Chapter 34: Stalking the Hunter
"Uh…Ayame," Ginta said quietly as the new clan leader stopped to rest the pack. She inhaled the free air with great satisfaction, her nostrils wide to welcome scents she'd long forgotten.
"Yeah?" she snapped, annoyed at the intrusion upon her moment of peace.
"Are we really just going to leave Kouga?"
"He left us, remember?" she snarled. Ginta cringed, but another wolf stepped up, whining.
"But we never leave one of the pack. Kouga always made them come back," he whined. Several others began to step up too, surrounding her with their heartbroken looks.
"He's been with us for centuries. He even braved the typhoon to save the cubs ten summers ago," another brought up.
Ayame took a small step back. She had not realized how precarious her position was. By law they were to obey her, but centuries of loyalty left them bound to Kouga….and loyalty was slowly winning them over. She even caught several glares and half snarls as her eyes flicked through the pack.
She risked a mutiny if she did not comply.
"Perhaps a pack vote?" Ginta offered quietly for her ears only.
"Pack vote?" she asked, uncertain of the foreign term.
"Aye, pack vote," another shouted. "If we truly did not wish to do what Kouga wanted he let the pack outweigh his decision."
Ayame blinked in confusion. Since when did a leader allow the followers to make decisions? This was not the way she had been taught. Wolves were to obey a command. Her pack…wherever they were, never questioned or balked at even the stupidest idea she'd had. Wolves had died because of her inexperience as a youngster, but time had strengthened her and the pack.
And there was no elder wolf to aid her in maintaining authority. If the entire pack went against her she would not hold her own.
"Pack vote then," she said, clearly enough for the pack to hear her. Inside she was fighting the urge to tremble. Relinquishing control made her weak and uncertain, but if she let that show they would all smell it and pounce upon her weakness.
Ginta pulled out a small bag and stood next to Ayame. He handed her two pebbles, one dark and one light.
"Light, we keep going with Princess Ayame," Ginta called out, "Dark, we go back and get Kouga."
Stones? They were making decisions with stones? Ayame thought in disbelief. As Ginta held out the bag she dropped her light pebble in. The darkness of the bag made it impossible to tell what colors were dropped in, but one by one Ginta collected them all.
A deadly silence hung over the pack as Ginta cleared a small space and dumped the bag totally on the ground. Ayame's jaw dropped in shock.
A small mountain of dark pebbles supported the one light pebble. As she watched the light pebble teetered to one side, sliding down to roll off to the side away from the others. She looked up at the wolves, amazed to see satisfied faces nodding to each other in solemn agreement.
"Much better than trying to do Jun Ken Po with everyone," one wolf said to the other.
(Jun Ken Po is the Japanese name for rock, paper, scissors)
"Yeah, this idea was so much better. Jun Ken took so much longer and then the last person always wanted to cower half an hour before giving his decision."
"Not to mention the bribe attempts!" a third said and they laughed.
Ayame stood there, still in shock. This was how Kouga ran his pack? Was he mad? Or genius?
"Princess?" Ginta asked quietly. "Will you be coming with us?"
"Of course," she replied, trying to act as if this had been her idea all along. Ginta gave her a quick smile. "Everyone! Let's go!"
(Back to the gang)
"Wow," Kagome said, her echo filling the great hall.
"Yeah," Sango said in agreement, supporting Miroku with one arm and Hiraikotsu with the other. The two girls had stopped in amazement, their eyes trailing over the fine decorations above.
"Uh," Inuyasha began, waving hands in front of their faces. "It's a ceiling. Have you guys forgotten why we are here?"
"That's not just a ceiling," Kagome said, exhaling like she'd been holding her breath.
"I'd say late 2nd century architecture, ne?" Sango said.
"Perhaps early 3rd," Kagome responded. "Gods! I've only heard of such places! I don't care if Naraku is in here, we can't level this historic site!"
"Fools," Sesshoumaru commented offhandedly. He waved his claws, ripping through something. Suddenly the walls and ceiling were gone, leaving a bare stone substitution. Both girls gasped, looking around frantically.
"Illusion," Rin said happily. "Sorry to burst your bubble. If Naraku is capable of that we need to watch our backs. A mouse could be deadly."
"Pity Jaken isn't here," Inuyasha said with a grin. "He's terrified of mice."
"Inuyasha! That's mean," Kagome said. "Just because some people are scared of-"
"Shut up," Sesshoumaru said calmly, but with enough force that everyone went silent. "Rin, take my left. Miko, take my right. Bastard, take the far right next to the Miko. The rest of you stay behind us and keep a sharp eye."
"We have names you asshole," Inuyasha snarled. Kagome stopped him with a gentle shake of her head and the hanyou went stalking off to his side, Tetsusaiga drawn and ready.
"You know," Rin said quietly. "One day you might want to try NOT antagonizing him." Sesshoumaru gave her a look that suggested he would not entertain such a thought. "Alright, but if Kagome purifies you I am not going to stand in the way."
"I would not expect you to," he said dryly, his stoic face devoid of emotion.
"I promise to bring flowers to your grave and drape my panties on your alter." Rin watched in amusement as the corner of his mouth gave a very slight twitch.
"What makes you think I want your panties on my alter?" he asked softly. Rin stifled her giggle.
"How else are you going to remember me?" she teased.
Farther behind Miroku struggled to walk while leaning on Sango. Sweat was pouring down his face as the fever burned within him. Taking short gasps of air he pushed himself forward. Sango kept a close eye on him while watching the perimeter. Kohaku had his sickle in hand and was covering her back. Even in the darkness she could still see the collar around his neck.
"Even I would not ask you to put panties on my alter," Miroku joked, but Sango wasn't paying attention. She was looking at Kohaku, her eyes widening. "What?"
"Kohaku's collar-" she began, then pushed Miroku away from her. He fell back, hitting his head upon the hard stone with a thud as he heard metal hit the large bone boomerang.
Kohaku was holding the chain to his sickle, the end dug into Hiraikotsu as Sango held it up as a shield.
"We forgot to uncollar Kohaku!" she said loud enough for everyone focus on them. Kagome's jaw dropped in shock as Inuyasha stepped forward to protect her.
"Pathetic," Sesshoumaru said. One second he was standing there, the next he held Kohaku by the neck, a poisoned claw wrapped around the boy's neck. Dead panned eyes looked down at him with no emotion.
'He…wants to die,' Sesshoumaru thought, eyes narrowing a fraction.
"NO!" Sango yelled. "He's my brother!"
"Sesshoumaru, don't!" Inuyasha snarled. "Just let Kagome undo the collar and Naraku can't control him anymore."
The great demon gave a sigh and held the boy out for Kagome, clearly annoyed at not being able to solve the problem his way. Beneath his fingers he felt the boy's muscles contract just as Kagome's fingers reached up.
Thunk
"Goddammit!" Inuyasha swore, clutching his sword arm.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome gasped. The sickle was sticking out of his right bicep, blood dripping upon the stone floor. He had deflected the last second attack aimed at her.
"Now you're even more useless," Sesshoumaru commented, dropping the boy like a rock. Kohaku dropped to his knees, exhaling a sharp whimper of pain as he rubbed his throat.
"Are you ok?" Sango asked, hugging her brother close while glaring at the unmoved demon. "Bastard," she cursed.
"Actually, I'm the legitimate one," he commented. "He's the bastard." Inuyasha snarled at his brother's insults.
"Can we try and leave the quarrels until after we kill Naraku?" Kagome asked, quickly wrapping Inuyasha's arm. "It's a wonder he hasn't just blown us up or something."
"Where would be the fun in that?" a voice from above asked.
The group all looked at one another. None of them had said that.
(Elsewhere)
Kagura lay upon the cold floor of her cell, vengeance burning in her eyes. One hundred years she'd served him loyally. And this was how he repaid her. Collared like some breeding bitch. Not that any male would get his hands on her. Her wind would make sure of that. Naraku could control her, but not her power.
The door to her cell opened and she looked up. Kanna stood impassive at the doorway.
"Are you ready," the girl stated, as if she already knew the answer to the question. Not like Kagura had a choice.
"For what?"
"Naraku has a job for you," Kanna said, not elaborating as she turned. Assuming the open doorway meant for her to follow Kagura stood and followed her little sister.
What the devil did he want with her now?
(And somewhere else...)
"Fuck!" Kouga swore, hitting another dead end. Frustrated he slammed his fist against the wall. Bits of the wall began to crumble, covering him with a light coat of dust.
Thoughts of Kagome with that dog turd filled his mind in a blind rage. Why was she with HIM? What could dog turd do that he could not? And the mark-
"Fucking mutt should learn his place," Kouga seethed. "The only good hanyou is a dead one."
He began making his way back, claws scrapping along the walls he could not see. At the next crossing he took the only path he had not taken….at least he thought he had not taken it. Thoughts of dog turd holding Kagome…kissing her….it sent his mind in turmoil of rage, confusion and uncertainty.
"It's only because of that damn sword. Probably compensating for his tiny-"
"KOUGA!" a familiar voice shouted. Ginta came sprinting up and flung himself at the prince.
"ACK! Get off me!" Kouga snarled, not in the mood for male bonding. More of the pack began to show up, some carrying torches. He looked around in wonderment.
"We voted and decided to come back," Ginta said. "Even Princess Ayame agreed!"
The woman in question was not looking up, her gaze resting on her feet as she pretended to ignore everyone around her. Kouga gave a satisfied snort. So the bitch couldn't control his pack huh? Showed her who's boss.
"Now that we found you," Ginta said, still catching his breath. "Let's go."
"Huh?" Kouga responded, blinking at his second in command.
"We came back to get you. Let's get out of here. Just like you always did. Go back and get the pack member, no matter what. If we have to we'll carry you out."
Kouga regarded his pack with astonishment. They thought to control HIM! Ayame also looked shocked. Apparently she had no knowledge of this either. Damn pack…they always twisted things. That's why they needed a strong leader. To untangle the messes they managed to put themselves in.
"I told you," he said with a dark growl, his aura rising to dangerous levels. The wolves around him took a step back. If there was one thing he had Ayame didn't, it was respect among the pack…laced with fear. They knew he could take several on at a time and none of them wanted to those lucky few. "I am going to kill Kagura and take Kagome back with me!" His fist shot out and hit the wall with a heavy thud, shaking the entire hall around them. Wolves began to whimper.
A bright beam of sunlight hit Kouga's armor, reflecting onto Ginta's face. The wolf looked at the wall curiously.
The wall was deeply cracked from the force of Kouga's anger. Pieces of the wall began to crumble and fall away, larger chunks hitting the floor and shattering. Ginta pressed a finger to the wall and pushed.
More of the wall collapsed, revealing a beautiful garden beyond.
"See?" Kouga said confidently, as if he knew of the garden on the other side. "We'll just follow dog-turd's stench!"