The walk was tense, as all that was heard was the quick steps pounding the ground. Though the trek was silent and calm, none could quell the troublesome feelings within. The promise was tight and united, the group moved as a unit in one direction. However, the tense quiet was something that Kagome couldn't prescribe to, and she turned a little to Serenity. Though before she could speak up it was Serenity that did so with a small smile.
"Yes?" Serenity inquired, as she had caught Kagome's gaze from the corner of her eye.
"Um, why do you hunt Naraku?" Kagome asked, and Serenity raised an eyebrow. "I mean you explained a bit of the story yesterday, but what is the real reason." After Kagome said this, Serenity's countenance closed a little. For a minute or so it seemed that she would not answer, then a sorrowful sigh escaped her lips.
"You are immensely perceptive." Serenity stated, and Kouga drew closer to Serenity wanting to know as well, but not pushing her. "As you know, some of my pack was slain, but you don't know the closeness of those pack members." Serenity begin, her eyes watered a little, and it was Haruka that actually began the tale.
"Nine were slaughtered by the one known as Naraku." Haruka spoke up. "Five males, and four females." She added, and lowered her muzzle in respect. Michiru continued for there, seeing as Serenity was wrestling with it.
"Ami, the intellectual leader of the inner tribe was one of the ones slaughtered." Michiru described. "Her fur was dark with navy blue highlights, that coursed with her light blue eyes." Her voice trembled a bit. "She was a sister to my clan, as she was a sister to me." Michiru finished, having no reserves to continue.
"Makoto, was the strength leader of the inner tribe." Haruka remarked, taking back over for her partner. "Dark brown fur, light tints of green were embedded into her strands, as well as dark emerald eyes." Though her voice did not change, Haruka's face grew tighter. "A sister to my clan, a sister to me." She stated, and then went to comfort her partner. It was Hotaru that spoke up next, her eyes twinkling with tears.
"Minako, was the passion leader of the inner tribe." She started while winding close to Kouga. "Light fur, like Serenity's, though hers seemed to have an orange tinge to it, and sky-blue eyes." Hotaru muffled her statement, as she buried her muzzle closer to Kouga's comfort. "Though we were opposite in color, her clan was a sister to mine, and such a sister to me." She finished her sentence with a tremble. Then to the surprise of the others, Dante spoke up.
"The last of the ladies was the sister to the clan of Setsuna's." He notched. "Her fur resembled black with red tinged violet highlights, she also had mysterious violet orbs." Dante murmured. "She was the leader of sight, in the inner tribe anyway." He completed his narrative, since Setsuna had left earlier.
"Inner tribe?" Kagome asked, unfamiliar with the terms being used. Kouga decided to answered for the more distraught ones.
"In each pack of wolves, there are an inner tribe and outer tribe." He started, while focusing on his fallen clan. "The inner tribe is the guardian of the akeala and normally their playmates." He explained. "For the akeala is closely guarded as a youngster, because they would carry the clan through the harsh times." Kouga stated, and then paused while reviewing his lessons. "The outer tribe is made of the ones that are the teachers of the akeala, though they also protect the leader." He told them and then paused. "The two that follow me are part of my inner tribe." He finished.
"What about the rest of the wolves?" Miroku inquired, interested in the dynamics of the demon's tribe.
"That's the reason for the clans within." Kouga responded. "Each clan has a reason for following that specific leader, and as such has a representative in the tribe." He explained further, and then stopped as he mourned his fallen brothers.
"What about the others?" Sango asked, also concern for her new friends. Serenity finally spoke up after her long silence.
"Zoicite, Kunzite, Jadeite, and Nephrite were all part of my clan, and in essence, my brothers." Serenity spoke up. "They were the mates of the inner female tribes." She commented. "Thus the inner tribe was in some way directly related to me." Serenity offered. "Though, I had only one true brother, one true litter mate." She stated, and her eyes took on a faraway gaze. "Mamoru." Her voice taking on a misty tone. "He was my brother." She stopped, holding a hand to cover her tears.
"Mamoar?" InuYasha intoned, and this brought a small smile to Serenity's face.
"No, Mamoru." She gently corrected.
"So, what about him?" Shippo cut in. Serenity gave him a gentle smile.
"Naraku took great pleasure in killing my brother." Serenity dead-panned.
"Why?" Kagome asked, for Naraku always had a motive. Though surprising it was Kouga that spoke.
"You are a newly adopted akeala aren't you?" Kouga inquired, and Serenity nodded.
"Still, what does that have to do with anything?" InuYasha asked impatiently.
"My brother was engaged to Ayame of the Eastern tribe." Serenity answered. "This union would join our two largest tribe, which could easily take down Naraku at that stage of strength he was at in that point in time." She continued.
"Oh." Kagome chimed, though it looked like Serenity wasn't done.
"There's more isn't there." Sango chimed, and Serenity nodded.
"Yes, for Naraku wanted to possess my hand." Serenity added, and at this Kouga growled, wrapping a protective arm around her. "Mamoru would not allow this, preferring a political clan union that would strengthen us." Serenity recited, then she moved back the sleeve on her right arm.
"Who?" Kouga growled out, his grip was now possessive. His eyes promised death to his competition. Serenity sighed, and turned a bleary eye to InuYasha noting something.
"You wouldn't happen to be a son of InuTashio would you?" Serenity asked, and InuYasha blinked. Kouga immediately processed what that question meant though. Serenity felt him unwinding and readying to launch himself at InuYasha. She quickly wrapped an arm around his waist instead, which cooled him for the moment.
"Yes." InuYasha answered, as Kagome drew closer into his side fearing what maybe said. Serenity smiled at this, while shaking her head.
"Don't worry, I'm not planning on following through." She told both Kouga and Kagome.
"How?"Again Kouga growled his question to her stage in life.
"I was out on my hunt when I had happen to travel to far from the hunting party." Serenity recited. "As drew away, I caught sight of someone about to be slaughter from behind by a boar demon." She remarked. "Though I knew not why this may be happening, I interfered, saving the man's life, because it's a cowardly way to be killed." Serenity continued. "In turn, the man, who introduce himself as Lord InuTashio thanked me." Serenity stated. "It was about this time, that my brother found me, and talking with the InuTashio they struck a political union." She added.
"So you are promised to InuYasha." Kouga remarked.
"I am promised to one of InuTashio's sons." Serenity corrected.
"No!" Kouga growled out, and tucked her into his side, staring coldly at InuYasha.
"Hey, flea-bag, it isn't my fault." InuYasha responded to the cold glare. Serenity interceded before anything else could be said.
"Thus, InuTashio carved this into my wrist as a reminder as a blood debt to me." Serenity told them while holding up the marked wrist that she had shown Sesshomaru. Kouga sneered at the blemish on her wrist, before immediately covering it with her sleeve. Serenity laughed at his childish behavior. "I do not plan on continuing with this political union, I figure there are other ways of joining forces without causing the pair of us to be used." She added. "My clan backs me up." Serenity said and ran a calming hand down Kouga's arm.
"Good." He clipped in response while shivering under her hand. He leaned his head a little closer to her ear. "You might want to stop that." Kouga whispered, and this time Serenity shivered. She instantly stopped her hand and turned her attention back to the Inu-tachi.
"The blood debt that you and your brother owe to me, I figure I can use to a more prosperous means." She finished, and then gazed straight ahead, allowing the information just imparted to settle. InuYasha still had one last question for the wolf female.
"Does Sesshomaru know?" InuYasha asked.
"He knows that a blood debt is owed." She answered.
"Will you tell him?" He requested.
"Whatever for?" Serenity chimed back while Kouga glared at the hanyou.
"Just curious." InuYasha returned. Serenity shook her head and laughed.
"No, I figure it's not necessary, unless..." She stopped as a troubled look overcame her.
"Unless what?" The harsh question originated from Kouga.
"The counsel of wolves agreed with my brother's idea for a political union, they did not enjoy the thought of me calling it off." Serenity told him, her eyes were tinged coldly. "They may force the issue, unless I can find a similar match." She added, her memories recalling Setsuna's swift departure.
Kouga merely growled at that statement, and curled his arm tighter around Serenity. InuYasha shook his head, and then proffered a statement.
"They cannot force me though." InuYasha growled out, his grasp protective of Kagome.
"That is not a problem, for you are not the eldest, though it is a blood debt owed." Serenity reminded him. InuYasha then grinned a little trying to lighten the mood.
"I think you are safe, Sesshomaru doesn't strike me as wanting to listen to a bunch of huffy flea-bags either." InuYasha intoned. Serenity laughed at that statement and nodded to his observation. Kouga merely stayed quiet thinking about what had just been heard. He promised that Serenity would not be bonded to any mutt-face. In his trance he missed the face that Serenity was resting her head on his shoulder while walking. Thus his head was tilted lightly against hers with an interesting pairing.
I did warn you that the mark on her wrist played a part. How's that for an interesting twist. Please review, and later.
Much Care, WCB.