JustaFanGrell says:
I can hardly believe that I find myself posting CHAPTER 10!
A BIG THANK YOU to all of you who have read ODaSN!
I hope everyone is still enjoying the story…
There is still more to come-
DEATH*

One Dark and Stormy Night

Ch. 10 (WOW… REALLY… Chapter TEN?!)

Its finely tuned hearing caught Fai's last statement and grabbed its attention. Eavesdropping really comes in handy sometimes. it thought, just before realizing exactly what had been said.

"Sounds like whatever it is could be dangerous." Kurogane quietly replied. He looked over at the boy and pork-bun who seemed to be arguing over the best ways to cook the fish. "I should go out and 'take care of it' before it becomes a problem. No telling what it may be capable of."

Its hackles stood straight up and a low growl began deep in its chest as it realized what had been suggested. I will NOT be 'Taken care of' like some lowly BEAST! Slowly, its anger began to cloud its view with a red-tinted mist and its claws dug deep into the squishy loam under its feet. A long time ago, the villagers had tried to 'take care of it' several times… all to no avail, each time losing many men to its slashing claws and sharp fangs. Only once had they succeeded in 'taking care of' what they had perceived as a threat, and its mate had paid the ultimate price for its inability to stop them before they had struck the death blow.

The villagers had eventually reaped what they had sown that day. The beast had returned a short time later and exacted its revenge upon the whole of the village. So deeply it had been lost in its despair it knew not what it had done, until the last of the villagers had fallen to its grief-driven rage. But not even a village full of blood-soaked revenge had been able to bring back its mate, or lessen its grief in even the slightest way. Ever since that day it had been truly alone… the very last of its kind.

It quickly began to form a plan of attack in its mind… They will rue the day that they set foot in MY forest! Its claws gouged the earth and its tail whipped from side to side as it began to salivate in expectation of the battle ahead.

Inside, Fai laid a hand on the samurai's chest. "No, Kuro-General. Let's not be hasty. We have no idea what its demeanor may be. I don't want us to kill something for no reason… that would be a terrible thing to do, just because it might hurt us. Besides, I felt a strange presence of another mind at the same time I felt watched. They may be connected. We should take time to find out more before taking any hasty actions that we may regret."

Outside in the pouring rain it was poised for a fight, ready at any moment to leap the wall and rend them all to shreds. It listened in as Fai pleaded his case. Even on the verge of attack, its intelligence ruled over its hate and stalled its actions. It already knew of the one's ability to send thoughts that it could understand. Maybe that one was the smartest of them all. It agreed with that one's sentiment, and took a step back to think again about the situation. It shook its head and blinked several times as if two parts of its mind were fighting each other for control. A few tense moments and one last head shake later and the beast decided. I too, do not condone killing just for killing's sake. I will stay my claws and await their final decision. And should they attack, they WILL regret it! It took a deep breath and attempted to calm itself as it waited for the end of their discussion and the decision on their course of action.

Kurogane countered- "No- ya wimpy mage! We must strike first while the iron is hot and avoid the attack altogether! It's not worth the risk- it's MY job to protect! If someone wants to hurt you guys, I'll kill 'em FIRST… and ask questions later!"

"NO." Fai forcefully said. The stern look of warning on the magician's face caught the ninja off guard. "We must NOT attack first, Kurogane. We do not visit a new world and murderthe first sentient being we encounter! It would be an unnecessary and needless death."Fai understood protecting them against danger… But is this being even dangerous?

It could hardly believe the conviction he felt in the smart one's words. This one is very intelligent, unlike the loud one who seems to be more of a brute than anything else. It snorted its disgust at the thought. There had already been way too many brutes in this village… it could hardly stand the thought of even ONE more inhabiting it, even if only temporarily.

That final statement Fai spoke stopped the samurai in his tracks. His mind raced back to what seemed a lifetime ago, when someone else had uttered words such as these.

He was back in Nihon again, arguing with Tomoyo-hime. "I want to be stronger than anyone else! I don't care who lives or dies!" he screamed. Then she had told him she was sending him away, that he would probably meet new people, and there find the true meaning of strength. And then she cursed him, "So you won't kill needlessly anymore. From this moment on, unnecessary death will be forbidden to you."

That's how this had all started. Have I learned NOTHING since then? he wondered. It was as if Fai's words had flipped a switch inside him and his will to fight began to dissolve. Kurogane sighed heavily at Fai's words as they sunk in. "Yea… you're right. I won't kill for no reason anymore. Tomoyo-hime made sure of that. But I 'aint gonna be responsible or guarantee I won't kill it the first chance I get if it attacks!" he sternly warned his companion.

Although very surprised at Kurogane's sudden change of heart, Fai was still relieved to hear his friend agree with him. Lightly laughing at the samurai's very stern look and patting him on the back, Fai jovially replied "Fair enough, Kuro-Guardian. Fair enough! Now... let's go see what Syaoran-kun and Mokona-chan have prepared for our fine supper!"

Waiting in the mud and slowly lowering its hackles, it felt slight relief in the outcome of their discussion. There had been too much death and waste already in this village. It may be a beast, but it actually disliked hostilities… I'm really a lover, not a fighter. But I will stand my ground and take care of business if I must. It would continue to warily watch and wait… its curiosity had been aroused. Besides, 'that one's' intelligence and strong mind was too intriguing not to stay.