Second Chapter

I still don't own any of this except the idea and a few of the characters.

3

oh and yes if you haven't noticed the story will inform you later on but for now, YES Mononoke is San from Princess Mononoke. I still haven't come to a father for the triplets yet, I may make them Ashitaka's kids who were given wolf forms by their mother or I may make them just some random wolf from the north or some other compass direction XD. Anyway it doesn't really matter right now.

Enjoy and review.


Kaoru righted herself on the path. Her tanned deer skin leggings tight around her waist, twisted about her legs from her fall out of the tree. Something had knocked into her path without warning. She shook her head clear and tossed her long black hair over her shoulder, biting back a growl. The leather thong had come loose on it and let spill, a curtain of straight ink down to her waist giving her a wild and ethereal look in the sunlight filtering through the tree tops. Sniffing the air for any threats she couldn't detect what had fallen out in front of her. It had probably just been a squirrel anyway, but still...

"Busu, what are you doing? What the hell happened? I saw something fall in front of you but I couldn't tell what it was!" Yahiko was yelling. He was running faster than any human could run towards her followed by the triplets close behind. Upon Ayumi's back was a young girl 18 or 19 in age, with long black hair tied into a two foot long braid and a row of daggers lining her waist and arms.

"Kaoru! Are you ok? What was that thing!" The girl yelled her worry over the top of her ride's head. They all stopped before Kaoru who was now standing and waving it off at them.

"It was nothing Misao. I couldn't tell what it was but I think it was that hawk that Enishi carries. He may not be able to pass my borders, but the hawk is able to go where it pleases. It's probably keeping an eye on us thats all." She murmured in irritation.

"Though if I see it again" she muttered darkly to herself "I will spear it through the heart."


The lake shore where the wolf clan lived was in the very heart of the forest. Surrounded by a mossy swamp that was pristine and the sanctuary of ultimate peace. And it was some 500 miles away from where they had started out at the estate that morning. It was an easy trip for the little group of course. Kaoru and Misao scouted ahead and ran into the water giggling like little girls as they waited for the wolf god to appear and speak with them of what was to happen now. The timing was perfect as Misao ended the water fight they were currently attacking on Yahiko with then the wolf god appeared. Unerringly tall at almost 10 feet from clawed paw to erect ear and almost 30 feet in length. She sported a lithe lean body of iron muscle and a steely fur as white as the snow on the most isolated of mountain peaks. Kaoru shouted happily as she ran to sink into the thick familiar white fur.

"Master!" Kaoru chirped from the ruff of snow white fur at the large she wolf's neck.

"Kaoru" she rumbled affectionately as her large golden eye swung down to look at her adopted daughter and successor.

"Yahiko, Misao" she acknowledged with a feral smile as they all piled into her side in greeting.

The wolf pups nipped and yelped at her chin in elation at her return and the three human figures lounged between her forelegs. The perfect wolf pack in Kaoru's opinion.

"What is happening master? Yahiko has said Enishi covered another two acres last night! What is to be done with him?" Kaoru said looking up at the great wolf god. The others all looked up at her expectantly. When with the mother of the forest they tended to act younger than their ages. Kaoru was practically a pile of puppy limp happiness when with her family this way. A moment of peace was always welcome in the pack.

"Enishi will be killed and revenge will be sanctified. However we cannot do that as of yet because we have no proof against him for the council's more stubborn members and most importantly we must first sate the boars private blood lust that is beginning to show." Mononoke said turning her great white head to Yahiko she eyed him with an approving glance.

"It was good of you to suggest a meeting, I think I will use you further as my peace keeper here."

He could only nod as his face blanched. The boar clan was scary to be around, but if it was what his surrogate mother commanded he would obey.

"Now then shall we go and find our little entourage out in the woods?" Noke said cheerfully lifting herself off the ground and shaking herself free of drowsing pups.

Something flashed in her eyes, but was gone before Kaoru could judge what it could have been. Smiling brightly Kaoru grabbed her forgotten bag beside her and hopped to the mainland from the little island they had inhabited with their greetings.

"We will be staying in the alcove while our guests are here. When we reach them we will not be able to travel as fast as we usually do. Misao I want you with Suzume at all times. Yahiko will stay with Haru. Kaoru you and Ayumi will scout ahead." She ended her present orders and in silence disappeared into the trees knowing her children wouldn't be far behind.

"Well I guess it's time to go." Kaoru said laughing as she mounted Ayumi and took off after the wolf god.

Yahiko and Misao looked at each other and grinned identically evil grins. Mounting their respected wolf partners they bounded away into the trees, not wishing to be left behind.


Hiko turned a trained eye on the tree line. He could sense something coming, but what it was he couldn't say. It was still a little ways away from his range. Breathing in deeply he sighed and rubbed the back of his neck with a heavily calloused hand. He could already guess what was coming for them. He had a growing dread in his stomach of it, but he thought inwardly with grim satisfaction 'what comes will come and we will meet it when it does'.

Turning to the group he met Kenshin and Aoshi's eyes and nodded. They felt something coming as well. He reassured them with a simple grunt and continued his mount deeper into the darkness of the forest.


As the day progressed, Kaoru began to feel something within her mind's eye. It was a gnawing feeling that was growing worse the closer they came to the little group she had spotted just minutes before. Having felt spontaneous she and Ayumi had charged themselves up and sprang across the cliffs within the forest that rose easily a good hundred feet above the tree tops. She had seen the curl of smoke from there. The campfire of the group she was ordered to bring to her father. They were a little ways away still about a hundred miles or so maybe another fifteen minutes. She had grinned and pointed the spot to Ayumi who growled back at her equally just as mischievous. With a giddy feeling that only came at odd moments for the young human-like. Kaoru had thrown back her head and let loose the deepest most welcoming howl she could muster. The sound spread with a swift speed across the forest valley like a soothing mother to a child. It fit the land perfectly. The sound she had produced however could not have possibly come from a human's throat and Ayumi was growling her approval while Kaoru smiled listening to her developed welcome.

Bounding down the sheer cliff face they sped past a very surprised Mononoke. Laughing, the pair bounded out of sight like rambunctious pups out for a day of exploration in their home.


"Did you hear that!" Sano yelled, his fists balled tightly. He was looking everywhere for the source of the eerie sound. Everyone else was tense around him. Somehow it still lingered in the air and in their ears.

Hiko sighed "It was a welcoming. Nothing threatening that I could hear in it. The wolf clan knows we're here, they must be the ones escorting us to the west." He murmured.

"Not threatening! That sounded like a bloody wolf howl What if they're not really friendly We're so going to die!" Megumi shrieked in shock she had her hands crooked in a spell casting position ready for an attack that wasn't coming.

"If you'll all sit down and calm yourselves, they should be here in a few moments." He said standing and stretching.

Calmly he went over and doused the cooking fire they had just started. No use in beginning one when they would surely be moving out fairly soon.


The clearing she found the group in was one Kaoru knew well as one of her many sparring rings against her master on sunny days. The group of humans occupying it now were all tensed and armed looking for a threat and Kaoru giggled softly into her hand at knowing her welcome was the cause of the stress she could plainly see in their shoulders and legs. Gathering up a courage that suddenly seemed to fail her she slipped on her mask face of cool beauty and calmly strode into the clearing, Ayumi flanked right by her side, her hackles slightly raised and her walk a tad stiff legged in authority. This was her sister after all it was her duty to protect her, even if it be against her mother's wishes.

The group didn't spot them right away and Kaoru giggled at a comment tossed to the wind by her companion. Knowing full well the consequences of her actions, she watched in approval as the group swung it's collective heads right in her direction. The two women there were tense and looking ready to scream while the men were all wide eyed and in some kind of awe of the beast that had just emerged from the forest. Everyone there was in shock as far as Kaoru could tell, but Ayumi shoved her muzzle beneath Kaoru's elbow and crooned in her throat for a scratch. Kaoru ignored her sister, but complied to her demand for a face rub. She couldn't get Ayumi to stop whining however and her breath hitched in her throat excitedly when she finally understood what Ayumi was whining about exactly.

"Uncle Hiko? She asked quietly

"Hiya pup." He grumped picking up his pack and slinging it over his shoulder.

Kaoru grinned widely and leapt, landing in a hug from over 50 feet away before the rest of the group knew she had even moved. They had all been too busy watching the giant wolf who had sat calmly at the edge of their little campsite with a curious light in it's eyes.

"I didn't know father called for you! Mou! I told him we could handle this situation! He didn't tell me anything. Just to be a nice errand girl for him. Did he explain why you needed to come?" She asked looking up at the giant man she was currently lounging against.

"Does he ever pup?" Hiko grumbled ruffling her hair. She growled low in her throat springing back next to Ayumi and placed a hand on the ruff betweenthe wolf'sshoulder blades. She locked eyes with the group and then bowed lightly to them as if suddenly remembering manners.

"Ayumi" Hiko acknowledged with a nod to the wolf.

"Uncle." The wolf spoke softly her eyes gleaming with mirth and caused the entire group around Hiko to jump comically about a foot back.

"Master, that is the largest wolf I have ever seen. I didn't even know they could reach such sizes." Kenshin spoke quietly his eyes were blazing amber in his tense worried state. For a moment Kaoru couldn't tear her eyes from them.

"Then be prepared for a heart attack my worried apprentice, This ones just a pup and a female at that. Her mother will be here with the other four mongrels in about ten seconds." He spoke sheathing his blade.

Looking over at Kaoru he gave her a silent regretful stare. She knew what it meant even if the others did not.

"She is not angry with you uncle, merely disappointed." Kaoru acknowledged his silent question as she bowed and placed her bag on the ground.

Hiko nodded and said nothing more, for a pounding in the earth's ground could be heard in the tense silence.

"Uh...what is that sound?" Sano asked looking around him.

"It is the sound of a god. If you've never seen one I suggest you get your screaming done now, it is not polite to scream in their presence." He threatened and with that, fell to one knee in respect just as a fantastically gigantic she-wolf came bounding over the tops of the eight story high trees and into the grassy clearing. Her white coat was tossed around by the wind as she stopped some thirty yards away from them all and in the sunlight streaming down she seemed to glow eerily. As one, the group sucked in a horrified fascinated breath. Megumi's face twisted and she fell to one knee following Hiko's lead. The rest of them all swiftly landed upon the ground. Too frightened to do much else.

The wolf's eyes glittered dangerously as she stalked over to inspect Kaoru and Ayumi out of sheer instinct rather than procrastination at addressing the group before her. Sniffing their persons for signs of harm or maltreatment she became satisfied and rumbled in approval to the two little females. They beamed happily up at her.

"The morning is well?" she greeted them in a deep rolling voice that purposefully soothed everyone in the clearing. It was the sound of bells wrapped in silk, the tone muffled, but the fluidity of the ring still as beautiful as expected.

"Mononoke" Hiko whispered not looking up from the ground at his boots.

"Hiko" she acknowledged just as quietly as she lay upon the ground beside Kaoru's standing figure, still easily towering over the young 5'4" woman.

"KAOOOORUUU!" A scream tore from the tree line and the group was instantly on their feet thinking an attack had come.

"Misao how many times do I have to tell you it's not that big of a- oof!"

Kaoru was knocked clear off her feet and into a tree with a kunai at her throat some thirty feet away from where she had been standing. Misao's eyes were ablaze. Kaoru growled, but knew she had had it coming and spoke softly so only Misao could hear, an old rhyme used to calm Misao as a child suddenly formed in Kaoru's mind and she hummed beneath her breath..

"Little bird, little bird thrust in a cage,

what will you do without your song every day?"

Kaoru's eyes were warm and soft looking down at her little sister and Misao backed down instantly. Pouting she slipped the kunai back up her sleeve and turned a glare on her big sister.

"Mou Kaoru! I can't believe you would run away from us. Just because you can best me in a spar, it's not fair you get to travel the cliffs." The young girl pouted.

Kaoru sighed and grinned down at her little sister.

"Misao if you haven't noticed we have company. When we get to the estate I will spar with you, and even let you win if you want." Kaoru grinned down at the smaller woman and wrapped her arm around her shoulders. Her mask she had hoped to keep on was long gone and her starry sapphire eyes glittered in joy.

"Everyone here though scared shitless at the sudden entrances, may I introduce my little spy sister, Misao Kamiya." Kaoru said happily and pushed Misao between their mother's forelegs. Misao looked up at Mononoke with a whine in her throat Her large sea green eyes glaring.

"Mother!" she crooned and Mononoke soothed her flushing face with a large wet black nose. Misao puffed out her breath and leaned back into Mononoke's fur. Kaoru giggled lightly. Her voice chirping like a sparrow. Turning to a still wide eyed and shocked silent group of skilled killers and hunters she grinned and waved a hand towards the surrounding areas. The trees blew lazily at her movements as if a sudden wind had picked up. Hiko watched silently impressed at her control.

"The estate you will be staying at is my second home where I was raised in an attempt to make me a noblewoman. It is about 500 miles west of this direct spot. If we leave now we can make it by tomorrow morning." Kaoru said smiling at the group. Tapping a finger to her chin she thought of what else was needed to be relayed.

"Oh! We really haven't even been introduced have we?" she said suddenly scatter brained at the situation presenting itself. Mononoke chuckled in her chest knowingly.

"I am Kaoru Kamiya heiress to the Mukuro forest and daughter of the spirit guide and lord of the west Keswick Kamiya, this" she pointed out with a sweep of her arm "is my family. My little sister the grand hunter better than all the gods. Misao, don't comment on her height though she's very sensitive" Kaoru grinned as the expected indignant shriek sounding more like embarrassment from the introduction sounded from behind her.

"The younger human looking brother is Yahiko son of the great kitsune demon Yokuro, Haru is the brother beside him and my other two sisters Ayumi whom you've met and Suzume who came with Misao." She bowed to the group and they finally visibly relaxed.


Kenshin was enraptured by Kaoru's expressive face, lilting voice, brilliant blue eyes and he couldn't take his own amber ones off of her. Sheathing his blade he stepped up beside Hiko and bowed to the intimidating pack. The first of the group to have moved since the wolves arrivals.

"I am Kenshin Himura, Hiko's apprentice master in the art of soul flames. These are my best friends and partners Sanosuke Sagara professional fighter with taps in soul flames and strength, Megumi Takani our group's healer, Aoshi Shinomori our own personal shadow spy and assassin, Saitou Hajime and Tokio Hajime expert mercenaries and hunters." They all bowed when addressed and Kaoru looked happier than ever. Megumi's color in her elegant face came back and she was looking calm and slightly peaceful.

"We are all at your service lady Kamiya" he said bowing to her personally. Kaoru smiled at him, her eyes glittering in slight challenge though Kenshin wouldn't have known. Kenshin felt a tap on his shoulder as he straightened up to look at her. Turning behind him Kaoru was there grinning.

'That's good to know Himura." She baited playfully.

"Kaoru" Mononoke warned and Kaoru dropped back to stand beside her mother, clearly disappointed.

Touching her mother's nose with her own Kaoru listened to the message relayed in her mind from her mother and then nodded as she straightened up. Her entire demeanor had changed with her straightening, she stood straight as an arrow, a tense rigidity came to her shoulders, her eyes froze over as she pulled back her long hair and took out one of her many knives. With one swift movement Kaoru cropped her hair to just below her ear and even shorter up the nape of her neck and back of her head. Her bangs fell forward to hide her eyes as she wrapped the remains of her once magnificant hair with the tie and stuffed it in her bag. Turning she eyed the group with a fierceness they didn't expect from the previous bubbly woman.

"Ayumi, Suzume, Misao, we will scout ahead to the cliffs. The boars wish to speak with me. Yahiko go north with Haru, the wolverine's have entered the forest. You will find them and make them know, that they either join our side or suffer my wrath upon them." Her once glowing blue eyes were chips of ice as she mounted Ayumi's back.

"Master will see you all to the cliffs. We have to prepare a ward placement for your safety before we can travel tomorrow. it takes a lot of strength to accomplish. See you soon!" Her personality had switched back to her previous mood so quickly Kenshin thought there may have been two of her in the clearing. She chirped out a brief goodbye to Mononoke and bounded into the darkness of the trees with Misao on Suzume in tow. Misao winked over her shoulder at them all before disappearing into the underbrush after her sisters. Yahiko nodded, his face grim as he and Haru disappeared to the east of the girls.

Mononoke stood as her pups all dispersed to carry out their assignments. A low rumbling sounded in her chest somewhat content sounding. Shaking her gigantic coat off with lazy movements, she turned to the group and inclined her massive head to them.

"Shall we continue on after my daughters and sons? They can be quite a handful, but they know how to hold their own in a massacre if needed. If they become overbearing on you though, just let me know. I will straighten them out with a good run." She turned away, her two long sweeping tails wagging slightly behind her.

"Doesn't she mean in battle? Why did she say massacre and why am I actually asking to know?"

Megumi turned wide eyes on Hiko. Everyone wanted to know it seemed and he sighed not knowing how to answer. Gruffly he picked up his pack and walked over to his horse.

"Don't let their actions here define their characters to you. All of those young ones have killed before. All of them have seen death been at it's door and probably fallen beneath a tidalwave of war and blood. They are more skilled in the art of murder than any of you here and can probably kill us all in under a second if they concentrated hard enough." He said quietly. Mononoke had stopped at the edge of the trees and she turned her head to them her eyes fierce gold in the shade of the trees.

"My children have souls that are older than even you Battouryu, and yes they have all killed, I have made sure of it. Innocence was lacking, even at their births. It is what fate has given them and I have seen them all capable of rising to meet it. I say massacre because when those six fight beside each other in the bond of family and love there is no opposing side. Just a line of men and beasts waiting for their deaths. You can accept their hidden demons and flaws or you can spite them and make a never forgiving enemy. They do not take any duty lightly and are always loyal to those who are deemed worthy of it." She turned back towards the forest and disappeared into the darkness without making a sound.

"Oh my." Tokio said quietly with a cough, mounting her horse. Saitou agreed with a grunt and lit a new cigarette.


Kenshin was in shock. So long that he had believed he was a danger to those he loved and cared for and here was a family, albeit a strange one that only fought when their family and loved ones were in danger. He was very confused as of that moment and more annoyingly the vision of beautiful sapphire eyes flashing in laughter and then suddenly in barely controlled fury would not leave his mind.

The cliffs were vertical walls of white sun washed rock that tumbled down to giant boulders at the base. He could see straight up to the top and did not wish to think what would happen if someone lost their balance.

"We will be climbing this?" Sano said in awe looking up.

"Yes rooster, the cave that we will be sleeping in tonight is up about 70 yards. It is the wolves den or one of them I believe." Hiko said looking up.

Without one more word he shot off into the air and up the cliff with grace that no one would think he possessed. Kenshin followed easily and landed beside Hiko on a lip protruding over the cliffs wall. When looked at from below one could not see it. Hiko had jumped on instinct and assumption alone. It was a breathtaking sight and Kenshin found himself thinking of how he could get used to living in such a peaceful place like this.

Aoshi landed beside Kenshin and the two being old friends since childhood simply stood in companionable silence together. Soon Sano, holding Megumi in his arms landed and Saitou followed holding Tokio with him.

"That's a nice ability you all got there." Kaoru's voice crooned from above.

They all looked up and found her lying on the overhanging rocks in the sun. She seemed perfectly content to bask and they could almost see a tail and wolf ears sticking up out of her newly cut midnight black hair. Her skin seemed to hum in the very air and they suddenly knew why Hiko had said the things about her not being human. She was truly a god-child. Kenshin watched her carefully as she curved her spine like a cat and swung easily off the treacherous overhang to stand before them all.

"This is where we usually stay, unless it's just me and Yahiko out on patrols. The little brat likes the forest floors. I prefer the height of the fall. Don't you?" she grinned.

"You haven't changed a bit pup since you were ten." Hiko chuckled walking past her.

"Why thank you uncle." Kaoru drawled sarcastically and beckoned the group to follow her into the caves.