, startling him out of his own thoughts, informing him to be patient and gentle with their new addition, for she had lost some memory. After she received his agreeance and understanding she let herself out to get fresh air. Taking a deep breathe, he turned and walked towards the other end of the hut reserved for patients and moved a curtain of straw aside, letting himself in the room. Light blue met prism and his heart beat stopped for a moment, his blood rushed in his veins, his knees became weak, and there seemed to be only him and her. He was at a loss for words, only standing and staring in an awkward way.
Iris, confused but curious, stared in return then looked down, blushing. She didn't know why but she couldn't help but feel...different from his gaze, like a cherished shinning flower. Looking down, she softly cleared her throat, then returned her gaze back to him. 'Apparently, he is my savior, from what I was told. A thank-you is in order, but is that enough? So many questions, yet I am so exhausted, my body drains me from healing itself,' she thought to herself. Before losing herself in eyes as blue as clear water, she began to speak. "Thank-you...for rescuing me in the lake. I do not know how I got there, nor do I feel a simple 'thank-you' is even enough. I will find a way to repay you for what you have done for me."
He blinked a couple of times, coming back to reality once more, and acknowledged her words with a nod. Clearing his throat but still a bit husky he responded, "Do not worry yourself, I am glad I was there to help and get you to a healer before things turned for the worse. I am Ryujin," he said with a bowing gesture, "and may I have your name, fair one?"
Iris' face scrunched up and her brows furrowed. "My name? My name..." She tried hard to bring up anything to remember her name. Only flashes of white, blood, and water surfaced, causing her head to ache. Slowly shaking her head in the 'no' gesture, she looked into his eyes, hers misted with tears, "I...I can't remember. There's...it's painful." He leaned down beside her, next to her futon, maintaining eye contact he responded, " Do not fear bright one, I will help you.
You will not be alone. You will see, one day they will return." Giving her a soft and gentle smile, he ran his claws through the front of his unruly hair, drawing Iris' attention to it. 'His hair is black but blue when the sun hits it. Pretty,' she inwardly thought with a small smile on her face. Standing straight, Ryujin took a step back and crossed his arms, holding his chin with his fore-finger and thumb, and a look of contemplation on his masculine face, then smiled.
"If I may," he started, "I would like to call you Akira-san, if it is alright with you. The reason being that you are not youkai nor ningen, but your aura is a blinding white, so you are definitely not a priestess, for theirs are pink, and few in purple. Yes, you my bright one, are very different. We will learn a lot from one another, and in time I am certain your memories will return. It would be best to take it slowly, the healer said that you would be able to leave on the morn of tomorrow, if that is what you wish. You are welcome to come with me to my abode."
Upon her hesitant expression he added, "No harm will come to you from me or any other here, but I will impart to you that if you do choose to stay here with the healer, you will be put to work immediately; and she is not one for patience or sweetness." She gave him a knowing look after glancing at her wounds, remembering how rough the youkai was with her in her own personal opinion. Not only was it best to go with him for a chance to rest and recover a bit longer but she could probably repay him by accepting his offer. Looking up into his knowing expression, if the raised brow meant anything, she smiled then nodded.
Helping her off the futon, Ryujin placed one of, no longer Iris, but now, Akiras' arms over his neck and wrapped his arm around her waist so she could lean most of her weight on him. She was very light, so he decided to just carry her instead. Quickly picking her up bridal style and eliciting a small gasp of shock from her, he secured her in his arms and began to walk towards his hut. A small smile on his face as he walked.