[RATING M] For language and maybe for future lemon, we're never sure how things will turn out. X'DD
Hey guys, SweetFantasyDreams here. :)
So, here's the seventh chapter of Wolves's Destiny, I hope that you guys will like it, I did my best to keep the story interesting so far. ~
I'm so sorry for the long waiting, but you know...life keeps me busy (college especially, lol), AND I want to be sure to give you something worth reading.
But...I have to admit that I'm not really pleased with this chapter. I lacked inspiration, but I still wanted to post another chapter for you, guys...I'm sorry if it's not what you were expecting, but know this: so far, everything was worth reading, and it might get slocky at times, but I'll always try to make sure that I make masterpieces of my story for the chapters.
For the time being...this is the only thing I can post for you, so far.
I do not own any of Inuyasha CCs (Canon characters, which means: CHARACTERS BELONGING TO THE MANGA AND SHOW.)
I only own the FCs (Fan characters, which means: CHARACTERS CREATED BY A FAN).
Message(s) from the ''author'':
-1. This chapter quote's author is unknown.
Peaceful Leaving
''I give you this one thought to keep - I am with you still - I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on the snow, I am the sunlight on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift, uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not think of me as gone - I am with you still - in each new dawn.''
The time had passed on slowly, and soon enough, it was the middle of the summer season, now.
Osamu didn't replied to the death of his followers Birds of Paradise that were slaughtered by Takehaya, Taiyô and their allies weeks ago.
Both Wolf Demons and Tiger Demons were on their guards though, as they knew that an attack from the traitor could occur at any moment.
The security around the Northern Yôrô Tribe's Den had been increased, and the young Wolf Demons and Tiger Demons children were being watched over with more hawk eyes than ever. Both sides were constantly going on patrols to make sure to ensure the security of the children and of everybody in general.
The fresh temperature leaved place to the heat of the summer, even though that the nights remain chilly.
Ginta and Hakkaku kept bonding with Yuna and Sakura, even though that they felt awkward at times around the ladies. Yuna and Sakura had both no problems to hang out with them, however, and didn't care about what the others might be thinking about it either.
Things seemed to be fine, and everyone was somehow happy...
...until that night.
It was a somehow cold night, and everybody was asleep...excepted for Koga. He was guarding the place, in case that the Birds of Paradise and Osamu's Tribe decided to attack them in their sleep.
Koga was taking care of the fire, when he froze in place. Something inside him told him that something wasn't right. Slowly getting up, he looked around with sharp eyes...and catched a shadow heading towards the forest.
Frowning, Koga silently followed the shadow, and soon enough, he found himself in the clearing where Ayame spent her time training herself (and also where she tried to kick his butt). The shadowy figure was standing in front of a tree, and before Koga could ask who it was, a familiar scent reached his nose.
-''...Elder...?''
Indeed, it was the Wolf Elder.
This one slightly turned around, softly noded, then looked back at the tree. Koga silently approached the Wolf Elder, and once that he was at his side, he knelt down next to him. The Wolf Elder looked very tired, and his breath was slightly labored.
-''Good evening, Koga...'', murmured the Wolf Elder.
-''Good evening, Elder...What are you doing here...?''
-''...I...came here to die.''
Koga was so shocked that he remain mute for a minute.
-''Why here...? You...You could have stayed in the cave...?'', he asks, confused.
-''...I didn't wished for Ayame to wake up next to the corpse of her grandfather...'', simply answers the Wolf Elder, sighing deeply. ''...And I wanted to die where she trained so hard to grow into the beautiful woman that she is today...''
Carefully, the Wolf Elder lied down on the ground, on his side. Koga remain silent, griting his teeth.
-''...I sense frustration coming from you, Koga...Why is that...?'', asks the Wolf Elder.
-''...Why now...?'', murmures Koga. ''None of us is ready for you to go, Elder...not even me, and especially not Ayame...''
-''...You do realize that I didn't chose when I'd die...?''
-''Of course, Elder...it's...just so sudden...''
The Wolf Elder laughs softly.
-''...I have a request, Koga...'', he then sighs.
-''What is it ?'', calmly asks Koga.
-''This is not a secret to anyone that my departure will nearly destroy Ayame...however, as soon as I'll be gone, and by the dawn of the next morning, she'll be the Northern Yôrô Tribe's new Leader...I want you, Haru and Taiyô to guide her in her new role...''
-''We would have done that even if you didn't mentioned it, Elder...''
Again, the Wolf Elder laughs softly.
-''I know...but I wanted to be sure that you, especially, wouldn't let her down...''
Koga frowned:...the Wolf Elder wasn't completely trusting him with that, too...? He groans in annoyance.
-''For the last time, Elder, I gived you my word that I wouldn't leave Ayame to die !'', he exclaims, annoyed. ''I might be a jerk at times, but you can trust me on this: Ayame won't be left down ! Not after what I did, and not when she'll probably need me the most !''
The Wolf Elder simply listened in silence, before to close his eyes.
-''...Thank you, Koga...'', he murmures, sighing deeply. ''...I believe you, when you say it so firmly...And, please...Tell Ayame...that I love her...and that I'm so proud of the young woman that she became...''
-''I will, Elder...'', softly nods Koga.
The Wolf Elder smiled softly, and a few minutes later, he stoped breathing.
Koga closes his eyes.
-''...Rest in peace, Elder...We'll be fine...and I'll protect everybody with my own life...''
Koga then remain silent for a while, staring at the body of the Wolf Elder. After a while, he got up, and headed back to the den. Strangely, Haru and Taiyô were up, and waiting for him by the fire.
Koga walked to the fire, then sat down, staring at the flames. Taiyô's impatience was palpable, but this one made an effort and remain silent. Haru was calm as ever, and didn't pushed on Koga to make him talk.
Soon enough, Koga sighed and rubbed down his hands on his face.
-''...The Wolf Elder died a few minutes ago...'', he murmures, his eyes closed.
Haru and Taiyô both closed their eyes, dealing with their own sadness.
-''...Did he said anything...?'', murmures Haru.
-''Yes...He asked that we support and guide Ayame in her new role as the Leader of the Northern Yôrô Tribe...'', answers Koga.
-''...Which we will do...'', calmly says Taiyô.
-''...Why...Why didn't he woked up Ayame...?'', asks Haru, rubbing his forehead. ''Was he aware that not talking to her before leaving could be...selfish...?''
-''...I don't know, Haru...'', sighs Koga. ''He only said that he didn't want her to wake up next to his corpse...I think that it implies that he didn't want to wake her up...''
Haru grits his teeth, but remain silent. Taiyô was also strangely silent, but it might be because he knew that he shouldn't express himself with his impatience.
-''...You'll tell her tomorow morning...?'', softly asked Taiyô to Koga.
Koga nodded positively at the question, before to stare again into the flames.
-''...I promised him ot let her down...and I guess that as her fiancé, it's my duty to tell her what happened...'', murmures Koga, slightly rubbing the left side of his neck, where the silver crescent moon - the mark of mates for eternity - was.
Haru and Taiyô both slowly nod in understandin, then all remain silent, staring at the flames of the fire.
The morning soon took place over the night.
Ayame woked up quite early, and was slightly confused to not find her grandfather next to her. She got up and headed to the cave's entrance, which she exited. A few Wolf Demons - and a few Tiger Demons allies - were up and doing their stuff.
Ayame spotted Koga, Haru and Taiyô by the dying camp fire, and headed towards them. The three saw her approaching, and they got up slowly.
-''Did any of you three has seen my grandfather...?'', she asks, frowning.
The three remain silent, looking at each other. Ayame sharpened her eyes, already suspicious of their silence. Koga then grits his teeth, before to sigh.
-''...Ayame...your grandfather died last night...''
The world brutally stoped for Ayame, and she felt like a tree had fallen on her head. She felt dizzy and stepped back, her lips shaking.
-''...Where...?'', she asks in a breath. ''...Where is...?''
-''Ayame...'', starts Koga.
-''Where, Koga ?''
-''Ayame, he didn't wanted you to...''
-''I DON'T CARE ! I ASKED YOU: WHERE DID HE DIED, KOGA ?!'', exploded Ayame, upset.
Koga sighed in annoyance and defeat.
-''...He left the cave to go and die in the clearing where you trained so hard...'', he finally revealed.
Ayame turned pale, then wrapped herself in a whirlwind, and as soon as it was gone, Ayame was gone as well.
-''...Damnit...'', mumbles Taiyô. ''I feel useless whenever a girl is like this...''
-''You think I don't feel the same ?!'', snaps Koga. ''Ugh !''
-''...You can't just leave her alone, Koga...you promised'', calmly says Haru.
-''Geez, thanks for the support !'', grumbles Koga.
Haru crosses his arms on his chest armor.
-''In her state, she might refuse to see any of us'', he calmly says. ''You might be the only one that she won't push away because of her feelings for you...so you're the only one that can comfort her, Koga.''
That was a good point...it still didn't pleased Koga.
-''What if she tries to kick my a- my butt, again ? That wasn't very pleasant, the last time it happened !''
-''You're afraid to get your butt kicked ?'', snickers Taiyô. ''That is so pathetic of you...''
Koga twitches, then brutally punches Taiyô in the face, sending him to fly a few meters away and to land on his back on the ground. Haru swiftly grabs Koga by his wrist, and Koga snarled loudly, but Haru didn't moved a muscle.
-''None of us knows what she's capable of !'', snapped Koga. ''So don't freacking annoy me with your pathetic taunts, Taiyô !''
He then got away from Haru, wrapped himself in a whirlwind, and as soon as it was gone, Koga was gone as well.
Haru sighed, then glares at Taiyô.
-''You really need to learn how to shut up'', he groans.
Taiyô simply waved a hand, then got up and walked away from Haru, who sighed in despair from his damn feeling of superiority.
Ayame was kneeling next to her grandfather's corpse, staring at his still body with tears that refused to roll down on her cheeks.
He was laying on his side, and he looked so peaceful...he didn't suffered.
The sound of a whirlwind reached her ears, but Ayame didn't bother to look behind her, already knowing who was coming.
Koga appeared out of the whirlwind, and silently stared at Ayame. She clearly looked distressed, but he could feel that she didn't want any pity...even from him.
-''...Did...'', starts Ayame, before swallowing. ''...Did he said something...?''
-''...Yes'', answers Koga, before to sigh. ''He asked me to tell you that he loves you and that he is so proud of the young woman that you became.''
Ayame swallows, then nods softly, then finally reaches out to her grandfather's corspe and pat his soft white fur:...he was cold, clearly. Koga remain silent, watching and waiting for her to let it go...but she didn't seem to want to let it go.
-''...I...I had to see it for myself...'', she murmures. ''I...I had to see his body...''
She swallows again, and stops patting the corpse of her grandfather.
-''...I...I didn't want to believe that he was gone...but...it's true...he...he is gone...''
Ayame's lips started to shake, and she closes her eye. The tears finally rolled down on her cheeks, and she started to shake a bit. Koga grits his teeth, knowing what will come next.
-''...Say something...'', murmures Ayame, crying silent tears.
-''...I...I don't know what to say, Ayame...'', carefully says Koga. ''I already hurt you enough like that...I do not wish to hurt you more...''
-''...Say anything...''
Koga grits his teeth more: what did she wanted him to say ? Nothing that he will say will cheer her up, it'll just bring her down more than she is already...
Koga sighs, then walked to her, then kneel next to Ayame.
-''...He never stoped believing that you were ready, Ayame...'', he carefully says. ''Today, you became the Leader of the Northern Yôrô Tribe, and he was more worried about your reaction to his death than your role about being a Leader...''
Koga hesitated on what to say next, then decided to go for it:
-''You are strong, Ayame...Stronger than I thought you would be...and, somehow...I admire that strength...''
Koga then sighs again, before to carefully put a hand on Ayame's shoulder.
-''...Don't hold them back, Ayame...If you need to cry, do it. Only after you're done, that you'll be able to move on.''
-''...Not in front of you...'', murmures Ayame, shaking.
-''You think I'd leave you alone in this crucial moment ?'', slightly snaps Koga. ''Not a chance. You need me, weither you want it or not...But you also need to let go of that pressure that this sorrow is causing to you. So, for the last time, Ayame: you can cry. I won't leave you alone.''
Gosh, it was using his patience...but it seemed to work. Ayame finally let it go, and started to cry her soul out for the loss of her grandfather. Koga remain by her side all this time.
An hour passed on, and Ayame finally calmed down. She sniffed one last time, whiped away the tears from her eyes and cheeks, then got up.
-''...He needs a proper burial'', she decided.
-''...Where should he be buried ?'', asks Koga, getting up as well.
-''...I think that the place he liked the most will do it...''
-''Which is...?''
Ayame smiled slightly.
-''...The field of moon flowers, that way...'', she answers, pointing to east.
Koga nods, then takes the corpse of the Wolf Elder in his arms.
-''Show me the way'', he tells Ayame.
Ayame nods, then they both walked to the east. Two hours later, they reached the said field of moon flowers, which weren't in bloom when it was daytime. Ayame and Koga walked to the middle of the field, were Koga puts down the corpse of the Wolf Elder.
Koga and Ayame then both digged a deep hole in the soft soil, and when it was done, they delicately put down the body of the Wolf Elder in here. They then push the soil back on his body, until that a small hill was formed where they had burried him.
Ayame and Koga slowly got up, both satisfied with their work.
-''...I'll miss you, Gramps...'', she murmures.
Koga hesitated, but he gently takes her hand with his.
-''...Are you ready now to tell your Tribe what happened...?'', he softy asked her.
-''...Not really...But I'll do it anyway...'', she answered.
Koga nodded softly.
They both stared at the grave of the Wolf Elder a little bit more, then they headed back to the den.
It was noon, now.
All of the Tribes were reunited around the camp fire, as requested by the Leaders - excepted that they were ignoring where the Wolf Elder was.
Soon enough, everybody was there, and it was time to tell them what happened.
-''Thank you for coming'', says Koga. ''We asked you to gather here so that we could tell you what happened. It is with great sadness that we announce to you the death of the Wolf Elder, Leader of the Northern Yôrô Tribe, last night. Ayame and I burried him in the field of moon flowers, to the east of here.''
The members of the Northern Yôrô Tribe were devastated by that new, but they remain brave, which Ayame clearly appreciated. Haru then announced the next thing:
-''It is not a secret to anyone that the new Leader of the Northern Yôrô Tribe is Ayame. She will require your patience while she moves on the loss of her beloved grandfather.''
Ayame nods softly, and swallows.
-''Thank you for your time, everyone...I promise that I'll do my best to guide and lead you all...You can get back to what you were doing...''
Everybody nodded, then got back to what they were doing. The members of the Northern Yôrô Tribe were clearly feeling down for the death of their previous Leader, but they'll move on forward as well...
They would all need to move on forward...because nothing was sure, with life.
It was the afternoon, now.
Ayame was on the top above the main cave, silently watching at everybody down there, doing their things despite the disappearance of a great Leader.
Ayame had spent the whole day up here, trying to move on her loss.
Her grandfather has shown her everything she knew today: hunting, fighting, debating...everything. Now that he was gone, it was her duty to show the new generation everything they had to know...
...if she lived long enough...
Ayame angrily shook her head at that thought, groaning in annoyance.
''Ugh ! Stop thinking about that !'', she thought, scolding herself innerly. ''Koga made sure he wouldn't forget, this time ! And he said that he wouldn't let me die !''
Ayame sighed, then watched a few Wolf Demons children playing with a bunch of Tiger Demons children. They were all adorable, and they were so innocent...those young lives needed to be protected, at any costs.
Down there, Koga was silently watching over Ayame.
From where he was, she seemed to be determined to move on from what happened. But she clearly needed time...and space, so he was staying away from her, so she wouldn't feel suffocated.
Takehaya noticed this, and he calmly walked to Koga, slowly looking up at Ayame as well.
-''...She's strong'', he simply says.
-''...More than I could ever have thought...'', murmures Koga, still looking at Ayame.
-''...The most innocent looking ones aren't always the weakest ones'', slightly smiles Takehaya. ''I learned that from Keiko.''
Koga frowns and looks at Takehaya in confusion.
-''Keiko...? Is she that dangerous...?'', he carefully asks.
-''You have no idea how dangerous she can be when she's mad and willing to protect somebody's life'', replies Takehaya, serious. ''I see the same strength in Ayame...she'd die to protect you...but you don't seem aware of that...''
-''...I am perfectly aware of that'', replies Koga, annoyed.
-''How so ?''
-''...She came to my aid when a stupid giant hairy demon tried to eat me. She stabbed it with her Iris flower, but it then ate us both.''
-''You were both eaten ?'', blinks Takehaya, surprised. ''How did you get out alive ?''
-''I used the power of the two Sacred Jewels Shards I had in my legs at that time, and kicked open that demon's belly'', calmly replies Koga, still a bit annoyed. ''That's how we got out alive.''
Takehaya nods slowly, and remain silent for a few minutes.
-''...Keiko tried to sacrifice her life for me as well'', murmures Takehaya. ''After that event, I decided to marry her...because I knew from that moment on that I would never marry anyone but her.''
Koga blinks in surprise, and Takehaya smirks slightly.
-''...Anyways...It's my turn to guard the den tonight...take it easy, too'', says Takehaya.
Koga slowly nods in understanding, then Takehaya leaved him alone.
Koga thought in silence about what Takehaya just told him: because his fiancée tried to sacrifice her life for him, he knew that she was meant to be his mate for life...He was talking about her with such admiration and adoration it was nearly embarrassing...But Takehaya didn't seem to care about it...
...he was trying to teach him a lesson, and now that he was thinking about everything that Ayame did for him...
...Koga was starting to get what it meant to love someone...
-''...Ayame...I'm such an idiot...'', sighs Koga, annoyed with himself. ''...I'll make it up for you, whatever it takes...''
Koga then remain watching over Ayame for the rest of the day, while she remain on the top above the main den's cave, watching over the Tribes and their allies...
Please, if you like the story so far, bare with me.
I'll do my best to keep on writing chapters as great and interesting as possible. :) I didn't planned on how many chapters there will be, but I will try to make the story interesting and worth to read.
I'll still be glad to get your reviews and your ideas (don't be shy, send me your ideas ! ~), both will greatly help me, if I have mistaken something (or if I have made mistakes with words and verbs X'D) and that it was pointed out. ^^
Thanks for reading !