The Epics of the Wolf

Chapter Three

The Blood and the Tears

"It's happened," Heroki paused on the way home. Akira and Koga looked back at him, puzzled. "Damn, I thought we had more time."

"What is it?" Akira asked.

"It's San… she's taken all of Suni's divinity."

"No! It can't be!" Akira objected, though in his heart he knew.

"Is Suni okay!?" Koga demanded.

"She's fine… she just isn't a goddess anymore," Heroki sighed. "Come, we have to keep moving." With that, they trudged on.

The rest of the way was silent. Nobody wanted to speak. The moment was too bleak… too dark and depressed. When they made it home, Akira and Heroki took Koga up to a cave hidden far up the mountain.

"Even if mother does find him here, the cave is too small for her to be able to get to him," Heroki murmured.

"Indeed," Akira agreed. "Heroki and I are going to find Suni." He began to lead his brother back down the path.

"I want to come!" Koga insisted.

"No. Stay there and keep quiet. We'll be back," Heroki replied. Koga accepted this order begrudgingly and sat there as the two of them walked off.

"She's probably dead. You realize that don't you?" Akira said coldly.

"I know," Heroki sighed. "She fell… and probably fell to the ground. She probably is dead. That's why I told Koga to stay there."

"It disgusts me," Akira growled.

"San wouldn't have done this intentionally. She must have lost control," Heroki objected.

"I don't give a damn what her excuse is! I'll kill the god damn cur if anything happened to Suni!"

"Don't worry. I'm fine," Suni called down from up in a nearby tree. "Hello brothers."

"Suni! You're safe!" Heroki's eyes sparkled. Suni meant so much to him…

"Heroki!" Suni flew down and into Heroki's open arms.

"You're angel… you still have her," Akira noted.

"Yep, in desperation I called out for Furious Fang and she came. I don't know why," Suni laughed

"That's good," Akira nodded. "Now, come on."

"Where are we going?" Suni asked.

"We're going up to a small cave. Koga is waiting for you there," Akira said.

"Yay! Koga!" Suni grinned.

"You seem happy," Heroki mused.

"Well of course," Suni smiled widely, "he's Koga."

"Suni, Koga's in trouble," Akira blurted out. "Mother knows about him and she plans to kill him. That's why we brought him here."

"NO! You can't let her do that!" Suni screamed.

"Calm down, dear sister. We brought him here because she knows where he's supposed to be. She'll look for him in the Forbidden Realm, not here."

"Okay then… thanks Heroki, Akira. Did Midori come?" Suni asked hopefully. Koga's mother was always so kind and loving. It made Suni realize what a disappointment her own mother was. However, her relationship with her mother never changed. She still loved her. She just grew to love Midori more.

"No… she chose not to come," Akira admitted.

"Suni? Suni!" Koga cried out, seeing Heroki Akira and Suni approaching.

"Koga!" Suni broke free from Heroki and ran to see Koga. She threw herself into his arms so forcefully that she knocked him to the ground.

"I think I've lost my position as Suni's favorite," Heroki laughed softly.

"Don't force so much cheeriness about it. It becomes more obvious the more you fake enthusiasm about it."

"Oh… so it's that obvious, Akira?" he frowned.

"Be honest with your feelings. Suni will take it worse if she finds out you were hiding your disappointment."

"I suppose you're right."

Moro had come earlier than expected. Midori panicked. She hadn't had time to prepare. She had just barely finished erasing Koga's tracks and all other signs of where the boy had gone. There had been no time to plan on how to deal with Moro.

"Where is the boy!?" Moro demanded.

"My child?" Midori, back turned to Moro, cut the backside of her forearm and wiped up a few drops of blood, smearing it across her face. It was the only excuse she could think of. She turned to face Moro. "He's gone. I ate him."

"You lie, wench! Where is the filthy cur!?"

Moro had seen right through. What now?

"I…," Midori sighed, her final courage swimming to the surface. "I don't know where but even if I knew I wouldn't tell you."

It was over in an instant but Moro wasn't going to let it end so simply. Midori had died before she hit the ground - she wasn't raised to fight - but Moro continued. She mutilated the body, picked it up, and headed home. She didn't have Suni's precious demon friend but Moro figured maybe the mutilated mother would persuade her.

It was an hour later when Kitsu realized Moro had been in the Forbidden Realm. He immediately ran to check on Midori. However, the cave was empty. All that was there was a giant blood stain, which took up nearly half the floor…

Kitsu darted out the door instantaneously. He tore down the path at top speed, far surpassing his average speed. He just ran. He couldn't think; he just ran.

Kitsu tripped and fell to the ground. At first, he could not get up, so he just laid there in the mud and cried. The tears were red.

Why? Why Midori? She never hurt anyone! She never did anything wrong! Why? WHY? WHAT IS SO WRONG WITH US THAT WE DESERVE THIS TORMENT!? Kitsu's mind was screaming and his body wouldn't move. The fresh red tears continued to tumble down his cheeks. Eventually, he calmed down enough to regain control of his body. He slowly got to his feet again and stood still for a second. Then he took off… appearing to passers-by as nothing more than a silver blur.

A few minutes later, another wolf-yoko wandered into the cave. She had seen Kitsu enter and flee and she had gotten curious. Her name was Ai and she had long bright red hair and gleaming green eyes. She was about Kitsu's age. She entered the cave, saw the huge puddle of blood across the floor, and, likewise, she fled.

Subconsciously, Ai followed Kitsu's path out of the Forbidden Realm and into the deep forests of Suni's homeland. It was here, while Suni was out getting food, that Ai and Suni met for the first time.

Ai had heard, or rather read, of Suni from Kitsu. Kitsu didn't talk so he and Ai spoke through the written word. Kitsu had taken an obvious liking to her and Ai was jealous. When they met, Ai looked Suni over. Black hair, fangs, pointed ears, blue eyes, and a black tail - what was so special about her? Ai growled and got to her feet, for she had literally ran into Suni.

"Where the hell are they?" Ai demanded.

"Who… do you mean?" Suni blinked.

"You know damn well who I mean! Where are Kitsu Koga and Midori!?"

"Midori and Kitsu are missing?" Suni's eyes widened and her jaw dropped open.

"You mean you didn't know they were missing? How could you miss it!? The cave is covered in wolf's blood!" Ai screamed.

"No… no it can't be. It didn't happen. It couldn't have happened. Sure Midori stayed behind but… mother was after Koga… not Midori. No, it didn't happen. It didn't happen!" Suni screamed, covering her ears in an attempt to block out Ai's future words.

However, words weren't the first thing on Ai's mind. Kitsu and Midori were. She kicked Suni in the stomach as forcefully as she could. "Listen here, wench! Midori's dead! I wanna break down and cry myself but I know Kitsu's here somewhere and he's alive! So… you gonna sit here bitching and screaming or are you going to help me find him?"

"Let's go," Suni nodded. They began to run. "What did you say your name was?"

"I didn't," Ai snapped bitterly.

"Well, what is your name?"

"Ai," she answered. "And you're Suni. I know that fact too god damn well."

"Ai… I've never met you before… but if I've done something that somehow upset you I'm sorry," Suni frowned, "but I think we should team up and find Kitsu immediately."

"You and Kitsu! That's what upsets me! It makes my blood boil! He was mine until you came along!" Ai shouted.

"What?" Suni blinked.

Ai jolted to a halt and blushed awkwardly. "N-never mind."

"If you like Kitsu, there's nothing to be ashamed of," Suni smiled. "He is a very sweet boy."

"Shut up! I don't wanna talk about it!"

"Okay, we have to keep going anyway," Suni said. They started off again. "By the way, now that I think about it, I've heard your name before. Thousands of times, in fact. In my head. I hear it every night in Kitsu's prayers."

"Kitsu… prays for me?" Ai blinked.

"He prays that your mouth and your emotions don't get you into serious trouble," Suni giggled. "He also prays for your happiness."

"Humph, never needed divine intervention to keep me out of trouble and I never will. I can take care of myself."

"We'll find Kitsu faster if we fly. Grab me hand," Suni thrust her hand out and Ai latched onto it quickly and firmly. "Furious Fang!" Within instants, they were airborne, circling the forest.

Ai pinpointed a silver dot. "I see Kitsu! Over there!"

Suni descended and scooped up the silver-haired one with her other arm. "Hello," she smiled.

"Mi…do…ri…" Kitsu sniffled. Ai's mouth fell open. Ai, in ten years of knowing Kitsu, had not once heard him speak.

"What?" Suni blinked at him. Kitsu grabbed hold of her collar.

"Midori! Midori! She's dead! She's dead!" he sobbed uncontrollably.

Suni made a quick landing and released Ai so that she could embrace Kitsu fully. "Calm down, Kitsu. This is not how I imagined the return of your voice. I thought it would be more joyous."

"Midori!" Kitsu shook his head.

"Calm down… There's nothing we can do about what has already transpired," Suni kissed him lightly on the forehead.

"Midori…" This time it was Ai who spoke. "You know her better than us Suni… so tell us, where did your mother put Midori's body!?"

"I'm afraid… we'll find her when we return to Koga," Suni frowned and turned to lead them to the hideaway.