Chapter 11: A Howling War
A storm is coming
Desire burns
A war is calling
The tides are turned
Empires - Ruelle
December 2nd - 10 PM
His claws dug into the palms of his sinister hands. Firm lines formed as his mouth dropped into a frown. The hum of the beating wings battered loudly in his ears. He watched from the shadows at a distance away. His wasps conferred an unexpected flaw in his plans. Not only did he lose control of his pawn, but he had failed to complete what he had set out to do. He failed to kill the brothers, again. All at the hands of one persistent priestess. Plans were changing in his mind. He only had one person to take out.
"Kagome," his voice growled out. He had watched her blast Misotaku with the help of Inuyasha's attack. Her power had grown, and he could feel the threat of it from his spot just from the sheer display of that light show.
He would devise a plan, bide his time, and strike when she least expected it. To see the look on Inuyasha's face, that realization that he could not save another woman he loved would be worth every effort.
Naraku leapt up into the air from the tree branch he perched himself on, coating himself in the purple clouds of miasma.
Kouga was just about to get close enough for Inuyasha to sense his presence, when he heard the Western wolf tribe war cries through echoed howls across the windy mountain. He stopped dead in his tracks. If his fellow comrades noticed he was not travelling to the North like he said he was, there would be a question of his resolve to the campaign. There was a time when duty trumped love, and this was not the time for the latter. After the bright explosive light dissipated, he could sense a great evil had been vanquished, and Kagome's blood was not lingering in the air. He could breathe again. It was with a heavy heart that he had to take his leave and turn his back on the woman of his dreams. Thoughts of meeting up with his comrades in the North plagued his mind.
...
Silence clung to the group as exhaustion and cold took over their thoughts. They were back at the village before the battle had started. Their clothes frozen in the elements. They could feel the cold seep into their bones. The team had every intention of vanquishing Misotaku, but the aftermath of the cold weather took its toll. They all huddled close together around the room's fireplace. Old, hole-y blankets provided by the inn surrounded their bodies and soaked up the ice turned water droplets that hung off the ends of their hair.
Inuyasha had long slipped off his fire rat haori and draped the large piece of fabric over Kagome's head and shoulders. She had started to feel better since.
Miroku and Sango cuddled close to Kirara, using her fur as an extra source of warmth for their backs. Of course, Shippo and Inuyasha were not affected by the cold because of their demonic blood keeping their organs and limbs warm. When Miroku and Sango felt comfortable enough to move into a different room, they said their goodnights and settled on a shared sleeping roll for the night. Miroku smiled at the ideal sleeping arrangements, and pleased with the pleasant feeling of wrapping his arms around his beloved demon slayer.
Shippo bounded over to the spot where Sango and Miroku sat with Kirara, enjoying the little warm spot they had created from their combined body heat. Kirara decided to transform back into her kitten form and curled herself around the little kitsune. In no time he had fallen asleep against Kirara. Kohaku had moved into another room, feeling warm enough to go to sleep.
Inuyasha and Kagome however stared into the depths of the fire. Kagome felt the strain of the battle course through her hands and arms. The mental anguish she had felt when she thought she lost Inuyasha caught up with her in that moment, and she looked at Inuyasha with a soulful gaze.
Inuyasha caught her looking at him, he was going to get annoyed at her but stopped when he saw her hands reach for his face.
"Inuyasha, I was so frightened," Kagome said a little above a whisper. Her fingers gingerly stroking his cheek, following his cheekbones, his hair brushed against her fingertips. She pulled him into an embrace. His breath caught in his throat, but he openly welcomed the embrace. Shifting his weight, he positioned himself more in front of her to make it easier for them to hold one another.
"Keh, I've faced worse. It's you who frightened me," Inuyasha matched in intensity. "That weapon...it's like those things the villagers use...but louder and faster. Where did you get that?"
"I found this gun in my time," Kagome admitted. "I was walking a few weeks back, and came across an alley...it was left there by someone with all the ammunition that was designed for the gun."
"Those are just lying around in your time?" Inuyasha's eyes widened incredulously. "Your time is more dangerous than I have ever imagined."
"They aren't supposed to be...but criminals find ways to smuggle things into Tokyo. There are loopholes in the system,"
"In other words, you're not supposed to be in possession of it in your time?" Inuyasha put together.
"No. I would be in big trouble with the law enforcement if it were discovered. I don't plan on using this a lot. In fact, I was lucky I shot it right tonight. I have never used it before...and the force of the shot knocked me off my feet."
"Ha, if a little thing like that knocks you back then you need to eat more." Inuyasha said nonchalantly. He immediately admonished, "It's probably better that you don't use that for a bit or around demons. My ears are still ringing from the sound." His voice and mouth formed into a grimace at the realization.
"Really?" Her eyes searched his apologetically and then in reaction, she tugged on his ears and lifted herself up to inspect. Inuyasha was about to protest, but he noticed that Kagome's chest was now in front of his face. A small blush formed on his cheeks. The tickling feeling of her touching his ears and her breasts so close to his face were causing other feelings to stir in him. Before she could catch him looking at her chest he averted his gaze to the side glaring at an unlevelled board sticking slightly up from the floor.
Although the ringing in his ears suddenly stopped. Inuyasha looked up in question as Kagome smiled softly. "There, how does that feel?"
"Uh, better actually. Did you just heal my ears?" Inuyasha touched his ears, poking at them and in fact his suspicions were right. She had just used her powers to heal him, again.
"You know, these new healing powers are quite handy," Kagome giggled as she watched the stunned hanyou put two and two together.
"When did you learn to do that?" Inuyasha asked still dumbfounded.
"Tonight," Kagome looked down remembering the thought of almost losing Inuyasha on the battlefield. "When you lost so much blood, I didn't hesitate. ... I thought you were slipping away from me." Inuyasha's eyes softened at her mentioning her fear of him dying. They stared into each other's eyes for a minute, not daring to break the silence. Unsaid words and emotions flying between them. Inuyasha reached to cup the back of Kagome's head, slowly inching closer to plant a soft kiss on her lips. Their lips met, Kagome's heart pounding senselessly as she felt him move his lips in rhythm to her own. Her eyes flutter close and Inuyasha took that moment to pull her into his lap. Kagome raised her left hand to caress the side of Inuyasha's face. Inuyasha moved his right hand to sit on her hip. This woman, who cared more than anything to keep him breathing and alive beside her, was undoing every wall he put up to protect his heart. Every touch and caress she made on his skin sent shivers through him. His blood coursed faster and it felt like he had woken up from a deep, miserable nightmare to be surrounded by paradise. And that salvation was this woman in his lap, kissing him back with equal passion. His Kagome.
"Kagome.." Inuyasha said in between kisses.
"Mmm," Kagome softly moaned as her eyes slowly opened to see those warm ambers she loved focused on her again.
"I...love you"
Sesshomaru was on his way back to Rin and Jaken when he noticed the campaign of wolves trickling down the mountain pass, marching towards their destination in the East. These wolves with their long pelts had different markings on their face to signify their positions as soldiers. He could pin point the leader, a burly male with thick bear pelts flying behind him in the wind. He instantly recognized him as Dante the Western Wolf Tribe Leader. Beside him was his omega, Rui. What could have caused the whole army of the Western Tribe to march across his lands towards the East. He just had to know. After all these are his lands. Perhaps they sensed Misotaku's power and were compelled to take him on..or maybe he was giving them too much credit as mere wolf demons.
Sesshomaru made his presence known immediately as he approached the army of wolves from his lands.
"Ah Lord Sesshomaru, out patrolling I see. No need to worry about my lot here, we are off to aid Prince Kouga in the East"
"As long as you clean up all the loose ends at the end of the war and don't bring it back here. May I remind you the last time a demon tribe in my lands started a war with another tribe across the country and incidentally brought the war here,"
"Won't happen under my watch, m'lord. We respect and value peace in the West," Dante promised, understanding the consequences to his people should they fail in this war. 'Dammit Kouga, I hope you know what you are doing.'
"Hn." Sesshomaru walked past the wolf army, taking his leave to find his pack. His hair and fur pelts flapping in the wind.
To anyone from far away, they would think that a cyclone was travelling along sand dunes, but instead it was Kouga running at rapid speeds and creating a cyclone of snow around him. He had entrusted Adamara and Koutsu with leading the Western Wolf Tribe back to the East, and Ginta had fulfilled his duty in securing solidarity with the South. Now all that was left to do was to help Hakkaku persuade the North, which was not going to be an easy feat in itself.
The Northern tribe were ill-tempered and cold at best, much like the environment that surrounded them. It would take him another few hours to arrive at the Northern lands and a few more to find the hidden underground caves.
The winds ravaged his back and the skin on his legs. His footprints stamped into the ground, were no more after the wind danced across the snowy ground and masked his tracks. This was a dangerous frontier to travel alone. As soon as he reached a fork in the path, he recognized the route. It resembled the valleys and mountain passes from the Eastern lands, but these valleys were narrow and dark, almost like you were travelling into a suffocating and never-ending trench.
The path on the right was the correct route to take, with icy mirror-like walls inscribed in dragon demon language from a century ago. This was still relatively new territory for the wolves to inhabit after the extinction of the northern dragon demon clan. They dug-out long winding caves from the rock-face of the mountains and built a home for their kind. His memory served him well. He recalled the caves were not so spread out like the ones from his home, but instead they were deep, guided by winding stone staircases into the depths where a grand hall stood underneath the weight of the mountain.
Kouga took a deep breath, he followed the path and trudged on, picking up his speed to get to the entrance. He could sense the tribe members picking up his scent and movements from a distance. Wolves barked and growled, as they ran after him in a haste.
Just before reaching the cave entrance, he slid his feet to a halt, whipping snow up to the side in the process. Northern wolf demon tribe members and soldiers, clad in white fur clothing, arrived at the entrance upon hearing their wolves making such a ruckus.
Murmurs spilled from their lips, recognizing Kouga's face immediately. It seems they have been awaiting his arrival since Hakkaku arrived. A soldier pushed his way through the crowd of wolf demons, likely on his way to notify their leader.
Kouga searched the crowd, nodding his head to some of the older demons he knew from when he was a pup. There were a lot of demons slightly younger than him standing around, he did not recognize them as easily. Throughout the years, he did not stay long at this tribe because of the cold, and a certain red-headed wolf demoness that harassed him every time since the lunar rainbow eons ago. Had she actually cared to start a conversation about anything other than pushing him to mate with her, he'd say she'd be tolerable. She was just so goddamn pushy, and it annoyed him to be in her presence. Desperation only served to repel him further from her.
Caves were lit by fire burning torches. The tops of the torches were drenched in oils from animal skins and some sort of scented concoction made from herbs. His caves could probably use a bit of that stuff .
...
Hakkaku was bound to the wall, his arms placed parallel to the wall and splayed out. His skin was scarred with thin lines from what he presumed were blade cuts. Dark lines seeped from wounds that had crusted over.
"What is the meaning of this?" Kouga barked out enraged at the scene. "How dare you torture a member of my tribe!"
"He was bound for treason. Of all things, nephew...did you think we would treat that offence kindly?" A female voice answered coldly. "Actually your arrival is most...opportune. We were about to decide his fate," The she-wolf entered the center in front of Hakkaku's body, starring down the line petulantly at Kouga.
"I am his alpha. You have no right to condemn him." Kouga bit back. "If you are going to punish someone, let it be me. I am the reason he is here."
"You mean to tell me, you sent him here to spout lies and cause a riot in my den?" Sora, clucked her lips together making a 'tsk' sound in disappointment.
"Lock them up," Sora ordered her eight guardsmen to move forward, Kouga didn't have time to react as he was pinned down to the ground. He struggled against their assault, and when he felt a fist to his head, his vision faded to black from unconsciousness. Sounds of tribe members and guards faded from his hearing as they dragged him to their dungeons.
His vision was clearing, although his head felt like he got beat with a rock. Kouga scanned his surroundings. He was in a dark pit, only a sliver of light was discernible at the top of the wooden hatch locked in place on the ceiling. Dry bones of past prisoners lay partially decomposed on the dirt floor he sat on. Did they intend for him to rot down here? And where was Hakkaku? He didn't know how long he'd been out for, but he could only guess that by now word was travelling to the Elders that he had been caught and detained by the North. 'Shit'. He needed to escape and free Hakkaku. He made an attempt to jump to the ceiling, but was brought roughly back to reality as he realized the restraints on his ankles had tethered him securely to the ground. The restraints were made out of sea turtle demon hide. One of the strongest materials to keep prisoners bound. No matter how strong they are, the hide would stay in tact. The only way to get them off is if you had the right tool. He thought at least they didn't disrespect him by using lower grade materials for ankle bindings, but still they knew what he was capable of...after all the leader is his father's sister.
He was roused from his thoughts when he heard whispers up top. A female with a soft voice approached what he could tell was a guard. The hatch opened, filtering in bright light from the walls. A woman with black hair peered down into the pit, when she found Kouga's crunched form, she jumped down effortlessly.
Looking back up to the hatch, the woman waited patiently until she heard a thump at the top. She smiled, confidently while wagging her finger around a special tool.
"Looks like you could use some saving, your highness." Kouga just stared at the woman confused, but relieved. He allowed her to unlock his bindings quickly before they both jumped out of the pit and beside the wooden hatch. Kouga realized that the thump from moments ago was in fact the guard. The guard was flat on his back, unconscious. Kouga raised an eyebrow at the demoness in front of him.
"What? Did you think he'd actually let you go if I said please?" The demoness had violet eyes and was dressed in her tribe clothes. Her fur clad in white, similar to Ayame's except she wore a longer skirt and her chest plate was more conservative. "The name's Mae, and right now we need to save my future mate."
"Your future mate? Look I appreciate that you helped me escape, but I don't have time to save your mate. I have to rescue my second in command."
"Well it's a good thing that my future mate is also your second," Mae countered with a hand on her hip. "Now let's go, we need to hurry" Mae bounded off without another moment to lose. Kouga was taken back by her comment, but quickly snapped out of his surprise to follow her lead.
Kouga followed his saviour as she ran threw the corridors leading out of the dungeons. A deep rumbling started up as soon as they made it to a steep, winding staircase carved out of the stone from the mountain walls. Sconces lit the walls every 15 feet. He could hear a chorus of stomping, a horn blown in the distance. Wolves howling and snapping their jaws for justice to be dealt.
Using his speed, he passed Mae desperate to get to their destination faster. He couldn't allow a member of his tribe to be unfairly slaughtered because of him. He would never forgive himself if he couldn't stop it. Mae pumped her legs harder to keep up. When they reached the top, the crowd of Northern wolf demons were picking up stones from the ground. Sora was in the thick of the crowd, making her way to Hakkaku. His head hung low to his chest, awaiting his doom. Kouga stayed out of plain sight, staying close to the shadows of the walls. Mae followed suit. She didn't know what Kouga's plan was, but she trusted that determination in him to save her future mate.
Sora broke through the wall of soldiers and stood in front of Hakkaku with her back facing him. "We must allow this traitor the time to say his last words before we carry out his sentence." Sora turned abruptly to Hakkaku. "Anything you wish to say, Hakkaku wolf demon of the Eastern tribe?" Hakkaku didn't raise his head, his thoughts were consumed with one person only. Loss hopes, the inability to see or touch her one last time.
The silence was deafening. Sora waited only but a few seconds more, as she was not one to have much patience. She looked to her left to one of her soldiers holding a handle of a weapon that was concealed in a sack. She nodded to him, and the soldier stepped folder pulling the weapon out for all to see. "I said," Her voice was short and dry. Her claws flexed. "Don't you have anything you wish to say!" At the very last second she cracked the whip back and it snapped forward at the flick of her wrist, catching Hakkaku across his stomach. Hakkaku cried out as the whip stung and left behind its angry, red mark.
Kouga bit back a snarl. He couldn't reveal himself just yet. He was almost close enough to the front, as he kept inching forward along the wall. There was about twelve feet between him and the crowd, and he tried to stay shrouded in darkness as much as possible. Hakkaku refused to speak. Kouga knew that he would stay silent until his last breath. This was their way in the Eastern Wolf tribe. It was strength. The North lacked physical strength, but that didn't make them weak. They were great at torture and cruelty, and it doesn't take long to figure that out with this display of treachery to use as a tool to keep wolves in line. The Elders preferred it this way.
Kouga stepped closer now, he was so close. If she dared to strike a member of his pack again he would stop it. That is until he caught something in the corner on the opposite side. It was Mae. She was perched high on a ledge far up. Rocks concealed her from the crowd's view, except for his. He could see her, and as if she knew what he was thinking, her eyes darted towards his. She extended her arm, showing him the weapon she held. A bow and arrow. Was she..she couldn't be serious? He had to stop her somehow. Then something clicked in his mind. He could use this little surprise to his advantage to save his comrade.
Sora was about to strike Hakkaku again, and Kouga could hear the twang of the bow's string as it released its arrow into the air. He moved fast as lightning. The warmth of the jewel shards aiding his flight into the front. He bounded over the heads of the soldiers and grabbed the stem of the arrow just before the point hit his aunt's head. The arrow a hair's distance from her flesh. Sora took a sharp breath inward, not expecting the assault with her nephew a foot away holding the offending arrow.
"It's a good thing I escaped, or you would be one dead wolf, Sora." Kouga scoffed while snapping the arrow in half. Kouga didn't dare to look back up to Mae, not wanting to reveal her location. This was her time to make a getaway before she was found out by sheer scent alone. Sora took the arrow from her nephew's hand and threw it to her wolves without leaving her eye contact with Kouga. "Find them. Whoever is responsible. Go."
"You have to honour this, it is our way," Kouga admonished. "I saved your life just now. One deed-" Sora cut him off before he could finish.
"I know you had something to do with this little charade. Don't think I don't know. Your father would have pulled something devious and under-handed like this."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Kouga lied. "You are bound by oath to repay me in kind."
"And you would have me release your comrade, for saving my life? A life for a life as it were?" Sora spat out angrily. She paced, hating that her nephew somehow orchestrated this act of defiance to corner her by their own rule of law. He was not much different than his father. They shared that same rebellious streak. Those piercing blue eyes and the long black hair. He was a spitting image of her younger brother.
"Release him, and let's talk." Kouga didn't waiver.
Sora let a few minutes pass, she stood very still in her thoughts glaring at her nephew. This was mutiny. She couldn't condone it. The Elders would kill her just to make an example out of her, but she knew what she had to do.
"Release him." Sora waved her hand in the direction of the prisoner. She was walking away from Kouga, when she murmured to her men, "take him instead."
Kouga had arms and claws grabbing him from each side, restraining him from escaping. Kouga used his legs to kick the soldiers in front of him, but more and more kept coming at him. There was no chance for him to escape. He was a prisoner, again.
...
He was imprisoned where Hakkaku was pinned to the wall. This time the restraints were different. Not something that could be undone by a key.
"I have decided to let the Elders come for you, to punish you for your crimes." Sora's voice echoed. She was leaning against the back wall. Her arms crossed and her foot propped against the wall, holding up her frame. "This is not an easy thing for me to decide, dear nephew. You left me no alternative."
"Bullshit." Kouga laughed, "That's complete bullshit. There was another way. I offered to talk."
"And now here we are, talking." Sora pointed out. "I will heed your request for a 'talk', but know that I will hand you over to the Elders regardless of what you tell me."
"You would betray your own kin?" Kouga growled. "My father would have never-" Sora walked angrily towards him.
"Your father. Yes your father did in fact betray his own family. He betrayed me, your grandparents, our tribe." Sora fumed, cracking her knuckles as the memories came flooding to life again before her eyes. This boy, the one that resembled her younger brother so much, with that same reckless determination, threatened to upend the very peace she had to restore long ago after her brother betrayed them all.
"Your father had the same idea, to over throw the Elders. You were too young to remember. You were an innocent back then. He went through with his plans to go up against them despite what my parents told him. He betrayed us the day he left to confront the Elders. The Elders tore apart our clan that day. After killing him. They made your mother watch while holding you. They killed my parents in front of me."
Kouga didn't say a word. He had known this. An older member of his tribe had told him the brutality that was dealt upon his clan. "Your mother sought peace with them. She begged them to show mercy to you because you were only a few days old. They allowed you to keep your father's title. Is that any way to repay your mother?"
Kouga didn't look at Sora for a time after she asked him that. "If you were my son, I'd put you down. But after that day my brother made that selfish decision. I never forgave him. I will never forgive him."
"I don't want your petty revenge." Kouga snapped. "What happened was a tragedy. One that I'm sure you could have stopped if you were brave enough to."
Sora wasted no time, she struck his cheek hard, claw marks left on his cheek in the aftermath. "Watch your tongue, boy! I tried to stop your father countless times."
Kouga spit out blood from his mouth. He didn't care for her attacks. If she would leave him to the Elders, it made no sense for her to kill him before they arrived. "That's not who you should have stopped. Your parents begged the Elders to spare your life. And now, this is how you repay them? By throwing their grandson to the Elders just to save your own ass. You have no honour. You're a fucking coward."
Sora bristled and punched him in the face. "They will be here by dawn. I suggest you repent for the sake of your soul because you'll be rotting in hell looking back on this grave mistake for all eternity."
"I should have let that arrow kill you," Kouga growled out.
Sora smiled before she turned to walk away, "Perhaps you should have." She had no soul. Nothing good within her. The Elders had killed her the day her family died.
Kouga watched her retreating form disappear as he breathed in exasperated. Just one fucking problem after another, but at the very least he bought Hakkaku and Mae time to escape. He tugged against his restraints with no luck. He was stuck, and he couldn't afford to stay here much longer or else the other tribes on his side would disband if he didn't show.
He looked up to the top of the mountain. A never ending abyss where a ceiling would have been. He imagined there to be a star, a constellation in his mind that he could silently pray to for refuge. He hoped the gods would look down on him and show him mercy. Just as he thought of the spiritually endowed, one person entered his mind. Instead of praying for mercy, he prayed that he could see her one last time. Just to see her face again before he was sentenced to death. Her name, a gentle whisper upon his lips. "Kagome..."
Those words. Those words she was dying to hear, now spoken to her. Inuyasha told her he loved her. Emotion overwhelmed her, she let seconds turn into minutes. Her heart hammering for the right words to say to him. She had always dreamed of him confessing his love for her, but never thought it would ever happen. Not with Kikyo always in the picture to prevent him from seeing her clearly.
Kagome searched for something to hold onto, she could feel Inuyasha steady her. Holding onto his forearms she felt his pulse under her thumb. His hands sweaty. He searched her eyes for an answer. The fact she was taking so long unnerved him, scared him. Was he wrong to believe she felt the same way. After they had shared kisses before, and the way he could smell her scent spike with lust. She wanted him, but did she love him like he did her.
He knew what he was feeling. Even if he denied it for so long. He saw her for the girl..no woman she is. She was his, Kagome. His light in the darkness.
"Inuyasha," He broke from his thoughts and hung on to the way she said his name. 'Come on, Kagome. Just say it. Say one word and I..' "I've been waiting forever for you to say those words to me. I'm sorry, I guess I never expected you to ever feel the same way as I have for you all this time."
"You love me, Kagome?" Inuyasha breathed in, his heart echoing the rhythm of her own. His eyes shone, growing larger at her confession and the realization that his love was not going to be unrequited.
"Since the day I promised to stay by your side no matter what." Kagome was crying, her heart felt like it would explode. Was this actually happening? Her head dipped to hide her tears from him. Inuyasha knew better, the smell of salt in the air was her tears. Did he make her sad?
Inuyasha carefully used his thumb to wipe away her tears. Instead he dipped his head to capture her lips with his own. He pulled her into him, her hands gliding over his shoulders to wrap around his head. He had her. She had him. It was proclaimed to both of their hearts and they sealed their confession with a passionate kiss.
Inuyasha wrapped his arms around her, using his one hand on her upper back. Kagome felt his hand caress her back and she melted further into the kiss.
Kagome smiled against his mouth, so utterly happy with this surprise. "I love you, my Inuyasha." He didn't smile often, but he did then. His bliss was in his arms kissing him back. Loving him back. Planting smaller kisses along her jaw, her cheeks, and her nose, he showered her with his own happiness and she felt it like it was entering into every pore in her skin. This was happiness in its purest form.
...
They fell asleep in each other's arms. Inuyasha holding onto her with his leg between her legs. He would spend this one night deep in sleep instead of awake. He would give her that rare moment as if they were safe back in her time. This woman, with her fiery temper, caring nature and determined spirit. She was the answer to his purpose. He was made for her, and her alone. Her protector, her friend, her lover. He would be it all for her. Nothing and no one would stop him from being with her. Not like before. Not ever.
Next Week - Chapter 12: The Coup
Next Month - Chapter 13: Valour
