Chapter 9

This chapter isn't like the movie so bear with it. But I decided if I followed the story directly it would be stupid so lol here.

Kyo, Yuki, and Hana walked beside their horses as the young boy lead them deeper and deeper into the forests outside the village. "So who used to live out here?" Kyo asked looking around thoughtfully.

"I don't know." Hiro replied sullenly. He glanced to the side when Hana cleared her throat. His eyes widened and he held up his hands. "I don't really! All I know is the name Ayame."

Yuki stopped suddenly and looked at the boy. "Ayame? He was the lord of the castle?"

Hiro smirked. "You see, you would get no information if not for me. I better be amply rewarded for my services. I am an important person in the village and deserve to be treated well." He crossed his arms and shoved his nose in the air.

Kyo grabbed the runt by his collar and lifted him into the air. "Why you…"

"Let him down." Hana said laying her hand on Yukis arm. "He can't talk when your choking him like that." Kyo reluctantly let Hiro back onto the ground and scowled at him. "Now Hiro, you say Ayame is the lord who was killed?" Hana asked leaning down to Hiro's level.

"Yes. But I personally think the rumors of his death were just that, rumors." Hiro confided. "When the village men went to kill the demon he threw them out of the castle grounds, if he had killed the lord don't you think he would have disposed of his body in a similar fashion? Wouldn't he want everyone to know he killed him? He did something else as far as I'm concerned." Hiro smirked again. He was highly intelligent and he knew who these people were. He had been to the castle once and he recognized the prince and his friend. The women he was unsure of but she frightened him. "My information is always worth hearing."

"Good lord! He's worse than that one merchant that comes to the castle." Kyo said gesturing wildly.

"Oh…you mean my father." Hiro said looking over his shoulder.

Kyo growled and sank to the floor. "We're camping here for the night." He turned his back on the others and glared out into the dark. Yuki, Hana, and Hiro each found their own places to rest and silence reigned. The horses were sitting quietly and eating when Kyo left the clearing.

He wandered unseeingly for a long time his mind on the day of traveling and Tohru. Where are you Tohru? He wondered he clenched a hand in front of his chest as a picture of her smiling face floated before him. "I'm sorry Tohru." He muttered.

"Tohru?" A voice said from somewhere by his foot. "You know Princess Tohru?"

Kyo spun his sword draw and ready only to see nothing but a small rabbit. "Who said that."

"I did." The rabbit said standing up on its back legs. "I asked if you knew the Princess."

"Yes! Do you know where she is?" Kyo asked resheathing his sword hesitantly. Just because it was an animal didn't mean he was going to let his guard down. After all he was looking for an enchanter.

"Yes! Follow me." The rabbit turned and darted into the bushes with Kyo close behind.

After what felt like forever Kyo stumbled out into a clearing beside a large lake. His eyes took in the ruined castle behind it and the suddenly decayed forest. This must be where the enchanter lives…

His thoughts came to an abrupt end as he spotted a body lying rumpled closer to the lake. He almost missed the large black dog sitting protectively beside her until it stepped in front of her growling menacingly. He slid to a stop and glared at the dog that stood between him and Tohru.

Tohru moved slightly and sat up her hair trailing on the floor. "Shigure?" She murmured questioningly then looked up to see Kyo standing not far away. "KYO!" She leapt to her feet and flung herself at him.

Kyo's arms closed around the fragile girl his heart pounding as he held her to him. "Tohru," his words were soft and tremulous. It hit them right then like a ton of bricks. I love her. "Are you alright?"

"Yes. I was so worried about you!" Tohru sobbed holding Kyo tightly. Her heart was overflowing with relief seeing him standing before her whole and healthy.

"Me? Why would you be worried about me?" Kyo asked running his hand down her hair and trying not to growl at the dirt and bruises that covered her.

"Akito…he said he was going to go after your kingdom. If he resorted to trickery to get me, I thought he'd do the same to you." She said leaning away.

"Let him try. I'll kill him for hurting you." Kyo slid his hands from her shoulders down to her hands.

"As much as I am enjoying this reunion…" The dogs voice carried over to the couple. "Akito is coming and he is angry."

"Kyo you need to go!" Tohru said pushing him away. "Momiji…lead him to safety."

"I'm not leaving." Kyo started but Shigure grabbed his arm and started to drag him off.

"Explain everything to him please guys but go!" Tohru moved away slowly and sank to her knees tears running freely down her cheeks. "Goodbye Kyo…"

Kyo was let go almost when they were just outside his campsite. "Now will you explain why Tohru didn't run away with me? I could have fended him off long enough to reach Yuki."

"Yuki?" Shigure asked looking up. He looked towards the camp thoughtfully then wandered in to sit and stare at the gray haired boy.

Kyo and Momiji followed and woke the others. Hana stared at the animals and Hiro looked smug. "I told you the lord wasn't killed."

"Neither of us is the lord." Momiji replied looking at the boy.

"Oh." Hiro looked deflated but perked up again when Shigure mentioned that the lord was also animal.

"Alright well to make all explanations quick so we can return to Tohru…" The dog started sitting straight up. "Akito came to the castle a few years ago and captured all the important people in the castle before chasing off the soldiers. For the next few months we were his test subjects as he perfected transmutation. The lord, myself and Momiji were the only ones to survive the process. Since then he must have been practicing more because he's advanced it even more to the level he used on Tohru."

"Tohru?" Hana asked leaning forward. "Kyo you saw Tohru?" She leapt forward glaring down at him when he nodded. "AND YOU DIDN'T BRING HER WITH YOU?"

Kyo cringed back. "She told me to go and had Shigure drag me off!" He defended himself but only slightly, he felt guilty about leaving her behind as well.

"Mistress please calm down!" The rabbit said jumping onto Kyo's chest. "She can't leave the lake."

"What do you mean?" Yuki asked. It was the first time he'd talked but he was paying rapt attention.

"When Shigure said Akito had perfected transmutation he meant it. Tohru is bespelled, the spell keeps her in range of the lake and at night she is human. During the day…she won't be." Momiji explained. "Until you can figure out how to break the spell…she can't leave there. Not alive." He refused to tell them her shape or explain she could leave in her other form; he hoped that by telling them this they'd kill Akito and free them all.

"Yuki…your brother, his name is Ayame right?" Shigure asked. When Yuki nodded Shigure continued. "He's alive. He went off searching for someone. He didn't tell us who though."

"We need to return to the castle." Hana said standing up and swinging up onto her horse. Her face had paled but she wasn't looking at any of them.

Kyo could tell that there was a problem at home so he jumped to his feet and threw Hiro up behind Hana. "Shigure…tell Tohru her mother is alright. And tell her I WILL be back to rescue her." He and Yuki mounted and raced off into the trees.

Akito stormed into the clearing barely minutes after Shigure had dragged off Kyo and walked straight to her hitting her. "I know someone was here!"

Tohru fell back gasping. "Who would be out here in the middle of nowhere?" Tohru cowered before him. Seeing Kyo had reinforced her desire to protect the kingdom and him.

Akito glared at her but turned away for a moment before looking back with a small smile. "Have you decided to agree to be my wife?" He asked gently.

"Never." She whispered and grunted softly as he moved forward swiftly punching her in the gut.

"Don't think to be rescued Princess." Akito murmured. "I'll be gone for a few days while I check on your precious kingdom and that precious boy of yours. There will be a barrier up to keep you from leaving." He strode off a moment later ignoring her attempts to struggle to her feet.

I have to warn Kyo! She thought but when she tried to stand she fell back down hitting her head and blacking out.

I really wanted Tohru to have a personality but she also has to be a bit weak or else she wouldn't be Tohru. I hope this chapter was good enough for my impatient readers. Next chapter will be more Kyo-centric than Tohru. The emergency at the castle and there will even be a bit of Akito on his own as he is sulking around will be done. Hiro and Kisa meet. It will be cuteness!

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Also please, if you like Inuyasha read my new story Bleed and tell me if I should continue it. I don't know if I want it a one-shot or not.