Jan let out a deep exhale as he looked across the pit at the king, who was waiting impatiently. He took out the small dagger at his side and stepped into the ring etched into the dirt on the ground.
"You shouldn't have challenged me, Jan. You and I both know which one of us is the strongest." The king sneered.
The two white wolves circled the pit, each waiting for the other to make the first move.
"Stronger yes, smarter no." Jan grinned, his fangs flashing in what little light fell into the pit.
The king let out a snarl and pounced toward Jan, who managed to move out of the way in time to avoid the dagger that slashed at the air behind him. The king turned and kicked Jan in the stomach, blowing the wind out of the younger wolf for a moment. Jan recovered with a snarl, using the side of the wall to thrust himself toward the king, dagger and claws drawn. The king moved, but was too slow to avoid the bite of the dagger digging deeply into his shoulder. He yelped in pain as Jan quickly backed away, watching him warily. The king looked down at the blood seeping down his white fur and turned burning eyes toward Jan.
"You will never take my kingdom." He yelled, his eyes glowing red as he let loose a tendril of the red energy suddenly surrounding him toward Jan.
Hisses and boos erupted from above as Jan dodged the attack. "It's against the code to use magic in a duel." Jan growled.
"Screw the codes- a brat like you doesn't deserve to be king." The king yelled, and the tendrils snaked toward Jan again.
"If you say so." Jan shrugged, and with a smile, completely vanished from sight.
"You can't do that!" The king growled as he looked around frantically for any sign of Jan.
"Oh that's fair. No wonder your second wife left you." Jan snickered before holding his dagger's blade against the king's spine. "Last chance- I could just banish you instead of killing you- I don't like the idea of death much."
"Then you're weak." The king turned and lashed out, the red energy burning Jan's chest as he became visible and stumbled back in pain. He looked down at the black and red skin of his burned chest and kissed in pain before vanishing again.
Everyone watched anxiously as the king lashed out randomly around him, trying to find Jan. He hit, and a loud yelp cried out through the silence as blood splattered against the wall of the pit.
Rain gasped in horror as she saw Jan's foot prints stumble, a hand imprinting on the ground as he kneeled. She saw the foot prints carefully make their way along the wall toward the king, until he was behind him. She saw Jan hesistate, standing still for a moment before he stepped forward and became visible, yelling out a loud yell and shoving his dagger into the king's back, the red glow burning his hands as he twisted the blade before pulling it out.
The king froze, his eyes wide as he turned his head slowly to look at Jan. A low growl sounded from his throat, before blood started to seep down from his nose and the corner of his mouth. He fell suddenly, the glow fading from around his body as he hit the ground.
Jan stared at the king for a minute before dropping the dagger and gasped as the pain from the former king's attacks hit him suddenly. He fought for breath as his body suddenly went numb, leaning against the blood smeared wall behind him.
He looked up in confusion as people started appearing around him, Toran talking to him with worried eyes, but Jan couldn't seem to hear Toran's muffled words. He was supported by two men, seeing Toran on one side, and a very worried Michael on the other.
Then the world went black.
When Jan opened his eyes again, he was laying on his bed, a healer tending to his wounds with a soft silver glow around her slender hands. He remembered the battle and tried to sit up, growling in pain.
"Stay." Rain snapped, putting one of her glowing hands on his bare chest to push him back down. "You scared me to death, you idiot. I told you to be careful." She said, her voice cracking slightly with emotion as she took one of his softly furred hands in her own.
"Sorry." Jan smiled weakly, looking down at their intertwined hands thoughtfully. "You know, I wasn't sure if you'd reject me or not. I honestly thought I would lose the fight."
Rain scoffed in disbelief, and hit him lightly on the shoulder. "Yu were going to kiss me and then die? King or not, that's a horrible thing to do to a girl."
"King…" Jan muttered with widening eyes.
"Well, duh. You won the fight- so now you're king. But you're not doing any king stuff until you're healed. So sit there and stay."
"Woof woof." Jan grinned teasingly. "Am I your dog now?"
"Only if you want to be." Rain whispered with a blush, and Jan's grip on her hand tightened reassuringly.
"So you're sure you're feeling up to his? I'm sure no one would blame you if you wanted to delay the ceremony for a while." Michael asked Jan uneasily as he helped the wolf put on an ornate blue robe. Jan's chest was still somewhat stiff from his injuries, so he needed help putting the heavy outfit on for his crowning ceremony.
"No, the kingdom needs a ruler as quickly as possible. Besides, Rain healed me, so I'm good as new." He thumped himself on the chest, and tried to hide the wince of pain it caused.
"You're such a horrible liar- you always have been." Michael chuckled.
Jan grinned and looked over his shoulder at his friend, this expression turning thoughtful. "Hey Michael, you always wanted to be a fighter and not a servant, right?"
"Of course. Since my father taught me sword fighting as a child, I've always wanted to fight for the kingdom. Why?" Michael tied the cape over Jan's shoulder, his hooved fingers clicking lightly against the metal clasps as he worked.
"How would you like to be general? I think you'd be good at it. You've always had a mind for tactics." Jan looked at himself in the mirror in front of him, grinning wryly at Michael's shocked expression.
"Seriously? But… I'm a horse. How can I be general if I can't even be part of the army? Only wolves are allowed to fight."
"I think it's about time things changed. Our kingdom is starting to rot under the rules of previous kings. People shouldn't be forced into a position just because of their species. It seems… wrong. I only have one agreement you must follow."
"What's that?" Michael said lightly, still smiling.
"You'll have to help me run the kingdom. I don't think I can do it on my own." Jan said, looking at his reflection uneasily. He had known the day would come when he would be king of Okami, but now that it was here, he didn't think he was ready for the throne.
"Deal." Michael said, patting Jan on the shoulder to tell he was finished. "There we are, you look like a king now. Time to go get your crown."
"Who is handing it over? Obviously the previous king can't."
"We convinced Toran to do it- he seemed hesitant to fill such an important role, but he agreed with some help from Althea."
"He's such a sucker for her." Jan laughed. "She could probably convince him to eat his own foot."
"I do not doubt it- you seem to have a thing for that human girl as well- are you thinking of taking her as your mate?" Michael said curiously.
Jan looked at his old friend with sudden nervousness. He knew Michael was not one to like humans much, and Rain had already tried to take down the kingdom. "I was thinking that, yes. What do you think of it?"
"You are worried I disapprove?" Michael grinned. "I'm glad you care so much about my opinion- but I think you should. She is a nice girl, even though her brother sends chills down my spine. She sure has a thing for you as well.
"You think?" Jan said eagerly.
Michael simply laughed, shaking his head in amusement. "You really do need help with courtship, don't you? Do not worry, I'll be here to help you."
Jan smiled in relief and held out his hand to his friend, and they grasped each other's wrists in a show of affection.
"Now go and get your crown so we can help those poor insectus. From what Marsu told me, they need us desperately."
"I agree. I believe Toran will want to join us as well."
"And Rain will want to come- I doubt she'll let you for far without her in your condition."
"I am healed! There is nothing wrong with me.!" Jan protested, but winced when Michael poked me in the chest.
"Whatever you say, Your Majesty. Go on." Michael pushed Jan from the room with a laugh.
"Jan of Okami, do you vow to hold your subjects' needs above your own, and solve problems with the best intention in mind?" Toran said loudly, the entire throne room packed with humanus.
"I do." Jan said in response, looking up at Toran as he kneeled in front of the tiger.
"Then I crown you king of Okami- may your rule be prosperous." Toran lowered the crown onto Jan's head, and a loud cheer rose from the people watching. Jan stood, looking out at the people with a smile.
"Seems you're a popular choice." Toran grinned from beside him.
Jan smiled back, and raised his arms to ask for silence, the cheers quickly dying down. "As my first action of king, I wish to make it known to all what my intentions are. As you have probably heard, the insectus are very sick- thousands of them are dying as we stand here today. If we agree to try and heal them, they have vowed to protect our kingdom from any enemy- including that of the humans." Jan paused as gasps arose at the thought of the insectus protecting the humanus- it was something none of them had thought possible.
"King Toran has already agreed to go help them with any healers he has brought with him from Tora." Jan glanced at Toran, who nodded. He didn't bother telling the people that the only healers Toran had brought were Naru and Althea. That was beside the point. "Any healers wishing to help our wonderful kingdom are welcome to join me and help the Insectus in their time of need. Any species is welcome- regardless of class. Do you agree to help?" Jan waited a moment before people cheered again, dozens of people stepping forward, a few of them wearing the royal healer robes.
"Thank you." Jan said to those who had stepped forward, who bowed their heads politely. He raised his head again, and looked to those in the throne room. "We will need all the healers we can get- spread the word as quickly as you can- we will leave tomorrow." Jan saw scouts scramble from the throne room, Marsu included.