Kouga returned with the hunting party and looked around. Not so much seeing how the pack was doing since they had left, but rather out of hope that maybe one day she would return. It had nearly been two years since they two had disappeared along with that monster and every day it cut him somewhere rather deep. Kouga had started to miss the arguments, or rather generally missed coming back to see Kagome. Sometimes he could even see shadows just barely there if he really wanted to. Kagome and Jaxis all by themselves, like when they had first came to be here, she was so stern and rigid that her eyes always snapped to him as she readied her weapon in a tight grip. Or when she practically collapsed against the wall seconds away, almost snoring, as she called for him to bring them to the river for water in that tired yet agitated tone of hers that really screamed she would rather be going with anyone but him. Even those times by the fire she poured herself over a book and lazily played her hands with various magic. Her eyes casually drifted over as he entered to notice him on accident and giving him just that little smile that always brought his heart to respond with a loud sudden pound against his chest before she went back to her book.
A hard burst of ice hit him and brought him to look at the crowd of females who looked shaken as they held Mio who was laughing, her skin covered constantly in runes. The older she got the harder it was becoming for everyone in the pack to safely deal with her. Her demonic abilities were easily enough dealt with, she was a full wolf demon after all and they knew how to keep a pup under control... Yet the only part they were having trouble with was that witch part of her. They spiraled every which way with her emotions and ranged with, for the most part ice, but she had a tendency to just... blow up when she was having a 'bad day'. Even one time during the night when she didn't feel like being brought back to the den to go to sleep and would rather play she had nearly impaled someone with an earth spike. Kouga turned his eyes to Jaxis who was slack jawed with a book in his lap. The boy frowned and closed the book before burying his head in his hands in frustration. Jaxis had told Kouga that he had never really remembered his own powers getting out of hand. It had always been his demon side that had been the hard part for his mother to control. As soon as he had that first moment of his powers unleashing for the first time against those dangerous men, he never felt out of control at all. Even when he was angry his powers were never quite as bad as Mio. Which Kouga knew probably meant that at the first glance that the magic was able to be wielded, Kagome and other witches alike probably did something that hindered their young's powers until they were taught control. Something that Jaxis didn't know how to do either. He put on a smile and walked over to grab Mio who was still glowing. His hand stroked her hair and walked over to Jaxis. They boy, since Mio recently began her powers, had stopped playing and started going through all the books his mother owned to find something. Yet he was starting to breakdown often as it was very advanced. He could barely make heads or tails of anything the book was mentioning. Couldn't gain anything from the images. Kouga sighed and said,"Jaxis, I've told you. This isn't something for a kid to deal with. The pack will find a way but you should be playing with your friends." Jaxis shook his head and muttered,"I'm the only one who even understand our magic. The only one that can read even just a bit of the text. What if something happens?" At this Kouga growled low and brought Jaxis away from his hands to look at him. Then Kouga said,"Everything will be fine. It looks scary now, I understand, but everything will be fine. This is something the adults will take care of. I know you just want to help, but go and have fun." At this he reached over and pulled the book out of his lap. Hesitantly, Jaxis got up and went away, though Kouga knew that he was still very much troubled. Mio giggled and Kouga smiled down at her. Normally she would be with the other young ones around her age as well in the nursery den, yet with her powers very much being wild it wasn't safe for the others. So she had to stick around with the adults so that they could handle what ever may come out of her.
Late in the night after he had tucked the children away he stood outside the two dens just staring and smoking. Jaxis chosen to remain in the den that Kouga had made for both him and his mother. Mio was currently under the care and watchful eye of a nursery wolf, again not anywhere near the other little ones. He sighed but couldn't help but give a chuckle that was nearly on the verge of crying. Two very powerful and extreme forces in one body, yet he could only really handle one. Kagome must has felt this way when Jaxis was probably a young, rowdy, and teethy pup. She didn't know how to handle the demonic side so she simply raised Jaxis to fear it. Now he had a daughter whom could summon the elements to her side and since he didn't know how to manage it, he had isolated her since the day she gained the ability to wield it. It probably was even worse that they were demons since it seemed that put the magic into overdrive. Kouga hated doing this though. He didn't want to isolate Mio the rest of her life, he wanted her to be among the rest, to live and grow along side the pack as a pack member. Yet right now that wasn't happening. It was too dangerous for his little one to be with anyone but a bunch of adults. She was already starting to suffer for it as well. He knew that Mio could see the other pups her age, knew that she probably wanted to be with them, yet she was always held back and could only watch form afar. He hated to think that this would be the way of things for the rest of her life. His eyes gazed up and at the night sky through the opening of the cave ceiling.
After a while of just staring he narrowed his eyes on something. Thin wispy threads that just barely were there. They were familiar, familiar in a way that he couldn't describe. Then it hit him. During his madness of the winter he had see something similar. He stood up and watched them as they danced to and fro. Kouga didn't know what they were but somehow something inside him told him that they were alright. He reached out to try and grab one only it quickly swept out of his hand. It didn't feel like anything, yet at the same time he could feel something at the same time. There wasn't any feeling in his hand yet contact with that had made him feel something else. Finally he couldn't help but ask,"What are you?" They jolted away to his surprise and instead danced in a different spot. The spot where Kagome and himself had stood during the battle. It took a while before he remembered what she had told him. Her powers were his, it would heed his call as it would heed her own. Was this something Kagome saw? Since their shared power burst he had seen these things, so the mystery was, what was it. Well he supposed he could cross out what they weren't upon observation. It wasn't a stream or flow of what ever it was, they seemed oddly... alive. They reacted to his question... His eyes opened wide, they reacted when he asked the question. Finally he asked,"Are you... Kagome?" They disappeared from view. Then he followed quickly up with,"Aspect of Kagome?" They slowly faded back into his view. He supposed he would take that as a soft yes. Close enough understanding for the both of them. Then asked,"You're here because Kagome's... dead." It had hurt to say that last part but it was softened when they once again faded out of view. They only reappeared when he ask,"Kagome's alive?" It quelled a lot of turmoil to know from a somewhat knowledgeable source that she was alive. Just somewhere very much out of reach of both himself and his inner self. Kouga then continued on a wishful line,"You... are sent from Kagome?" They faded to being barely there. Perhaps it was more that they were came from Kagome but Kagome didn't send them? Then he asked,"You... Can help with some problems?" It became a bit more visable but it still wasn't completely there. After thinking a bit he asked,"There is a way to help Mio with her powers?" They gave their form of the affirmative.
"The answer is found in one of Kagome's books?" Faded into a soft no. "It's not in a book." Still faded but did get more visable so it was a soft yes. "It was something Kagome just pieced together... using elements she found in her books." It was a firm yes. "Jaxis wouldn't know the answer if he went through every book... So he wouldn't know how to help." Gone. "Jaxis... does know how to help?" Soft no. "Jaxis doesn't know that he... knows?" Yes. "Its something Kagome did for him when he was a child?" Still there. "Something that he would have forgotten because Kagome stopped doing it." Gone. "Kagome didn't stop doing it?" Soft no. "Jaxis didn't stop doing it?" Yes. "Jaxis still does whatever it is but he doesn't know that's why he does it." Still there.
As good as this was to know, he still was put in the position that he honestly wouldn't be able to track down what the boy did to control his powers. His son did many things that he and the pack found strange. It would be dangerous to do everything yet impossible to find out which one without doing so. He sighed and pinched the bridge of is nose. When he looked up the threads were closer to him. Then he asked,"Have we seen him doing this thing?" Soft no was his answer. Which threw him through a loop. What was that suppose to mean. It wasn't a definite 'no'. Yet it wasn't a 'yes'. The answer leaned more on the edge that they hadn't seen him doing it though. After a while of thinking he simply resorted to,"Spell?" Hard no. "Ritual?" Still gone. "Artifact... Marking?" Nothing. "...Potion?" Soft yes. What would be a soft yes to a potion? "We have seen him.. taking it. But not him making it?" Soft yes still. "We know about it, but we haven't really seen it?" Yes. What the hell did they know he takes but have never seen? He sighed and nearly glared at the threads now as he asked,"I don't suppose you can just show me?" No. He growled yet said,"Alright, its good enough I suppose. Thank you that's all." Kouga turned and walked into his personal den. His hand were firmly perched on his hips as he thought over the questions and answers. Jaxis has the answer, he just had never known that he did. They knew he did it as well but had never been witness to it and it was something closer to a potion than anything else. It was up to him to figure out when and where Jaxis took it and what it was.
Ayame's eyes fluttered, she felt distinctly empty and her vision seemed to be blurred to a mere collaboration of colors. After a long while of numb blur she could see everything around her. Then she felt herself gaining feeling back until she snapped up in shock. They were no where near anywhere that would be recognizable to her. They were on a platform that had a one mile radius. It had a crumbling stone ring around it. The center was slightly curved upward with what felt like a glass covering. Looking down she noticed various bodies that appeared to be made out of stone perhaps. Male and female positioned nearly face down to the bed of ruby liquid and covered in some way by red cloth, almost like they were just sleeping. Then she noticed Kagome...
The monster that had brought them here was very still, like the bodies below. He rose out from the center of the 'gem' of bodies like a tower. Kagome was below the surface right in front of Ayame, between herself and the monster. Yet unlike the others she didn't seem to be sleeping. She was sitting up, which brought Ayame to really notice how far down those bodies were. The cloth and ruby liquid pooled at her waist and her markings were glowing in a constant light, lights that were dripping into the red below. They striped her arms and body as they just seemed to be streaming down her body to the ruby liquid below. They weren't as brilliant or vibrant as when she was in battle but they were a steady light. In the place of where her scar would be was pit of embers. She was as still as the beast as she sat with her arms propped up on her knees that were slightly bent up. Lazily in one hand she held her glaive which now was an object of pure ethereal fire as if it were as light as a flute while her other hand was placed on her forearm in a casual manner. Like she was waiting for something. Perhaps waiting to go to sleep if the other mass number of bodies was something to go by. She knocked on the surface and tried to call down to the woman yet no sound came out. Not the knocking on the glass, no sound came from her mouth. As hard as she tried it was futile. Everything was dead silent, like sound was forbidden in this place.
"That's because it sort of is. Final resting place for the arcana users alike and we like silence when we rest."
Ayame snapped her gaze up to see her own inner self sitting on the monsters hand. Yet the voice that had come out of the white wolf had not been completely her own voice as well. It was threaded with something different, something very upset that it sounded through the calm tone. Yet the wolf continued,"Below, are the slumbering arcana users that have departed the mortal realm for one reason or another. They enjoy their peaceful slumber under the protection of the Baal... Every arcana user longs for the eternal peace of their well deserved final rest... You... And I-" The voice turned into the other very upset voice more,"... Have much to discuss. While we slumber here, we aren't completely gone. Our magic has a mind of its own, while we sleep we are able to wander and witness through the veil of the Other... We come back as the Mass. What you did was very stupid. I don't appreciate being ripped from my slumber and being forced into this thing. Just as your inner self didn't like that you ignored her every call to drop your pursuit of some male all for the purpose of power!" Ayame wanted to snap back that it wasn't or power but the being continued,"Bullshit!... Do not lie to us. It was a childish pursuit. A pursuit that forced us together and nearly ripped everyone here from their deserved slumber. They had begun to stir and wail as your actions disturbed this place. It became noisy and the Baal had to act. Actions that forced that Mr'ah into the position she is now. Actions that can not be undone when it comes to us. You robbed me of my slumber. I was forced into this state by you and I refused to be forced to rejoin with you. I had lived my life already. The Baal separated us from you to stop the stirring and luckily over these two years they have found their rest once again. All except me."
She gulped as she stared up at the nearly snarling wolf. Yet she could understand why this other thing that have been fused with her inner self was very ticked off. At the same time she didn't want to lose her inner self forever. Without her she felt empty and alone. She couldn't be sure of anything anymore, there was always a feeling of unease. Once again she tried to speak herself. The wolf reacted,"Baal already understands and knows the events that lead up to this near tragedy. He is slumbering to contemplate what to do with you. You're not suppose to be here." With no voice and no real option to argue, she nodded and sat down. Her eyes stared down to the woman below.
"Mushintea!", Mio yelled up at Kouga as they stood a bit away while he dealt with her tantrum. She had been yelling about this for a while apparently. Mostly it happened during late mornings. He dodged a fire blast and growled down to her,"Enough." Still she persisted as she once again yelled in anger,"Mushintea!" This time it was a blast of electricity. Now he was thankful for all the times he had battled Kagome in the beginning. His inner self knew the feeling to look out for and he was able to better deal with the onslaught. Jaxis hesitantly peeked his head out and watched the battle between father and little girl. He walked over and asked,"Is everything okay, Dad." Kouga put on a smile and tried his best as he said,"Everything is fine." Jaxis had give an unsure nod. In between his fingers he had a ball of something that looked like moss and he began sucking on it. Both of them turned back to Mio as she wailed just as another strike of lightning burst, Jaxis quickly poked an area of air and a seal of markings appeared to nullify the bolt from going anywhere. There was a sounding sizzle as it struck the seal with vigor. Mio huffed and turned away from them. Kouga sighed yet was brought to the ball of moss that his son was sucking on. Then he narrowed his eyes and he asked,"What is that?" His son looked but up to him and then replied as he pulled out the ball away from him,"Mom said that it was called... Forbearance." Kouga chuckled and then commented,"It looks like it would taste horrible." Jaxis smiled and then said,"It looks better before you put the paste in the tea." At that Kouga froze and narrowed his eyes at Mio as he asked,"Paste... in tea." Jaxis nodded and said as he chuckled a bit,"When I was younger, Mom said I used to call it 'Mush in Tea'." His gaze snapped to Jaxis and he asked,"Mush. In. Tea... Think you could make make another cup and bring it to me?" Jaxis nodded and he watched Jaxis walk back to the cave Kagome and himself used to inhabit. He smirked and then looked back to the rain cloud that was his daughter and whistled. She turned back around and once again started but Kouga brought a finger to his lips to shush her. Then he smiled and said,"Mush in tea. I know, we're getting you some... Mio... Where did you hear about it?"
She was silent for a while. Mio just didn't have the words to explain it would seem. He sighed but ruffled her hair lovingly. Soon after Jaxis brought over a lump of a paste at the center of a sea of light green tea. Kouga handed it to Mio who contently drank it. Jaxis watched in silent awe that as she drank her markings were becoming more subdued. Her aura wasn't just this pent up collection bashing every which way for escape. As she finished the tea she did as she had seen Jaxis doing and pulled out the paste which had gathered and hardened a bit into a mossy ball before putting it in her mouth to suck on it. Kouga nodded and stood back up as he said,"That should take care of her outbursts, I think."
As the day carried on it was proven as even when she was normally high at risk for exploding. It was merely a pup throwing a tantrum. He watched her very closely through the day to be sure but by the end of the day Kouga had deemed that she was safe enough to be placed with the other pups. They would just have to make sure that the tea was part of her normal routine. That night, he once again wasn't able to sleep so he stayed up. It was all in hopes that he would once again see those wisps once again. As they had the previous night they had reappeared. What ever they were, they had been very helpful in taking a problem that had persisted for a while before and lead them to fix it in the span of a day. Kagome had always described them as being 'alive'. Which he had seen. They were aware of his intentions, his thoughts, his questions. It brought a question to his mind.
"Is there a way to bring Kagome back?"
By this time he was very much aware that on her own, she was not going to come back. He didn't know much about what ever that monster was, yet he knew that Kagome had wanted to fix things before he appeared so it was unlikely that she wanted to fight him at all. In fact in the end when she saw a chance to end his own attacks upon the pack, she had quickly seized it. The fact that he was seeing these things and merely affirmed everything in his mind. When they gave their form of affirmation to his question he nodded. Then they began,"Portal?" No. "Spell." Soft no. Kouga thought for a few moments as he tried to think of other ways to bring a person back. Then he glanced over to where Kagome had disappeared. Finally he said,"I have to be brought there." Yes. "I have to piss that thing off again." No. "There's a way to bring them back without pissing that thing off?" Yes. Kouga remembered back to Kagome, she had been able to talk to that thing. She was speaking in another tongue and that thing actually seemed to be responding to it. Then he asked,"I have to talk to it?" Yes. "There is no spell to bring her back, but there is one to talk to that thing." Yes. "Is it in Kagome's books?" No...
"Another thing she pieced together?" No.
"Is it recorded anywhere?" No.
He thought for a while but then came to a dreadful realization,"It was passed down through word of mouth." Yes. With a growl he had to kick his own ass for this one,"Of fucking course. Kagome was the last person who knew how to do it." Soft yes. "Jaxis doesn't know he knows again?" No. "There is... Another arcana user?" Soft yes. Kouga looked at the wisps in confusion. He thought long and hard before he asked,"I'm looking for... an enemy?" Soft yes. "I'm looking for someone that-" No. "Something?" Yes. "Something that used to be an enemy?" Yes. "I'm looking for something very old." Yes. Kouga looked down to the ground in contemplation. He then said,"Alright... Alright." He then looked back up and asked,"You... I don't know what you are... But Kagome always described you as being alive. You guide arcana users when they need it and you're here to help me." Yes. "Guide me on the path to find this thing." They lingered a bit in contemplation but eventually drifted off to the exit of the cave. With one last loving look to the dens that contained his children, he went to follow the wisps out. Only he stopped just inside the tunnel out, waiting there was Jaxis. He had on his traveling pack and had this look of hard determination and slight betrayal in his eyes. He slightly glared at Kouga and said,"You were going to leave me here." Kouga sighed and thought long and hard. Yet he knew that look in Jaxis' eyes. It was the same type he had seen when they first got to the den. The ones they had when they refused to eat and drink. He nodded and replied,"I was... But I see you won't be left behind. Will you?" Jaxis shook his head and the issue was not addressed again. Besides, Jaxis was a magic user as well. He was Kagome's constant companion in their out hunt for arcana. If he was going to be looking for an old enemy to the arcana, then he needed what he had of that world. Together the two headed out and after setting a message with one of the pack members on watch, Kouga looked for the trail of the wisps and lead the way with Jaxis close at his side.