The Epics of the Wolf

Chapter Two

The Rescue and the Rejection

"San! You must tell us! Where is this Koga child!?" Heroki demanded of his sister, slamming his fists down on the table before her.

She was unflinching and unshaken by the noise. She sat silent… angry…

"I see what is wrong… I can see it in your eyes…," Akira said with a slight growl, staring into her dark brown gleaming eyes. "You disgust me! You know what Mother intends to do and you fully approve! You know it means your sister's soul will be shattered but you don't care! You just want that boy to die!"

"He is nothing but a worthless whelp," San said coldly.

"You're killing your own sister to see an end to this boy, do you realize that!?" Heroki shouted.
"Calm down Heroki. Shouting isn't going to get the information any faster," Akira said to him calmly.

"'Calm down'!? Akira, do you realize what San has been doing to Suni!? She's been pushing her own flesh and blood into the shadows so that she can take all the light for herself!"

"Is this true, San?" Akira turned to her, wide-eyed, amazed and disgusted at the thought.

"If Koga were to die, things would go back to the way they were. I wouldn't have to push Suni into the dark abyss," San murmured. That's when Akira lost his temper…

"YOU ARROGANT NARCISSISSTIC LITTLE WITCH!!!" Akira slapped his sister straight across the face with all his might. "HOW CAN YOU THINK LIKE THAT!? HOW CAN YOU BE SO SELFISH!?"

"You're no better than me…," San wiped away the blood which had dripped out of the corner of her mouth after the slap. "Do you think you know what she needs? Who would know better than me what Suni needs?"

"You keep the light to yourself and beat her down into the darkness! How can you consider that helping her?" Akira shouted.

"Once she sees how vile they all are, she'll come back to us. You two are pathetic. Can't you see that what she needs right now is to see that what she is attempting is horribly wrong?"

"You are to lead us to Koga," Heroki harshly grabbed his sister by the collar and lifted her up, staring threateningly into her eyes. "You will do as I say or I swear on all that is dear to you- I will do everything in my power to make sure you are damned to hell."

"Try the Forbidden Realm," San frowned. "That's where he waits for Suni."

"The Forbidden Realm… they'll kill us," Akira said.

"No they won't. I followed Suni there the other day. They aren't hostile at all. The inhabitants are actually very shy. Now let's go," Heroki left.

"You're only hurting her by doing this," San said coldly.

"You sicken me. You are unfit to claim the title of goddess," Akira growled before turning to leave. San just sat there, staring at nothingness with empty eyes. She didn't know how to help her sister. She actually did want to help. However, she was confident that Suni would only be hurt more if Koga survived.

Less than an hour later, Heroki and Akira found themselves inside the Forbidden Realm. It was dark and desolate and the air was thick with the smell of tears from the unfortunate denizens. Heroki had started to grow faintly accustomed to the bleak misery contained within the realm but it terrified Akira.

Now, Akira was far different from his brother. They were twins, so they looked a great deal like each other, but Akira's eyes were narrower and he also had a scar stretching from just below his right temple down to the left side of his chin. The scar was a badge of honor to him. While Heroki was a gentle person for the most part, Akira was more of a fighter. He had poor social skills and tended to boast about his talent for battle. Akira tended to take the violent path when searching for answers; Heroki was to be far milder with his tactics, his most torturous way of getting information being shouting. The two were opposites, for the most part.

The realm did terrify Akira, though. While he prided himself on his power and courage, he was scared of this place. He had never felt anything like the Forbidden Realm before. It was a feeling of indescribable agony coming from everywhere and nowhere… a feeling like he was up to his head in blood and tears of innocent children.

"I don't like this place," Akira growled.

"What? Haven't they suffered enough? Are you really going to torture them even after that's what drove them all to this realm of misery?" Heroki objected, translating Akira's message to mean hatred of the people not the feeling of the place.

"Not at all; that's not what I meant. It's just… this place feels like… a god damned war memorial."

"What do you mean?"

"It's like how you feel things that aren't there when you're at a war memorial… creepy things…"

"Try not to get freaked out. They may be suicidal and manic depressive but they're still alive. They aren't ghosts."

"I know that!" Akira snapped. He did not deal well with fear; Heroki understood. As Akira's twin, he always knew how Akira felt.

Rustling - Heroki and Akira whipped around to look. There was Kitsu, the boy from last time. One tragic but beautiful brown eye and his silver hair and ears were all that could be seen over the bush he hid behind.

"Heroki, let's get out of here as soon as possible. I hate to admit it, but this is starting to really creep me out."

"Hello Kitsu," Heroki smiled at the child fondly. "Would you be able to help us?"

Kitsu gave a slow nod and slipped out from behind the bush with half the speed of a turtle's pace. He was troubled by Akira's overbearing presence and the lack of Suni's calm and gentle presence. It truly unnerved Kitsu.

"We're trying to find Koga," Heroki informed him. "We need to find him to protect him. Do you know where he is?"

Kitsu gave another nod and began to walk away. Akira and Heroki figured it was a sign for them to follow and so they did. Kitsu led them on for what felt like miles. Then they came upon the cave.

Kitsu pointed at the mouth of the cave and nodded. Akira began to wonder if the child's vocal cords had been cut as some horrible form of torment.

"Thanks Kitsu. Suni will be very happy," Heroki smiled at the boy before entering the cave. Akira followed along. Kitsu remained outside, blushing - he was awfully fond of Suni and he was so proud of himself when Heroki told him that what he did would make Suni happy.

"Hello," Heroki called out. "Anyone here?"

"Heroki, was that child mute?" Akira asked.

"Seems it. Whether he just willingly keeps quiet or he has no ability to talk is another story."

"W-who's there? Please, go away." The voice was feminine. Heroki and Akira exchanged puzzled looks.

"We came to see Koga. Is he in?" Heroki asked. He could not see this woman. It was too dark.

"Please… leave me and my son alone… we've been through enough, haven't we!?"

"M-Midori?" Akira questioned. He had seen his step-father's sister only once and she was spoken of very little but he knew it was her.

"Who are you?" she demanded.

"It's Heroki and Akira. We're here to take Koga," Heroki said.

"Please no… he's all I have left… please don't take him from me… don't hurt him…"

"You have us mistaken," Heroki insisted. "We're taking Koga to protect him. If he continues to live here, our mother will come, she will find him, and he will die. We can keep him safe until she calms down. Please, where is he?"

"Come. I'll take you to him, then," Midori nodded, accepting Heroki's words as the truth. Heroki was known as a man of principles and honesty, after all.

She led the two to a small dimly lit room. There was a mound of hay to serve as bedding over in the corner. Sprawled out upon the hay was a black-haired wolf cub. It was Koga, no doubt.

"He's been sick. I think it's all in his head but he's been sick all the same. I think he's worried… Suni hasn't come by in a while," Midori said. This was Heroki's first look at the woman. Midori still looked fairly young, young enough that she must have mated as soon as she was able and was immediately with child. Her looks were exceedingly rare… or at least her hair was. Her hair was almost black but it had a greenish hue to it. It was the color of the forest canopy. Her eyes were a gleaming gold, which was mellowed and melded into a gentle and kind color by her soft red lips. "Does Suni know about this all?"

"I didn't find out until after I last saw her," Heroki frowned. "Midori… do you really live here alone? You and Koga? Here in the Forbidden Realm?"

"Nobody else wants us after Retendo ran off. Not even Koga's father…"

"I see… We'll just have to add that to our 'to do' list, huh Akira? 'Number four: Use influence to get Midori and Koga accepted back into their pack again.'"

Midori smiled at him. She had known Heroki was a friendly boy but she didn't expect him to treat her so kindly, especially considering she was a demon. However, she was pleased with his surprising ways.

"You might want to come with us Midori," Akira said. "We don't know what Mother will do if she can't find Koga."

"I'll be fine," Midori objected sweetly. "You'll have a handful without having to worry about me." Akira had been another pleasant surprise. The last time she had met the boy, he was rude and had a few violent tendencies. With the large scar across his face, she had worried that he had perhaps gotten even worse. However, no such thing seemed to be true. He was friendly despite his deadly appearance.

"Mom… who's here? Is it Suni?" Koga yawned sleepily and stretched. His shoulder cracked in the process but he failed to recognize it.

"Is Suni the only one you think of anymore?" Midori teased her precious son.

Koga sat up and opened his eyes to find Akira and Heroki directly in his view, "Who are you?"

"We're Suni's brothers. You're coming with us, okay Koga?" Heroki smiled at the boy.

"Mom?" Koga turned to his mother, looking for some explanation or sign of permission.

"Go get your things together, dear," she said.

"You should come with us," Akira attempted to persuade her again.

"Just make sure Koga is okay. Watch over him carefully. Do me that favor and, despite whatever may happen to me, I will be happy."

"I understand," Heroki said solemnly. "That's how I feel about Suni. I want her to be safe, no matter what it might cost me."

"And so you risk your life to protect my son," Midori murmured. "I wish I had a brother like you."

"You still don't realize, do you?" Heroki suddenly noticed. "You don't realize the truth about Retendo."

"What about my brother?"

"Hell! The man never shut up about you! You were his entire world! It seemed like he'd do anything for you!" Akira said.

"And you've shunned him as an outcast like all the others," Heroki sighed. "I don't blame you… but I do wonder how a world can be so messed up that a man declared an outcast is even shunned by his beloved kin."

"I must say this comes as a surprise," Midori admitted, saddened by how late the news had come, "especially since he's had minimal interaction with me all these years."

"I'm ready!" Koga grinned as he knotted his bag of belongings shut and flung it over his shoulder.

"Let's go then," Akira led Koga off toward the mouth of the cave.

"He seems healthier already," Midori noted. "I think he likes that girl more than she realizes."

"But they're cousins," Heroki disputed.

"Step-cousins," Midori corrected, sighing. "I'm barren. I never developed, apparently. By the time we realized, it was too late for Koga's father and I to leave each other so I gave him my female servant. She is Koga's mother; not me."

"Midori," Heroki took her face in his one hand and stared at her seriously. "When we get you back into your tribe… don't go back to that man. You're too good for him."

"Thank you. Please, take good care of my son for me," Midori smiled.

"We will. Goodbye."

"Goodbye mom!"

"Goodbye son…"

Once outside, Akira looked around and then turned to Heroki, "Looks like Kitsu took off. Remember the way?"

"I think so. Come along then," Heroki nodded and headed off in the direction from whence they had come.

San sat, boiling in her bloodlust anger. She hated Koga. Gods, how she hated him! She wanted to see his skull crushed. She wanted him to pay for even approaching her sister. He was the root of the problem - if he had never come, Suni would not need to go through all of this and San would not have started to move further into the light - and it was time the root was removed ad destroyed.

Slowly… ever so slowly did the light begin to take her. The process was painfully slow but she wanted it to be that way. She wanted to give Suni a chance to return to being the sister she knew.

Koga… he ruined their lives. Koga… Koga… Koga….

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" San screamed as loud as she could to vent her frustration. As her rage poured out, she lost control of the light and the dark. The light shot up and vanquished the dark. San had lost the demon; she was just a goddess now or so she thought. She could never completely erase the demon, but it was no longer noticeable. "Oh my God, what have I done!?"

Suni was sitting in a courtyard up in heaven waiting for The Almighty. When He came upon her, she appeared to be in severe pain. He knew what was happening; He just didn't know it was coming so soon.

"STOP IT, STOP IT, STOP IT!!! DEAR GOD, SAN, PLEASE STOP IT!" Suni screeched. It was too late, however. She had lost the majority her powers as a goddess. She retained just a fraction of her former goddess, not enough to be recognized by heaven as a goddess anymore. She plummeted out of heaven instantly. Panicking, Suni attempted to call for her angel, positive it would no longer come, "Furious Fang!"

Surprisingly, the angel came when summoned and she had not changed. Her hair was still streaked white and black. One wing was still angel-like and one wing was still bat-like. Furious Fang didn't seem to acknowledge that her master had lost her divinity. A pleasant surprise indeed… Suni was saved. Wings outstretched and flapping, Furious Fang looked for a place to safely set her master down.

Suni felt hopeless and defeated, dangling there. She began to wonder if she could carry on, when her situation continued to worsen by the minute. "If only I were stronger…" she thought.