Chapter 10

The flood disappeared as fast as it came. Carcasses of animals big and small littered the forest floor. Some were dismembered by the force of impact upon the trees, some bloated from all the water consumed. Compared to a normal flash flood, what was left of the vicinity was a crimson land, the very same color of the water that washed over them.

Asami was beyond reason as he gripped the tiny fox in his arms. To his left was the mother of the orange pup, its lifeless eyes were the only signs the hunter needed to know that she was beyond salvation. Bent trees and scattered rock surrounded Asami as he went further into the forest to look for his mate. He screamed his lover's name over and over again, hoping to at least hear a reply from the silver fox.

Akihito was nowhere to be found.

XXX

"What is the meaning of this, Mikhail?" the mysterious assistant asked.

"It's just my plan on its way to completion," he replied.

The assistant's eyes widen in realization. "You said I could get revenge on the silver fox!"

"And revenge is what you will get."

"Not like this Mikhail! You're going to destroy the whole forest!"

"You said you'd do anything as long as you could get the hunter's attention back, Sudoh."

The herbalist felt as if the world had fallen on his shoulders. He should never have helped this mastermind. His jealousy of the silver fox might as well be the root of Sion's destruction.

What have I done?

XXX

It was a few hours later that the hunter found his lover, stuck on a branch of a tall tree. It took everything in his power to remain calm at the boy's condition. His face was pale and lips devoid of its normal pink color. His arm was bent at an awkward angle and his ankle swollen from getting stuck on a tree root. How Akihito managed to untangle himself from the root, Asami did not know. He was just grateful that the cheeky spiritual being had survived.

His men were stationed outside the cabin when he arrived. They were on alert, ready to accept orders.

"Bring in Sudoh. Tell him I need to have Akihito looked at."

"Yes sir."

XXX

"A-asa-mi?" the blond croaked out his name before coughing.

"Shh," the hunter watching over Akihito helped him sit upright and offered him a glass of water. "Drink this."

Akihito took small sips of the water before looking at Asami's golden eyes. "What happened?"

There was silence as the boy waited for an answer. The room's temperature seemed to have dropped and the closed curtains permeated a dark, foreboding aura.

"You were caught in the flood, just as with the other creatures. You shoulder was dislocated and your ankle sprained from getting stuck. There was a threat of pneumonia but otherwise, you're fine."

Akihito suddenly noticed the sling on his arm and bandages on his ankle. He tried to remember what had happened before he was swept in the flood.

"And the pup?"

"He's on the floor, under your bed." Asami took out an orange ball of fur from below and passed it to the worried boy.

Akihito stroked the orange fox which then curled to his side. "What exactly caused the flood Asami?"

"I don't know," he replied.

"Were there lots of dead creatures?"

"Yes."

Akihito motioned to leave the bed. "What about the mother of this pup? The nine-tailed fox? Kou? Takato!?"

Asami caught him before he fell from the bed and held him firmly. "You are not leaving this place until you are fully healed, Akihito."

"Let me go, Asami! I have to help them!" Defiant hazel eyes stared back into golden ones.

"They are being taken care of as we speak. There is nothing more you can do in your current state." Asami was now on top of Akihito using his whole body to trap the fleeing silver fox.

"Please don't treat me like a child, Asami," the hunter could feel the solemnity in Akihito's words, "I don't want to be tied down.

"Akihito…"

"Let me see them, Asami!"

"AKIHITO!"

Silence engulfed the room. The blond could feel the larger man's breaths. Their faces were only centimeters away from each other.

"Please take care of yourself, Akihito," Asami's hand roamed to his stomach, "my- no, OUR child lives inside you."

Tears started forming in Akihito's eyes. He had realized the full brunt of his responsibility. He was not only carrying a child, but his next kin. This child would be the key to the survival of his lineage.

Asami planted a kiss on his lover's forehead upon seeing the tears. He took him in his arms, careful as to not jostle his injuries. "The faster you heal, the faster you'll be able to see them."

Akihito nodded while burying his face on Asami's shoulder. They stayed like that for a moment, reveling in each other's warmth. The hunter cupped the blonde's face and kissed his lips gently. Akihito reciprocated.

Outside the closed curtains, Teams of Asami's men were aiding the fallen creatures while fighting off attackers. War between the land and sea creatures ensued. In the distance, the battle cry of the sky leader could be heard.

I deeply apologize for the inconsistency of this story. I'll try to fix the grammatical errors. I know it's been more than a year since I last updated. I hope that you'll all still enjoy my work :)