Chapter Two
Kunanai heard the door open some where in her mind. She struggled to come to reality though failing. A sharp pain brought her back to reality, leaving her whirling in a world of pain and confusion. Yananu stood before her, anger evident in his stance and his eyes.
"So you think by casting a spell on my brother you will survive?" he punched her hard in the face, drawing blood with the force.
She coughed, spitting the blood out onto the floor. He continued to beat her, kicking, punching until she could not even hold her head up. With a sudden snap, Kunanai scream as her arms were ripped out of their sockets. She gasped loudly, keeping from crying out further from the pain.
He pulled back growling, "Great, you've got your vile blood on me."
He left just as quickly, leaving Kunanai to think of only the pain he had caused in the brief moments he was there.
"You…. will never…. earn…. the people's…. trust," she gasped out.
He chuckled from the stairs, "I don't care for their trust, they will be loyal by fear if need be."
He left then, slamming the door shut behind him.
'Inari, what have I gotten myself into,' she thought to herself.
Flashback
Rainal was a magnificent city filled with many different species of Demon. They set up shops on the streets creating a market square. Kunanai had never been in a city as big as Rainal. They turned back to their more natural looking form just outside the city. The Venus Flytrap returned their packs to them as well. They threw their capes on to hide their identities as the Forbidden Children.
It was quite easy to find logging in the city; it brought the people a large amount of the money they needed. Kunanai stood beside Kurama as he negotiated the cost of logging with the owner.
"Ku, I'll meet you back here in a while. I want to explore the town," she said once they reached their room.
Kurama nodded, beginning to unpack, "Be back soon."
She nodded, tying a dagger to her hip for protection. The city seemed even larger once she was alone but that did not make her feel any different. She wandered around hoping to find either Lord Inari or Minare. Many merchants approached her though they were, of course turned away.
"Hey, darling, over here," a voice called to her from an alley.
She turned, her hand grasping at her hip only to release it when she realized it was Lord Inari. He was also covered in a cloak to hide his identity.
"Glad to see you could make it, child. Come, Minare is waiting for us to come," he said quietly.
She nodded following him closely as he led her to the opposite side of the city. It was a little more rundown in the western side where they were. Minare's home was a tiny shack built out of nothing but sparse wood. The roof was made of branches covered in clay and hay.
"He lives here?" she whispered.
The door flew open then, revealing a man that only came to her shoulder, "Father, have you brought my new student?"
Lord Inari motioned for Kunanai to step forward, "She only needs to learn the basics unless you feel the need to continue her training. She controls two elements."
Minare narrowed his eyes, "Two elements? Which ones?"
Lord Inari smirked at him, not answering his question as he moved inside.
"Well, my boy, it's time to begin your training."
Kunanai froze just inside the door, "Excuse me, sir but my name is Kunanai and I'm female."
He drew in a deep breath before smiling, "Of course you are. Now what elements do you control?"
She smiled shyly, "Actually I don't know. I didn't know I even had powers."
Minare laughed, throwing his arm over her shoulder, "My dear, all Youkai have powers. There are many elements they can control. I control Electric energy, a subcategory of Earth. Lord Inari controls many but mostly uses light, another subcategory of Earth. Your brother controls plants, another of Earth," he stopped in his explanation. "Many control Earth since it is all around us but there are many. Metal, Ice, Fire, Wind, Water, Darkness, many more as well."
Kunanai nodded, "Then wouldn't I control something of Earth?"
He shook his head, "No, even though you are related to him, you could control the exact opposite of him."
She smiled, "Okay, I understand. How do we find out what I control?"
He held out this dish with sand in it, "This is magical sand that once you lightly touch it, it will form designs that will show us what you control."
She touched it, watching as the sand changed. It twirled and waved over the dish. She pulled it back once it stopped forming.
"Odd, this is not a design I've seen before," he whispered.
Lord Inari smiled, "Come, child, let me help you unlock your power."
He lightly placed both fingers on either temple, chanting quietly under his breath. She closed her eyes, feeling her body temperature change slowly. She shivered yet felt like her skin was on fire.
Lord Inari pulled back whispering, "She controls the conflicting elements, Fire and Ice."
Kunanai looked at him before her eyes rolled back in her head. Lord Inari caught her, her hood falling from her head. Minare gasped loudly, his eyes roaming over her face.
"She's…. She's beautiful beyond reason. How old is she?" he whispered, his hand moving to touch her face.
Lord Inari glared at him, pulling her quickly into his arms. He turned to Minare, studying the man. He was a hanyou, half-breed; his mother was Youkai and his father was Ningen. He had short brown hair starting to thin on top. His skin was a brownish-black and slightly muscled. His eyes were small and black. Lord Inari did not for one second trust him.
"She is nearing seven years. I am quite thankful for your help but I do not trust you so I will be training her," he turned away leaving no room for him to speak.
He reached her room soon after and found Kurama standing by the window, his brow furrowed in concern.
"Son, your sister is okay, only needs rest. Her power has awoken," he laid her down on the one bed big enough to hold them both.
Kurama sat down beside her, lightly placing a wet cloth on her forehead.
"I felt her power skyrocket moments ago, that's why I was looking for her," he whispered.
Lord Inari nodded, "She now controls the conflicting elements, Fire and Ice. I was going to have Minare train her but he found her Kitsune blood almost irresistible as soon as he saw her face."
Kurama smiled, "Yeah, Forbidden Children seem to have that sort of effect on people with our mixed blood."
Kunanai stirred a few moments later, waking to find no one with in the room. She felt much better considering she had just overcome a raging battle between two elements inside herself. She slept peacefully for awhile but she felt anxious to do something, anything besides sit there waiting for someone to come. She felt rather than heard her brother comeback, the sweet smell of Foxglove accompanying him.
"Hey, how are you feeling?"
"Weird. I can't believe I'm so powerful. What class am I?" she questioned jumping up.
"A. Pretty strong considering you just became aware of your power."
She smiled lightly sucking on the purple flower that was foxglove, "How powerful are you?"
"A," he answered simply not looking at her.
They sat in silence few moments before Kurama stood again.
Kunanai hurried to his side, throwing her arms around his stomach, "Ku, please don't leave me. I'm sorry, I won't be stronger than you, just don't abandon me."
He dropped to one knee, his eyes wide with disbelief, "Nai, I could never…How could you…. Is that what…"
She struggled to keep her tears under control, "Mother and Father did. Now you're all I have left."
He hugged her tight, pulling her into his lap while he lightly drew small circles on her back, "I will never leave you, I can't. I'm your older brother. We're the only ones who could possibly understand each other."
She nodded, "I love you, Ku."
He smirked, "And I, you my little Kit."
He kissed her nose, his smile widening as she giggled.
"Now stay here while I go get us some riches."
She hopped back onto the bed quickly, staring down at her hands interested. She could actually feel the power running through her, dancing on her fingertips. She wanted to try to use her power but knew there would be severe consequences if she used any of it. Now that her power was unlocked she could feel the Youkai outside just by their power.
She moved then to the window and lightly laid a hand on the glass, her fingers accidentally going straight through as the glass melted around them. She glanced around before pulling her hand back and touching the other to the window. Her mouth fell open as the melted glass froze under her touch.
She looked at both her hands, "Fire and Ice? The conflicting elements? Awesome!"
She jumped when the door to her room flew open though calmed herself at the sight of Minare.
"Oh, hello. What are you doing here, sir?" she questioned innocently having no idea of Minare's lust.
"I'm here to…. train you, my dear."
He approached her, his eyes full of hunger and desire. Kunanai backed up slowly, feeling, knowing something had changed. The way Minare held himself, even acted was that of a predator attacking a helpless creature.
"Minare, I think you're close enough. Stop right there! Now!"
He continued his approach unheeded by her words. She ran to dodge him but underestimated his speed. He grabbed her around the waist and threw her onto the bed. She struggled, kicking, hitting, unable to scream as his hand covered her mouth. She bit down hard on his hand, her teeth sinking into the skin and drawing blood.
He scream pulling his hand back while still penning her beneath him.
"You little bitch, I come here to train you and this is how you repay me."
She glared at him, her eyes turning a dark amber as he moved in again. She fumbled to figure out how to beat him, trying to get the upper hand. His hand slide down her side and began to try untying the belt that held her outfit closed. Her eyes suddenly went blank, her hands clenching onto his stomach. His mouth suddenly fell open in a silent scream as he tried to pull away.
She however only tightened her hold on him, feeling her energy suddenly seep to her fingertips slowly. He stared at her silently begging for her to stop but she neither saw nor felt anything. He finally found his voice, releasing an unearthly scream that was heard throughout the city. Her energy, both the Fire and Ice were slowly working their way through him. The right side was burning from the inside out; the left side was turning to ice.
Finally both energies met, the powers briefly fighting each other before they compromised. Minare was suddenly blown apart, his upper half falling to the floor while his lower half remained on Kunanai. She slowly shook her head, her mind awakening as the warm, sticky liquid covered her and the bed. She scrambled out from under him, tripping over the other half of him that lay on the floor.
She felt the tears begin to prickle up behind her eyes but she shoved them aside. She had killed but it was to protect herself from being raped. Even in the Makai that was almost a fate worse than death. Kurama came in, dropping his bag onto the floor with a crash.
"Nai, what…what happened here?"
She looked at herself before scanning the room, "He came here to rape me and I defended myself from him. Is something wrong?"
He stared at her concerned when he noticed how passive she was to the whole scene before her.
"Nai, quick, grab your things. We have to leave now," the urgency in his voice making her hurry.
It was the dark of night that they escaped in. Listening as the city awoke to find their great warrior dead, brutally killed by an unknown creature.
End Flashback
Kunanai stared ahead at nothing, her body returning to being numb as her arms still remained dislocated. She felt like she was going to die within minutes but she knew she would not. The door opened, a terrified servant entered carrying a tray.
"It's supper t-time, m-my l-l-lady," he stuttered.
She slowly lifted her head, nodding at the small Youkai, "Come then, feed me. And please tell me news of what is happening in Jantu."
The darkness coiled around her but even so she could tell the Youkai was an Imp. It's big ears were held back in what looked to be ties of silk to keep them from falling into his eyes. The eyes sparkled at her with fear and apprehension dilating the deep purple depths.
The servant stopped before her, setting the tray at her feet, "Are you not angered with us, wishing to kill us?"
"No, only with Yananu and Dananu. You, the rest of you are all my people."
He smiled, "My lady, Yananu has became leader of the Demon Army and plans on destroying any who oppose him. He also got Dananu to agree with the banishment or execution of all Hanyou's in Jantu."
The broth was nothing more than meat placed in water, most of the meat consisted of nothing more than fat. The only other part of the meal was a stale piece of bread that had probably begun to mold over but thankfully the dungeons were almost pitch black making it extremely hard to see.
"Everyone is loyal to you since you led us to victory many times. I'm sorry but I must go."
Kunanai leaned back again, a small smile gracing her face, 'Perhaps all is not lost. If they refuse to give up then nether do I.'
She moved slightly, her body relaxing as she began trying to formulate a plan in her head.