Disclaimer: I own the geography and some of the objects in this, but the characters belong to their respective owners.

Chapter 2: Into the forest of the mountain wolf demon, Koga

At midday, they set out back to the village to check the extent of the damage. The town was in Chaos: things were still burning, people were being rushed to hospitals, and everybody was working to repair everything and heal everyone. However the bounty hunters were gone, so Tashimo and Cloud decided to go in.

One of the villagers saw them and yelled "Look! It's that boy the bounty hunters were looking for!"

Another man yelled "Go away! We don't want any more trouble!"

Cloud, however, ignored both of them and made his way to the hospital. A red-haired boy blocked their path. He drew his sword.

"Villain!" scolded the red-haired boy "Why can't you just lay the ill to rest?!"

Cloud heeded the request this time, and instead looked past the boy, and at a wounded villager with green ooze spewing from his arm.

"That man has been poisened." observed Cloud "There is an herb called Crown of Murdock in a forest nearby. It can act as an antidote for the poisen."

The boy eyed Cloud "Why do you want to help us?"

"Do you want him to heal or not?"

"Yes, but what's your motive here?"

"Why does it matter?!"

"I don't trust you, that I do not."

"Well you're going to have to!!" spat Cloud.

The boy sighed, and left for the nearby forest. Before long he cameback with the herb. Upon Cloud's command, the boy boiled the herb and poured it on the man's wound. The oozing immeadiatly desisted.

Cloud smiled "He'll be alright."

The boy blushed "My apolagies. I'm awfully protective of my people, that I am." he sheathed his sword "My name is Kenshin."

Cloud and Tashimo introduced themselves.

"So," began Kenshin "Who hired those bounty hunters?"

Cloud sighed "A wicked man, a man named Sephiroth."

Kenshin nodded "So where are you two headed?"

"Central Brillandale." answered Cloud "Regroup from there. We're both looking for the emerald katana."

"Let me take you there." offered Kenshin "I was making my way back there anyway. This is the village I protect, so if I travel with you, they'll let you in without a second thought."

"Well," said Cloud "We'd better get going."

They rested and and stocked up before heading through the forest in which Cloud and Tashimo had slept in the night before.

All of the sudden, Tashimo's ear twitched "Stop."

The party stopped dead in their tracks.

"What is it?" asked Cloud.

Just then a foxgirl bounded through the woods with three wolfs on her tail. They surrounded her as she backed up against a tree.

"Help!" she cried.

Cloud and Kenshin drew their swords, but Tashimo stopped them.

Tashimo whistled, drawing the wolfs' attention over to him. As he held his hand up and advanced on the wolfs, they began to cower and whimper, until they were as docile to Tashimo as common house dogs.

Kenshin, Cloud, and the fox girl watched in awe as Tashimo petted the wolfs fearlessly.

"Impossible…."

Tashimo turned around to see a wolf demon with a fir kilt and hair in a ponytail.

"How…" began the wolfboy "How did you subdue my wolfs?"

Tashimo smiled "Wonderful creatures, wolfs. I am Tashimo the grey wolf, you might say I have a way with your kin."

The boy bowed "I am Koga, leader of the mountain wolf demon clan. I admire you, grey wolf, a lesser man would've drawn a sword to my underlings." he glared at Cloud and Kenshin.

Cloud offered his hand to the foxgirl.

The foxgirl's eyes met Cloud's, and the foxgirl took his hand. He lifted her unto her feet.

"Uh…" Cloud found at a loss for words "M-my name's Cloud."

The foxgirl giggled and blushed a little "Ryoshu."

"I hope you're not headed for central Brillindale." warned Koga.

Kenshin frowned "And if we are?"

"Well," Koga began to explain "You're in for an unpleasent surprise."

"That's right!" stated Ryoshu "I was just at central brillindale not two days ago! The entire place was annexed by SOLDIER."

Kenshin's eyes grew wide "What? I leave to the west sector for a week or so and the whole town is overthrown?!"

"No doubt you are the samurai protecting the city?" inquired Koga.

Kenshin nodded.

"So no doubt you will want to take your village back?"

Kenshin nodded "Will you help me?"

Koga shook his head "I have my own problems to see to."

Tashimo walked over and petted Koga's wolfs again "It's a dangerous world, we've got to look out for ourselves. But I think in the interest of helping ourselves, helping others despite ourselfs is a good way to make friends that will help you in return.

" I know Kenshin has been hostile, in the interest of protecting himself from your wolves. I'm going with him. If you won't help him, will you help me?"

They all stared silently at Koga, awaiting his answer.

Koga sighed "I guess it couldn't hurt."

"I'll help too!" said Ryoshu "Just until you guys take back central brillindale. After all, Cloud did save my life!"

Cloud shook his head "No! I didn't save anything!"

"And you're so modest!" Ryoshu hugged him

"So, Koga," Tashimo asked "You and Ryoshu know eachother?"

Koga shook his head "I was chasing her because she was gonna infiltrate my fortress."

Ryoshu gave him an indignant look "I was just politely coming to talk with you!"

"With a bag of fox illusions and a katana?"

Ryoshu smirked "It's a rough neighborhood!"

so how yall like that chapter? I've started rough drafting the next chapter, so it should be out before long.

coming up in the third chpater:

"I-I want…" Miroku trailed off.

"I'm sorry, what?" asked Ryoshu.

"I want you to bear my child!"

Ryoshu gasped, but smiled and shook her head politley. "But you ARE cute, and I DO appreciate you rescuing us." she hugged him and he nearly fainted.

Cloud got him on his feet "Try and stay focused!"