Chapter 7- The Overtures
Disclaimed!
Recap: More Dokueki are dead, and Kagome's got herself a personal vassal. Inuyasha's grown up a bit more and discovered a lot of unanswered questions about his brother and the past. What about Shippo? What about the wolves? What about the panthers? What happens now? Read on!
This chapter takes place after the last two and references the days preceding.-Namiyo
Tohan walked, angry, muttering to herself. Her staff swung as she strode along. Ingrates! She wished the master were indeed alive-he would have eaten them all for less!
She had returned alone to her lands, no news had come of what happened then. A matter much on Sesshomaru's mind and others...if they had known, well.
Vengeance had been the last thing on Tohan's mind. What was-was the fact that her control and place had indeed been slipping. When she came home to the hidden underground caverns of her people, they were not welcoming. She came alone, when her kin had gone with her.
"They died?" one demanded, gaping.
"Who has done this?" Comments and questions abounded.
She told them after they gathered. There was a long, angry silence when she was done. Panthers didn't struggle as Wolves did, more like Inu, they had followed the Master, and then his chief servants, his children...Panthers were cats, after all. Seeming and posturing, respect and it's illusion often counted for more than mere power.
Leading them was indeed like herding cats at times.
Now there was only one such left of the four children of the Panther Master-who had slain one of her own, who was the one least beloved...Tohan. Who, like Sesshomaru, had ignored the silliness of their social ways, caring only for the larger picture and leaving such things to her siblings. Like him, she was a solitary sort who kept her own council. Natsu and the others had constantly been engaged in games and ploys, the social dance of manners and such-not her. Tohan wasn't made that way. She sunned alone, hunted alone. Lived apart in one section of the caverns. Now, though, she paid the price for being unsocial. She had expected anger. Questions, confusion, yes-but not what happened.
"They could not do as they said. Sad. You aren't my leader, they were. You didn't care, and now they are gone. You are not a worthy leader. You are not one of us, Tohan," one said firmly...and turned his back. Hisses met this. Rejection. Then more...and giggles.
"No! How dare you!?" she yelled. They rejected her. Her? Even if she made them turn, fought them-she would never rule them. They might even let her claim to run things, or give orders...but no one would obey, or worse, do so only because it suited them, making more of a fool of her.
They did not love her, and now they no longer respected her. Because she lost and failed to do as promised by her siblings. She had not seen that they were playing a game as well, been fooled by them...alone, Tohan was seen as unworthy to rule. Not as one of them as the others had been. She had needed her siblings, and never knew it. Too late, she realized her preference for being alone had been a dangerous indulgence.
No one answered. Only tails, twitching in amusement. She backed up, back stiff...and left.
No more Tohan, ruler of the Panthers. Now it was Tohan, now homeless ex-ruler of the Panthers. Oh, they'd allow her to stay in their lands. And consider her fair game for play. Their play was not kind to the object of it. Where to go? The old Lynx lands were out. North was the Bear-and they did not like her kind. Farther along were also no friends. So where? The choice seemed clear.
She turned her steps to the Inu lands. If her tribe was gone-maybe-no. The Panther was too proud to go to the Keep and ask for sanctuary. Too much blood. Too much time. It had been too late centuries before when they first met...if only she'd dared, much perhaps would have been different. But he would not mind her on his lands. Tohan was sure of it.
Then, a few days after slipping across their border, following old scent trails without considering it...she heard the screams.
"Go ahead and do it!" Shippo yelled, backing up until he bumped a tree. Kouga, however, hesitated. He sniffed. Fresh bruises. Inuyasha and the monk. They'd beaten the shit out of him. He smelled different, too. Older. Kitsune were tricky things...the Gorashi flashed as he glared at the fox, standing there with a bundle and looking terrified. Tohan had been drawn to the screams, and watched...
"What'd you do, brat?" he asked suspiciously.
"None of your business!" Shippo said, backing up.
"Hm. So...won't say?" Kouga poked.
"They-made me leave," he admitted. The wolf laughed.
"So I should spare you?"
"I don't care. Go ahead and kill me." This earned him an amused look.
"I will, runt. Believe me-I will. Hold still, and it'll go quick," Kouga said simply, but the wolf turned at the scent carried by a shift in the breeze.
"No..." Shippo trembled violently as he whispered it.
"Tohan!" Kouga snarled. They had helped Ayami. Damn her! But her staff lifted.
"Kouga," she returned, and she fired a blast of ice.
"Bitch! You and your people destroyed me!" Kouga dodged and came at her, blades ready. Shippo watched, wide eyed...and cast his foxfire at the wolf. Just as Natsu once had, casting her fire to protect her sister...
"Foxfire!" he yelled. Tohan evaded the wolf's strike, and-grabbed him?
"Come!" she ordered, dashing away. The wolf gave chase...and Shippo transformed. Tohan gasped as she was suddenly borne aloft on a bubble! Tohan had saved him, so he'd return the favor.
"Hold on!" Shippo managed, floating away.
"I could have killed him, you know," she told him dryly, and peered down. Unsure of why she had helped him, only that he had done as Natzu once had...she stayed on, and they floated off.
"Eh-I'd rather get away!" Shippo admitted.
Others were meeting as well...
'I had to tease him,' Yari thought with a sigh as he tracked supper through the hills days later. This land was rich, shockingly so to youkai accustomed to the more barren upper slopes. Prey was plentiful, it was well watered and the winters would be far gentler.
But they had stores to fill along with their bellies, and the caverns had been left in poor condition. When the pack had come down, they'd brought all they could from their dens, but had left a good bit of supplies behind out of necessity. Yari honestly wished Kouga's former pack luck with finding the well hidden caches. They had been sent there, and that bunch of softlings would have hard going for a time. As for themselves, he'd have to make sure this easy life didn't make them lose their edge.
He eyed his friend, currently leading this hunt. Karyuudo's mood hadn't improved of late as Yari had hoped. Having an entire tribe dumped into his lap was no treat. Especially one that still had Dokueki loose, and an enemy on their flanks. He was still kicking himself for taking the position and scouring for every scrap of useful information. Karyuudo was called 'hunter' for a reason. They hunted a bear now...but the primary prey was the Inu Clan. The local pack and the border defenses in particular.
This Yotogi fellow, their neighbor.
Who was-yes. Watching for them. Just inside the pass, a lesser Inu was on patrol. Not technically violating territory, merely on the edge of it. A big, black brindled lesser cousin as their own wolves were. He signaled, and his leader nodded. He'd scented it as well.
But the bear was taken first. Then, and only then did they approach. Karyuudo signaled half the hunting party to tend to supper and led the rest to the border. Sure enough, it was sitting right at the edge of the border and watching them. It merely waited with unnatural patience as they stood at a safe distance.
"We see you," he said as the Inu sat. Big, with an Inu packsign, Yotogi's.
"Want to meet with Yotogi. Tell him. Two days from now, at your end of the pass," he ordered, and there was a disdainful sniff.
"You'll find a way." Was all Karyuudo said.
"Is there a reason you remain, kitsune? I have said I mean you no harm. We aided one another, that should end the matter," Tohan asked, puzzled.
The kit had let her down at a safe distance and was walking behind her. Shippo had nowhere to go and the Panther had said she wouldn't hurt him. He was used to powerful youkai looking after him, really. Also to having some company. Tohan had helped Kagome and the others, they had said so.
"My name is Shippo, you know," he said, and looked awkward. "You aren't mad...I helped Kagome save Inuyasha?" he added carefully.
"No. I did as well in a way. It is not her fault she had to act to protect her own, and my late siblings were the ones who renewed the feud. I have no interest in gaining vengeance, if that is what keeps you here. You may tell Kagome that when next you see her," she instructed, her warm, furry voice almost amused.
"No...I won't see her. Not again," Shippo said sadly, and the Panther was surprised. Kitsune were inveterate tricksters, so she had assumed he was lying to Kouga.
"What I heard you tell Kouga was the truth, then?" she asked. He nodded.
"Yeah," he admitted.
"Why is this?" she asked, leaning on her staff. Blushing-Shippo told her.
"That's why," he admitted.
"I see. You are outcast by choice. Why not return to the mortal woman?"
"Why are you not with the Panthers?" he shot back, and there was a chuckle.
"I am not-and I see you are not going back. You should, you know. A young fox has little chance in the wider world with enemies like Kouga hunting him."
"No. It is time for me to become a great warrior," Shippo declaimed, folding his arms.
"I wish you good fortune, then," Tohan answered, and started walking...with him following her. "Kitsune. You still follow me. Why?" she repeated after stopping again.
"Well, um...I have no place to go. I can't go back to the village."
"This does not mean you may remain. Panthers eat foxes, you know," Tohan stated.
"Hey! You said you wouldn't hurt me! I-I'm just going that way," he stammered.
"I see," she said, and resumed her walk. He followed...and she permitted it. Short of killing him-she suspected he would follow in any case.
The company was welcome, in a way.
"A meeting," Yotogi noted musingly as he absorbed the news in their camp. Lady Yumi frowned slightly.
"Can we trust them?" she asked, hands aflutter.
"Seems to me we'll have to try, my dear," he commented.
Two days later, two heavily armed groups met at the pass. Yotogi frowned. A small wolf was leading them. For his part, Karyuudo studied the Inu ranged in front of him. Healthy, well armed and watchful. Yotogi smelled strong, and in his armor looked imposing. Very well. He had no desire to take anything from this pack, they looked as though they could hold what was theirs. Karyuudo respected that-and the fact that Yotogi's people had kept to their territory.
"Lord Karyuudo," Yotogi said finally, bowing.
"Lord Yotogi," he replied, returning it.
"You asked for a meeting. I wonder why."
"To settle matters," Karyuudo said simply, and looked impassive. Yotogi took his measure and was troubled. A quiet, small wolf. He would have to be both cunning and ruthless to rise so far. Not a comforting combination. Kouga now-he was smart, but blustered, was egotistical and could be led. The same tactics would not work on this one.
"I don't have that authority."
"No? I want to settle this, Inu Lord. Negotiate with Inutaisho's sons for repayment owed. I think you can arrange that."
"Lord Inutaisho, Wolf. We owe you nothing." Yari bristled at the rudeness. Karyuudo lifted a hand to calm him. That the packsecond backed off was noted. As only to be expected-this Karyuudo had a firm grip on his people.
"Seems to me the-Lady Kagome does and her pack with her. I can always take it in blood. Rather not," his eyes were cool, "but I can and will if I must." It was not a threat. It was said as a matter of fact.
"I see why you lead them now, Lord," Yotogi answered after a moment.
"Hm. I'll meet him, so long as it is soon. You have three days to tell me yes, or I assume we are finished with talking," Karyuudo told him.
"Very well. I will pass on your request."
A nod, and the meeting was done.
"Repayment? The only repayment is blood!" the elder said flatly. They lounged or sat as they liked, looking at Karyuudo. Some were wolf in form, some human like and aged. The oldest, most cunning members of the Tribe. They'd come to discuss matters once they heard of his overture to the Inu. He would gladly take their advice, but in the end, he would decide.
"We cannot trust them. Their female betrayed Kouga and us," another said gravely.
"Maybe so. Maybe he did it first," Karyuudo answered.
"Unacceptable. They have no honor and their female with them. Kouga sought to ally-and see how they repaid him."
"Perhaps. But I understand he tried to force her to become his mate," the Lord answered.
"It will seem weak!" The elders were livid-and nervous. Karyuudo could tell.
"We advise against this." They almost all agreed.
"I believe it best to see. We can hardly protect what is ours now, without wasting more on Kouga's mistakes. She killed Ayami and there have been no incursions on our lands."
"They seek to lull us, test us," another argued, posture stiff.
"No. I do not agree, honored elders."
"Neither do I," one, the oldest, Koden, spoke. The very old wolf had seemingly dozed as he listened to the comments, but now shook his ruff and sat up. "It is possible, I allow that much. What I want to know is how will you safeguard our interests, Karyuudo?"
Questions were asked, and answered. At last...they did agree on an arrangement.
Elsewhere, others came to understandings.
"If you follow, kitsune, you will behave," Tohan warned. She was fishing as she spoke by simply freezing small sections of the pond. Shippo helped by pulling out the ice and pulling the trapped fish free. She realized now that she hadn't been eating-it startled her how hungry she was and that she could not remember her last meal clearly. Tohan had not eaten since she was driven out...until the kit required food.
"You going to call me Shippo yet? We're partners now!" He'd decided that he was tired of being called 'runt' or 'brat' or anything else. The Panther hadn't called him that-only 'kitsune', or 'child'. But it rankled that he was still not considered an equal.
Tohan-if anyone had told him he'd be traveling with her...he'd have laughed. But really, he saw little choice. Kouga would hunt him now, and there was no way he'd manage without help. Tohan didn't want to kill him, and well, she'd sort of looked after him for the last two days. Although she didn't go after Kouga as expected. He'd been sure she would, but she didn't. They'd just been wandering. Like she had...nothing to do, really.
Shippo was used to having direction. Not to mention she looked frail and exhausted, yet kept moving. He was worried under his bravado.
"Partners? With a child? Hardly," she answered with some spark in her voice.
"I'm not a kid!"
"Hmp. So you say. You were content to play one." He'd admitted it.
"Well-I'm not now! I'm strong-and...I'm useful in lots of ways-like whatever you're up to," Shippo argued. She ignored him. "Hey! Aren't you listening to me? What are you up to, anyway?"
A shrug was his answer. Tohan had no desire to do much of anything. Since her tribe drove her out she'd been on automatic. The Panther supposed she ought to hunt Kouga, he'd been part and parcel of her fall by his actions, or go to Sesshomaru, perhaps...
No. None of it felt right. She was tired and hungry, so she just ate for now.
Losing one's place in the world, one's position, and one's family tended to leave wounds. Tohan didn't realize she was metaphorically licking them. As Shippo was, in his own way by seeking a place to belong. She was used to leading, to having others around to direct, so his presence was oddly comforting. Shippo's presence was making her more aware of the world, when she likely would have wandered until she died in a few days from hunger or exposure.
"Tohan-are you alright?" he asked finally, and she looked up.
"I will be," she answered, adding, "so rest, kitsune. We travel more tomorrow. I wish to find a place to rest a bit, this will not do for long." He nodded, looking a bit relieved.
Author's notes- Ah. A bit sad, isn't it? But the wolves are starting to be sorted out. The Wolf elders are based on the Manga, they meet with Kouga in it a few times, and a lot of acrimony is implied. I hope what happened to Shippo was a surprise! Koden means tradition as I understand it. Thanks for Reading!-Namiyo
