Chapter Eight:

A downpour was coming.

The churning clouds of a storm approaching from the west made a dark and ominous streak across the horizon. Flashes of lightning lit the sky, echoed within a breath's wait by thunder.

Daisuke leaned against a tree, sniffing the light breeze sailing through his hair and clothes. He cast an anxious glance to tiny manor, all but hidden within the shadows of the mountains.

"You look pensive," remarked Keiji in an oddly cheerful tone. "Is it possible that you've reconsidered this foolishness?"

Daisuke snorted, even as his heart pounded, and tucked his trembling hands into he sleeves. Bubbles of disgust churned within his belly. A bitter revulsion that stemmed, not from the notion he might reconsider, but rather that he had even entertained the option.

Worse are the late night memories, existing within the space between wakefulness and dreaming. There he is haunted with after images of soldiers, flames… and blood. There had been so much blood: in thick puddles beneath his feet, splattered upon the walls, seeping from his father's many wounds…

It is then, in that ever-dimming recollection, that his mind turns traitor. You left her and now she's dead. You let your sister die.

He had not been able search for her until the morning after the attack. And then, even though he had dug through soot and charred timbers until his hands were bruised and bloodied, he found no sign of her. Not even a single strand of her violet hair. They had burned everything that was important to him down to ashes.

Under his sleeves, his fingers dug into the flesh of his upper arms, bruising. "No, I haven't reconsidered."

Keiji sighed. "I thought as much." He paused, and then gave a slight shrug. "After all, you do seem bound and determined to have your head on a pike come summer's end."

Daisuke cocked his head to one side, smirking. "You worry too much."

"And you worry too little," Keiji countered, jabbing a finger in the air toward Daisuke for good measure.

Daisuke snorted a bitter laugh. "You mean, I don't worry enough about myself."

He peered up at the storm-darkened sky, thoughts chasing across his face like shadows. "What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to think rationally," Keiji said, fingering the dagger tucked in his sash. It was a beautiful weapon. Well honed and trimmed in jade, it had slain many a peach.

Strange, how sticky his hands felt at that moment. As if they were already drenched in blood.

"There is still-" time to turn back, he almost said, but then amended quickly with, "a matter to consider. Your men are competent, but what you ask goes far beyond anything they have ever done."

Daisuke grimaced at sudden ache in the hollow of his chest. "I know," he murmured. "But I have to find Umeko."

"You little fool!" Keiji hissed. "What good will you do your sister dead?"

In echo to his sentiment, the wind gusted, shaking leaves from the trees. Beneath the scent of coming rain was that of inu daiyoukai. Much to his relief, they were still a distance away.

"What good am I doing her alive?" Daisuke sighed, unaware that he spoke aloud, and raked a hand through his tussled hair. As the moments passed between them, each tenser than the last, the air seemed to thicken with rain that refused to fall.

Daisuke brought his hand to his mouth, chewing at a jagged piece of his thumbnail. "You underestimate me," he growled, spitting out the piece of shredded nail.

Keiji ignored the accusation, for nothing he could say would convince his young master otherwise. Instead he steered his efforts to a more pressing issue. "What of the girl?"

Daisuke wiped spittle from his chin with the back of his hand. "What about her?"

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Keiji released a lingering sigh. "The creature you bargain with can't be trusted," he reminded Daisuke in stern tone. "You said so yourself."

Not daring to look his friend in the eye, Daisuke pushed away from the tree. His gaze swept over his men, and then down at the manor in the distance. Dread crept into his heart, and with it, an unwanted shred of doubt.

"I don't want to do this," he whispered. "But I have-" no choice- "I have to save Umeko. No matter what it takes."

Just then, thunder tore through the sky, shaking the trees above them. Keiji's expression grew grave, lips twisting into frown, and his eyes hardened. After a moment, he shook his head, features softening once more. "I see."

Daisuke flinched at dour tone, but refused to waver. Instead his eyes brightened and he managed a weak smile. "You don't have to come along."

Crossing his arms over his chest, he tried to still his trembling hands. Although he was pretending otherwise, the prospect that Keiji might leave his side filled him with no small amount of dread.

Feigning nonchalance, he rocked back on his heels and lifted his shoulders into careless shrug before glancing back at Keiji. "Maybe it would be better if you didn't," he said, lowering his shoulders. Smirking at Keiji's dubious expression, he added, "seeing how you're old and all."

"Old?" Keiji questioned, clearly insulted. He straightened to his full height and stuck out his chin, but not before smoothing a hand down his tattered clothes. "I'll have you know that I'm barely five centuries."

Daisuke almost laughed outright at the sheer indignity held within the sour tone. Instead, he merely lifted his eyebrows and returned Keiji's unfriendly glare with a grin.

"My age," Keiji began in tone that brooked no argument, "is between me and the spirits."

"And Naoko-hime," Daisuke added, still grinning. "Who, just so happens to be half your age."

Keiji narrowed his fierce gaze, scowling. Naoko was just another link in his long chain of mistresses. She was a passing fancy, no more special than the last and possibly less interesting than the next. There was no reason to feel the keen bite of her absence as he did.

He gave himself a mental shake. This was not the time to think of such matters. "Don't speak of her."

"All right," Daisuke mused, tapping his chin, oblivious that he mocked a delicate subject. "Then how about the herdsman's daughter. I think her name was-"

"Hana," Keiji answered stiffly, ignoring Daisuke's triumphant grin. "And I know what you're trying to do.

Daisuke shuffled his feet as his grin faded into soft, sad smile. "What?" he questioned, looking away from Keiji's gaze to stare at the ground. "Besides convince you to stay?"

His entire frame became so tense it trembled. He shook until he heard nothing, save the chatter of his teeth the pounding of his heart. Now, more than ever, he was terrified.

Warm hands clasped his shoulders in gesture that was almost fatherly. Keiji gripped his shoulders, just slightly, and took a deep breath.

"Before you were born," he began in tone that was as enigmatic as it was kind. "Your father asked me to watch over you."

"My father's dead," Daisuke reminded, voice strained. "His promises don't mean anything now."

Keiji made a derisive sound, low in the throat, and pulled away. "I suppose," he agreed, peering sidelong at their men. Vaguely, he wondered just how long they had been listening.

"Kiyoshi-sama's promises may no longer hold weight in this world, but mine still do."

Daisuke gave a pointed exhale as a crooked smile spread across his face. Gratitude-tinged relief filled his being, and with it, a sudden burst of confidence. He should have known that Keiji would never abandon him.

"When this is over, we'll go north," Daisuke said, calm as he took a deep breath of humid air. "Aunt Sorano will be happy to see me."

Thunder rumbled overhead. Managing a slight smile, Keiji said, "I'll make certain she gives you a good scolding and sound whipping."

Daisuke chuckled, flashing a toothy grin. "And I'll make certain to introduce Naoko-hime to Hana and Sachiko."

This time, instead of the expected annoyance, Keiji responded with worried eyes set in grim features.

"I'm sorry," Daisuke stammered, averting his gaze. "I should-"

"You should be planning how we are going to defeat, not one, but two daiyoukai," Keiji finished, frowning forbiddingly. "And I doubt very seriously that the girl will come willingly."

"Oh, that's easy," Daisuke quipped with sudden smugness. "I have plan."

---

An hour away from the manor and soaked to the skin, Touga once again cursed himself for not preparing the carriage. The reason he had not, of course, was his young wife, sitting before him.

Amayami hated anything that made her feel trapped and barred in. As of late, he had begun to realize, that included their marriage. Such knowledge did little to alleviate his want for her.

He wound one arm around her waist, strands of her damp hair tickling his nose as he inhaled her scent. Tempting, vexatious little imp.

Amayami twisted around in the saddle, oblivious to her husband's attentions as she surveyed the landscape around her. Sudden feelings of nostalgia stirred within her at the sight of the great, towering trees lining the road. They were lush and green with branches that seemed to scrape the sky.

Her thoughts turned inward as she recalled a time when such trees had blanketed her father's land in abundance. Once, such trees were considered the pride of The Eastern Providence. Standing as the eternal symbol of peace and unity.

Now there was little left of them, save hacked stumps and rotting timbers. All that they were, all that they represented, was carved and hewn into failed machines of war. Such an unforgivable waste.

She supposed it was foolish, perhaps even callous, to mourn the loss of few thousand trees. Lives were infinitely more important than trees, but that did not make their destruction any less unbearable.

"We're nearly there," Touga consoled, mistaking her sudden despondency for fatigue.

She felt his palm slide over her stomach, fingers splaying possessively across her hip, and stiffen, lifting her shoulders to avoid him when he tried to kiss her throat.

Tugging once at the reins, Touga slowed their mount to a leisurely gait, and then knotted the leather cords around the saddle horn. Sighing, he laid his chin on the top of her head and circled both arms around her middle, squeezing. "What's wrong?"

Amayami radiated anger but her held tongue, choosing instead to brood in silence. At any other time, he would have considered her silence a small mercy, but now it was worrisome.

Whispering soft endearments, he pulled her against him, and listened as she drew little hissing breaths. After a moment, he realized they were actually strangled sobs. "You were fine earlier," he reminded. Wishing, as her silence grew, that he could amend his words to sound less like an accusation. He tried a gentler, "Tell me."

Craning her neck, she gave him a watered down smile. "It's nothing."

Touga frowned at the darkening horizon and the storm-laden wind at their backs. He combed his hand over her hair, peeling the rain-plastered strands from her cheeks. Part of him wanted to let the matter rest, even as the niche she had carved in his heart ached to comfort her.

"I don't know if telepathy is one of your gifts," he prodded, voice light with teasing, "but it's not one of mine."

Her brow arched. "The world is indeed thankful."

He had to smile. The haughty expression and the sardonic tone, both were so his Amayami. Still, he was not about to let her off the hook so easily. Cupping her chin, he looked her sternly in the eye. "Well, let's hear it."

Touga stared at her upturned face, watching as a miniscule smile tugged at her lips. She leaned back against him, sighing as the tension ebbed from her body.

"It's nothing," she insisted, growing limp in his arms. All the fight within her had vanished, and now she was left too exhausted to become infuriated about how wonderful his arms felt around her.

"Nonsense." Touga frowned forbiddingly. "You're being foolish."

She stiffened again, and he could practically feel the walls thickening between them. "Foolish," she repeated, glaring at him as best she could out of the corner of her eye, not wanting to move out of her comfortable position to turn her head.

His lips twitched in amusement. "And deaf, it would seem."

Whether it was his intent or not, his words were a near perfect mimicry of her dryer, more sardonic tones, and enough to spark her anger anew.

"You," she spat, eyes flashing with anger, "are a rutting, disgusting- Dog!"

Touga had to laugh. Amayami could slight his kith, kin, and clan with a passing mention that the sky was blue, but tended to falter with baser insults.

"Is that the best you can do?" he choked, laughter wracking his body.

"Oh, I have not even begun," she seethed. Anger flickered around the edges of her face, twisting her crimson stripes. "You think the world belongs to you and will destroy anything you can't have."

His laughter lumped in his throat, feeling like bits of broken pottery as he swallowed it down. Face twisting into a mask of rage, he snatched up the reins and gave them a vicious jerk.

Amayami swiped at his hands, claws nicking the tops of his wrists, as he roughly tugged again, commanding the pack beast to stop. She threw off Touga's arms and slipped from the saddle.

"Don't take your anger at me out on him," she demanded, glaring as Touga swung down from the saddle to join her on the ground.

He seemed stretched thin with rage as he stalked towards her, fists balled at his sides. "If I was just angry with you," he growled, eyes gleaming, "my life would be so much simpler."

He wrest her away from the dragon, causing her to stumble, and dragged her against him. Then, before she could utter a single scathing word, he crashed his lips against hers.

His hands were on her waist, pulling her into him. One hand slid up her back, warm and burning through her soaked kosode, and the other gripped her hip, his claws just pricking her skin. Touga scraped hot kisses against her throat, leaving angry, red marks, and swirled his tongue over the shell of her ear. He kissed and bit along her neck and shoulder, tearing at her kosode away with one hand.

His mouth sought hers again and she growled something hard and angry, scraping her fangs against his crushing lips. Back arching as he roughly dragged his hands down her body, she did not resist as his thumbs hooked into the waist of her hakama.

She flung her arms around her neck, pulling him down, and returned his kiss with a violent one of her own. An involuntary shudder of pure desire arced through her, and with it, a thread of guilt. After all he had done to her people, this was more than simply wrong; it was a betrayal.

Amayami tensed and tore her mouth from his. "No!"

She thrashed, twisted, and wrenched herself from his arms, stumbling backwards on the uneven ground. Growling low in his throat, Touga glared at her with eyes gone amber-dark with desire. "Bitch."

Her countenance grew cold, anger glittering in her pale irises. She snorted at his insult and turned on her heel, hands trembling as she shouldered back into her kosode.

She could feel his anger like a weighted presence at her back. The rumble of his barely contained growls echoed in time with her shuddering breaths. Suddenly, his hands gripped her waist, pulling her backward, one slinking up to cup her breast and the other snaking down between her legs. His fingers curled and pressed down, gentle, but too intrusive to be construed accident.

Amayami bit back a cry, resisting the urge to clamp her thighs around his intruding hand. Her bones turned to water, and she looped an arm behind her, around his neck to keep from falling to the ground.

She growled, mouth gone too dry to form words. All thoughts of hate and betrayal were swept from her mind as his lips brushed softly down her neck. Her growls became whimpers, blending with her ragged gasps, and then soft moans. The feel of his hand moving so gently against her was unlike anything she had ever experienced.

Small spasms of pleasure unfurled inside her, one after the other, each growing in strength. She was on the brink of something frightening and amazing. She grasped the end of his ponytail, fisting its length around her slender hand, and pulled him down to meet her lips.

Touga grunted something noncommittal, gently squeezing her breast. He loved that it was small and seemed to fit perfectly in his hand. Capturing her lips, he kissed her soundly, slowing changing the exaggerated gentleness of his fingers faded to the firm urgent pressure her movements told him she wanted.

As she craned her neck, crying out, struggling in his arms, not to get away, but to face him, a sense of smugness filled him. She no longer held the advantage.

With a vicious growl, he flung her forward, sending her scuttling to keep her balance. Only her supernatural agility kept her from falling to the ground. Face flushed with desire, she pivoted on her heel, glaring at him with accusing eyes.

A self-satisfied smile curled at his lips. "You want me," he accused. "You want me as much as I want you." He took an angry step forward, eyes blazing. "Admit it!"

Strands of her hair stood on end, floating around her trembling frame as her youki crackled around her. She never seemed more unreal or more dangerous. "Yes!" she shrieked, her fists balled at her sides and her entire body an exclamation of fury. "Are you satisfied now?"

His eyes widened, surprised that she would ever admit her desire or anything else that could be construed as a weakness.

"Then why-" he paused thoughtfully, and then chuckled, shaking his head "-Oh, I see. The concubines," he said nastily. "I knew it was too much to hope that you would have the honor to respect my wishes."

Amayami raised a disdainful brow. "I'd have to respect you first." She exhaled and spared a lingering glance at her shoes. "Just leave me alone."

"By rights I should," he fumed. "I should cast you aside and-"

"And do what?" she snapped. Her voice was low and her eyes hollow, haunted. "You've already destroyed my home and exiled my father and slaughtered my people. What more could you possibly do to me?"

Touga tightened his jaw and looked skyward for a moment. He thought of the human and youkai settlements he had set ablaze without a second thought and refused to feel guilty. "Enough. It is not within your rights to question me."

"Enough?" she snarled. "Where was enough when you were destroying a people that were of no threat to you?" Her face twisted into a mask of rage. "And for what? A stretch of land!"

He wanted to tell her of his lofty goals and all the good he planned to do with his acquired territories. The dog clans were now united, even if only tentatively for now, and soon his influence would spread to the wolves. He wanted to convince her that they were stronger as allies than enemies. And most of all, he wanted her to stop glaring at him with hate filled eyes.

He said nothing of what he wanted, simply whispering in a voice so hoarse and soft that were it not for her keen hearing, she never would have heard. "Yes, land. My land."

"Well, it's all yours now," she stated sardonically. "May it bury you."

Stunned, Touga stared as she strode on rubbery legs to the dragon. He watched as she smiled warmly and pet the creature's snouts before reaching for the reins, giving it all the gentleness she hid from him.

"Ichi, Ni, come," she called. Clucking her tongue, she lightly tugged the reins.

Brow twitching, Touga watched as the dragon rose to its feet, its tail swaying as it happily loped after its mistress.

"I ravage her homeland. She steals my dragon," he muttered in exasperation. "That makes perfect sense."

He looked in the direction Amayami had taken, wondering if he should bother to follow. Rubbing his temples, he counted softly under his breath to ten, and wished for a bottle of sake.

---

Daisuke spat a lock of his hair from his mouth as he paced back and forth. Waiting was the worst part, other than the real possibility that they would fail. "Shouldn't they be here already?"

"Still in hurry to have your head on a pike, I see," Keiji drew out drolly. "And yes, they're late."

He reached up and snatched leaves from the branch above him. For a moment he was content to lose himself in the simple act of shredding.

"I think this is unwise," Keiji insisted, snatching another handful of leaves.

Daisuke groaned, rolling his eyes as the usual statement. He was half-certain Keiji would think that even the setting sun was unwise.

"We've been over this already," he warned, "Far too often for my tastes."

"No," Keiji intoned softly. "That's not what I mean." He swept his wary gaze over the forest, noting that their allies still hid amongst the trees, and then looked down at the darkened manor. "Why are we attacking them in their home?"

A dark laugh echoed in the forest, causing the hairs on his arms to stand on end. Keiji tore his startled gaze from the manor and back to his young lord. Eyes filled with feral darkness gleamed from a face cast in half-shadows, leaving Keiji to wonder, if his master had gone mad.

"Because, Keiji," Daisuke answered, and then his voice grew harsh with a thread of panic, "no one expects to be attacked at home."

"Daisuke?" Keiji questioned, shaking his head slowly. His mind filled with broken sentences, which tumbled from his lips. "This.. We.. Uh, we need to pull back."

He raised his hands in a placating manner. "Just for tonight." Silence ensued, the and only sound was an uneasy swallow Keiji could not hold back.

"Why?" asked Daisuke after a moment, his voice deadly calm.

Licking his lips, Keiji clasped his hands together and sputtered the first reason that came to mind. "They'll be less guarded."

"They're not suspecting anything now," Daisuke countered. "Besides who would attack a couple of daiyoukai nobles? It's suicide."

Keiji covered his face with one hand, wondering if Daisuke even comprehended what he just said.

"Ah," he stammered, thinking quickly. "They've been traveling all day. No doubt they're wary and suspecting an attack. If we-"

"Daisuke-sama! Keiji-dono!"

Both youkai whirled around as Taro, a field hand turned, lookout, crashed through the underbrush. He bent at the waist, leaning heavily on his upper thighs. "They're here," he gasped between pants. "They've just entered the valley a few moments ago."

"It's about damn time," Daisuke answered, raking a hand through his hair. He peered through the trees, searching, but did not see his targets. They were still too far away. "All right."

He turned to Keiji, a clear question in his eyes. What should I do? His friend offered no suggestions, nor advice, only the thick air of disapproval. Shaking his head, he tried to dismiss Keiji's earlier words, but found the harder he tried, the louder they clamored within his mind.

He was uncertain, more than afraid, and almost wished he had died with his father. Almost. "Taro," he barked, startling the younger youkai. "Go to Yuiko and Senichi and tell them-"

He locked eyes with Keiji, who seemed to implore him with a glance. Eyes on Keiji he swallowed hard, exhaling his command in a solitary rush of breath. "We'll attack on my order."

Forgive me, Umeko.

---

Although the sky was tormented with fierce lightning and rolling thunder, not a single drop of rain had fallen. Humidity clung to the air, thick and sticky, as a balmy breeze blew from the east. The first of the night's stars began to appear as twilight settled over the valley.

Amayami's eyes slid sideways. "Will we arrive before nightfall?"

Touga nodded. "We're almost there." He watched in vague annoyance as Amayami reached up to scratch the pack animal under each chin. "Faster, if we rode."

He's tired," she reminded. "You said so yourself." She tilted her head back and the dragon butted at her affectionately.

Touga's gaze followed the length of her throat to the swell of her breasts. He could still taste her on his lips, he thought, barely registering that she was still speaking, or more accurately lecturing him.

"I doubt very seriously you would enjoy it if I rode you-"

Amayami clamped her jaw shut and flushed scarlet to her hairline. Her blush deepened to plum as Touga's laughter rang out through the valley. That had dragged him from his thoughts.

"Oh, hush," she huffed after several moments. "You know very well what I meant."

Touga's laughter dwindled to a chuckle, and then he swallowed it down. "Yes," he snickered. "I do." He shot her a smarmy grin. "And it would be my honor, dear lady."

His teasing earned him a dark look and empty silence. Uttering a harsh sigh, he looked up at the sky, and then back at her. "I've lived for over nine hundred years. I've talked my way in and out of war more times than I can remember. And yet, with you, I can't string two sentences together without sounding like a fool."

Amayami smiled, but ducked her head to hide her eyes beneath her bangs. She wanted to hate him for what he had done, what he had tried, and the conflicting feelings he had evoked within her. Nothing made sense anymore. "Is this where we apologize to each other?"

Touga sidled up to her, close, but not quite touching. "I don't know," he admitted. "But, I am sorry."

She looked at him from the corner of her eye. "For what?"

He took the reins from her, his fingers lingering against hers for a moment longer than necessary. "I don't know."

Turning slightly, he led them down a narrow path that was almost invisible from the road. Ancient trees towered on either side, their limbs forming a canopy high above that obscured the waning daylight.

Amayami stifled a yawn, suddenly feeling the fatigue of many sleepless nights and the day's travel. Touga slipped an arm around her, massaging the back of her neck with one hand. Giving her a quick peck on the cheek, he handed her back the reins, and strode forward.

"We're here," he explained as he pushed open the sturdy wooden gate. As she tried to pass through the gate, he snagged her elbow, and laid his finger on the side of her nose. "No claws."

Amayami frowned as he shooed her into the courtyard, finding herself not really wishing to know.