Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
Chapter 189: Giichi
Far away from the wolf den a demon swallowed as processed what he had just seen. His palms were sweaty and eyes wide as he breathed low so that he wouldn't even rustle the leaves on the tree he was hiding in. The light from the explosion of power drew his attention and the chill in the air he felt from it made him certain that there was something strange and powerful in that den. Yet, what was even more tantalizing was the news he would bring home. It had been months since their original battle that left both sides scarred and searching for vengeance, but he found it. He found Kouga's den. The demon waited until he was sure that no one was awake and it was safe to leave the tree and return.
He raced silently through the forest to another mountain where a large cave was waiting for him. It was dark and damp. No sounds were around besides that of his own pack and the shrill scream of a female from inside of the cave. He walked to the end of the cave and dropped to his knee, not daring to look up at the glowing eyes that were staring at him hungrily. A wet squelching and tearing sound could be heard before the sound of crunching bones echoed through the cave. A dull thud signaled the landing of something soft in front of the kneeling demon. Shivers ran up his back in fear and excitement. "Speak, then eat." A gravely almost disembodied voice rang out and made the hairs stand up on his body.
He swallowed and looked at the 'gift' that had been given to him. It was a torn human arm, one that no doubt belonged to the scream he had heard earlier. It was from one of the recent raids on a human village to feed their pack since they had eaten most of what was on the mountain. He released his breath he didn't know he was holding and a puff of air was visibly in the dark cave. "I have located where Kouga has been hiding." He said and looked at the arm in front of him hungrily.
The wolf in front of him, sitting on a throne of piled bones and skins, smiled with sharp teeth and bloody traces left in his mouth. "Really?! Where?" his voice was like oil coating the air around him and slithering the ears of those who could hear him. A cracking noise could be heard as a dry bone snapped from beneath his clawed hand. Excitement rose slowly through the other wolves in the cave.
"A mountain near the abandoned slayer village." His head stayed bowed, not daring to look directly at their leader.
"Good, very good. We shall attack tomorrow at dusk." He roared and gleeful snarls echoed through the cave. The ripping of flesh melded with the growls and howls of the pack.
The wolf, who was still on one knee, lifted his eyes away from the arm laying on the cave floor before him to look at their leader. He swallowed as the hairs on his neck stood on end as he locked eyes with the glowing orange irises. "There... there was something else." He swallowed before continuing, "There was a light and a strange energy from a girl. I'd never felt it before." He spoke clearly and clenched his fist to keep from showing weakness, lest he become food for the very pack he served.
Their leader, Giichi, sat back on his throne as he calmed himself from almost killing one of the underlings who dared to look at him the eyes and challenge him. There was a reason this pathetic little wolf risked death today instead of tomorrow. "Continue." He commanded and his voice felt like oil slowly spreading across the cave floor.
"It felt similar to a priestess's power, but different and stronger. She nearly killed Kouga's pack with the energy, but she still appears to be an ally." After finishing he averted his eyes but stood where he was. He couldn't move or do anything else as it would be construed as disobedience.
A chill ran through the cave, and it became silent. No one moved, no one breathed. Stale air hung within the dampness and even without looking, all those present could feel their leader move. The power of the jewel pressuring them into submission. Giichi tilted his head slowly from side to side as he studied the wolf standing in front of him. His lips peeled back against his fangs and revealed a crimson, grimacing smile. "So the cub," he spat out with poison that clung to the air. "Found himself one of the divine folk." The cave remained quiet as a single claw tapped against an old skull beneath Giichi's hand. After a few moments the tapping gave way to cracking and sounds of fracture as the claw tapped its way through the bone. "If that is so," he looked around at his pack showing complete submission to him, "then she has chosen death." The jewel shards in his chest glistened black beneath his skin as he exerted a form of pressure that radiated out from his body like fog rolling in. A subtle miasma filled the air, causing some of the weaker pack members to shiver. "Tomorrow. We will kill Kouga and those who opposed me. And," he licked his lips at the thought, "I will feast on the divine child upon our victory." The wolf in front him nodded and bowed before picking up the arm that had been thrown to him. Giichi relished in the thought of getting his hands on Kouga's shards and the divine demon he had been hiding.
The Shadow Realm was functioning in the same manner it had for hundreds of years. The border stood between the peaceful civilization run by their queen and the wastelands. The market was buzzing as the orange moon hung overhead and the flowers glowed beneath its light. "So. Can I? Can I? Can I?" Ayame asked her dark skinned guardian and queen as she followed her through the realm. Her question kept repeating as they walked and Lady Kuromi's face stayed unperturbed.
Hoshiyomi walking with them on the other hand, held an increasingly annoyed expression with every repeat of the question from Ayame's lips. "Please cease, Ayame. Unless you want me to stab you through the shoulder." He ground out as he stood next to Lady Kuromi.
Ayame reached her head around Lady Kuromi and looked at Hoshiyomi. "I would love to see you try." She flashed a fanged smile at him and caused his eyebrow to twitch. He muttered curses under his breath that made Lady Kuromi's lips twitch ever so slightly.
"I don't need you messing around in the mortal realm Ayame. Especially not with the wolves." She spoke authoritatively as her eyes scanned the surrounding market. People were moving about and trading what they had for goods. It was peaceful and there were few reports of the barrier fluctuating recently.
"Kuromi." Ayame changed her voice. Now she wasn't acting like a child of the person who had raised her, but of the leader of her clan. She spoke with authority and dropped formalities with the person walking next to her. "I need to see how these wolves fight in order to determine if I can trust them. Eventually we will go to war and the more allies we have the better."
Lady Kuromi glanced to where Ayame was staring at her with steadfast eyes. "And here I thought you were asking if you could go play with them." She smirked slightly at the annoyed expression on the wolf's face. She waved her arm in front of her and a dark void opened before them. "Be safe Ayame."
Ayame smiled and nodded before jumping into the void and hopping from the Shadow Realm and into the mortal realm. As soon as she was within the void, it closed and disappeared as if it was never there.
"Let's hope she doesn't come back pregnant." Hoshiyomi said offhandedly.
Lady Kuromi chuckled. "I don't think she has that in mind yet. She acts young and childish sometimes, but she is still a wise leader of her pack." The smile faded from her lips as she recalled what Ayame had said. "She is also correct. Eventually there will be war and we will need to gather allies for it."
Hoshiyomi pondered as he looked around him at the bustling atmosphere. "So the war will rage outside of the Shadow Realm, then. After all, what ruler would want to endanger their own kingdom when they could endanger another's."
Lady Kuromi's red eyes glanced at her friend and advisor. "Mm," she quietly agreed with his assessment. If possible, she would prevent a war from breaking out within the Shadow Realm. For that to happen and reclaim the rest of the Shadow Realm, she needed the jewel to be whole. Only then could her wish be granted.
So, fun fact. This chapter wasn't saved originally and I had to rewrite it, twice actually. In the time that I haven't updated though, I have graduated from my masters program and have a masters degree. So that was fun, especially during covid. Thank you to everyone who has read this story from the beginning (I cringe just looking back at the early chapters.) Thank you for reading this chapter and I do hope that you all are doing alright!
