Chapter 17: A Love That Inspires
Kyo sighed heavily as he looked down at his claws. He was leaning against the wall in the court as all the woman flocked towards the high power lords. For once he was glad women didn't flock to him. Sure others told him he was handsome but so were most youkai. He had long black hair, pointy ears, and three pale blue slash marks across his right cheek. On his forehead was an eight pointed pale blue star. Around his neck dangled the symbol of his clan. It was a black paw print with a white crescent moon in the big pad of the paw.
"Do you not like youkai women awing and cooing over you my Lord?" a soft voice as from his side.
He looked over. A human woman stood there. There was a soft smile on her face and it reached her sparkling amethyst eyes. Her long dark brown hair was done up into an intricate fashion. She came up to his shoulders. Her dress was a pale green and it set off her eyes.
"It gets tiresome Lady," he said answering her question.
"I can understand that my Lord."
"Humans don't often grace these kind of things."
She shook her head before looking out over the throngs of youkai lords and ladies. Then did she return her gaze to the youkai lord before her.
"They fear me that's why I'm here."
"I find that kind of…"
Before he could finish that sentence the Kingdom Key was at his throat.
"It's not so hard when you're talking to the Keyblade Master."
The blade vanished and the kitsune youkai smirked.
"You've got a lot of skill."
She sighed and looked at her hands. Kyo looked at her actions and realized he was examining his hands too, but he wondered what she was looking for.
"Not necessarily. I don't like using violence but there comes a time when I have to."
He knew then what she was looking for, it was blood. She was a fighter.
"Would you like to dance Lady?"
"Of course my Lord Kyo."
He held his hand out to her. She took it gracefully and he led her out onto the dance floor. Everyone's conversations stopped as they passed them. Once they reached the dance floor a new waltz began. The youkai lead her in the slow waltz.
"I didn't catch your name."
"My name is Akita."
"Such a pretty name for a beautiful Lady."
"I wasn't the most favored of my siblings. At best they ignored me completely."
She shrugged her shoulders as if it hadn't mattered anyway. He could see the hurt in her eyes at that statement but he didn't want to push it considering they had just met.
"You intrigue me Akita like no one else ever has."
She stopped dancing abruptly and backed away from them. The sadness in her eyes made him wince. It took a lot of suffering to break the spirit in any human and he knew she must have suffered a great deal.
"They say that up until they see the real me and then either die or run away scared."
"Oh come on what can be that scary? I am a youkai after all. I've seen a lot in my days."
"I understand that my Lord but no one is ever prepared for what follows me."
"I hear they call themselves the Kage Samurai."
"Yes, and they use creatures called Heartless."
Kyo was wondering something for a moment, a smirk graced his features.
"Would you be willing to train with me?"
She looked at him in confusion as if he had grown another head and sprouted horns. The scent of her nervousness belied the look of fire in her eyes.
"Why would you train me in anything?"
"It would be interesting to see what you've got."
"You're on."
She looked at the youkai lord and smiled. He held his hand out to her and she took it. "When do we begin my Lord?"
"Tomorrow if you don't have a hangover by then."
"I don't drink my lord so there is no chance I'll have a hangover."
He smiled. She knew she had gotten into something over her head but at that point she didn't care. She wanted a friend in this lonely word, and if he was willing it would mean a new friend for her.
Next Day
Akita stood there in front of Kyo in a familiar fighting stance. He was in his own fighting stance. They had been working for an hour already. Sweat beaded her body but not even a drop was on Kyo. The kitsune was amused at how easily she could wear herself down. Shaking his head he knew that he'd have to train her in the art of patience and letting your enemy come to you.
"Again, Akita with more aggression."
"Aggression can get you killed in battle Kyo."
He had insisted that she call him by name when they were alone and Lord Kyo when they weren't. Kyo was training in hand-to-hand combat today but when he thought she was ready he'd go towards the swords area. He saw potential in her that she probably would never see in herself.
"Kyo?" she asked again.
She had noticed that he zoned out a few moment ago. Smirking she leapt forward and tried to kick him in the side of his head but to her shock he caught her foot and twisted sideways making her spin to avoid him snapping her ankle. She landed face first in the dirt. A fit of coughs and sputters shook her body. Once she coughed up the dirt she glared at him fully.
"That's taking advantage Akita."
"Well sometimes you have to play others distractions to the fullest."
"That actually sounds dangerous."
Akita rose to her knees once he let go of her foot and sat there. Her eyes glazed over as she sat there. Her arms came up and wrapped around her stomach. She began to rock herself back and forth. Kyo knelt down in front of her and listened to her repeat a small mantra of 'I didn't mean it' over and over again. His brows furrowed in confusion wondering what she was talking about. What could she have done that she had to be sorry about.
"Akita?"
He reached out to touch her but it made her cry more. Shaking his head he pulled her forward and wrapped her in his arms. She started to calm down and he felt exhaustion take over her. She soon was asleep in his arms. He took in her scent of rain and roses. Reaching up he stroked her hair with his claws gently. Her fingers curled up in his shirt and her nose found its way against his neck. He had to fight the shutter that went through him as her warm breath fanned across his neck.
"There's something special about you Akita and I'm going to find out what it is."
Days passed much the same they would train and get to know one another like best friends. The other youkai looked down upon them but it never mattered to the pair. Kyo was working on something for Akita without the girl knowing that he had done it. He was creating a new Keyblade for her. One that would surpass all the blades he had seen her use thus far. The Kage Samurai hadn't shown themselves but he knew it would only be a matter of time. They had fought a lot of Heartless together and they managed to pull the teamwork thing off wonderfully considering they were two totally different species and on the different ends of the strength spectrum. He smiled at himself as he finished the last touches of the Keyblade. Looking at it he placed it in a case awaiting Akita to accept it. He had never been so proud of something he had made but this Keyblade made him such. It was a combination of human and kitsune magic melded into one sword. He hoped that Akita would like the gift and wield it in battle.
As he placed the case up on the shelf he saw Akita rushing towards him. His brows furrowed in confusion.
"Akita…"
"They're here."
He didn't need her to tell him who she was referring to. Moving away from his gift and towards her, he reached out and grabbed her hand and they ran to greet the enemy. They let go of each other and got into a fighting stance to face the Kage Samurai. His fangs were bared and his fox tail thrashed back and forth angrily. His hands were at his sides his fingers splayed and slightly curled. He flexed them experimentally readying himself for the confrontation.
"So you're the Keyblade Master?" the asked while looking at Kyo.
Kyo snorted. That was the misconception most enemies suspected about them, but the heartless knew without being told that Akita was the Keyblade Master. The kitsune liked to keep them thinking that for as long as possible but it never lasted long especially when Akita's hands tensed and the Keyblade she chose came into being in her hands. The both of them stood their in their chosen fighting stances. Kyo drew his youkai blade and Akita summoned the Kingdom Key.
"Are you ready?" Akita asked Kyo.
"Yes, let's do this."
Before they could even get to the Kage Samurai, knight Heartless attacked them. The two tore into the Heartless and by the time all of the Hearts had returned to Kingdom Hearts the Kage Samurai were gone. He looked around scenting for more heartless but there weren't any left. Kyo turned his gaze to Akita who was kneeling in the dirt looking at the Kingdom Key with sadness. Moving forward he looked at the blade and realized that it was cracked in several different places. She looked at him and it broke his heart.
"Akita I have something for you."
"Not now Kyo."
"Please," he started.
She rose and went to him after the Keyblade vanished. He lead her back to his shop and made her close her eyes before he would place the box in her hands. Once she opened her eyes she gasped at what she saw. It looked like a double bladed scythe. The hand guards came up and looked like black flames. The chain that hung from it was his clan symbol, the black paw print with the white crescent moon.
"This is the Kumori Keyblade. It's a combination of the Keyblade Magic and my Kitsune magic."
She tested it carefully before throwing her arms around Kyo's neck. He smirked as she hugged him.
"Thank you so much Kyo."
He pulled back and looked at her in the eyes. There was a serious air about her kitsune best friend that made her nervous. The playfulness that always was associated with the trickster was gone. He hoped that his best friend would agree because he loved her more than a friend a few days after meeting her but he held back knowing it was hard for her to trust anyone much less a male she just met.
"Kyo?" she asked clearly confused by this new Kyo.
"Be my mate," he said softly.
"You mean forever mating?" she asked weakly.
It wasn't that she didn't want to be his mate but forever was a serious matter to most youkai races. Kyo nodded his head and hoped for the best. She had learned from other mated youkai women that this bond was permanent and it didn't matter that she was human. When they exchanged blood her life would be tied to his and they would live for as long as he lived. If one of them were to die the other would soon follow.
"I want you to be my mate even if it means that we only have a few days together and…"
"Yes."
He smiled happily as he picked his mate up bridal style. The Kumori Keyblade vanished from her grasp as she reached up to wrap her arms around his neck. The kitsune youkai carried her back to their room where the mark of a mate was placed on her shoulder.
Next day
Kyo was training his new mate with even more urgency. He couldn't handle this like before. She needed to be ready when the Kage Samurai came again. There was a darkness lurking in the air that she could even scent. He brought his hand up to block a kick that was aimed at his head.
"Mate you're drifting again."
"Sorry."
"Kyo," she started.
He looked at her and saw other youkai surrounding them. This didn't look good at all. Kyo's instincts were demanding he protect his mate from these intruders that more than likely wanted to cause her harm. With a soft growl, he moved to stand in front of his mate protectively. He recognized his oldest brother. His brother was a white kitsune where Kyo himself was a black one. They were always at odds with one another about the smallest things.
"I see you've finally sunk below your station and put a mating mark on a human."
Kyo snarled at his brother. There were some things he could tolerate but not the insulting nature that his brother was directing at his mate.
"Akita was found worthy enough by my darker half, brother so in the end that is the only thing that matters."
"Such a disgrace," his brother sneered. "However since my Master wishes the girl for himself I have no choice but to kill you brother to get her."
Kyo looked at Akita worriedly. They didn't know they had fully completed the bond. Killing him in the end would untimely kill her.
"I wouldn't think that you would sink so low brother to ally yourself with the Kage Samurai."
"You'd be one too if you weren't so stubborn."
"They seek the power of the Keyblades and the destruction of the human race."
"Yeah so? Humans are weak and pathetic and don't need to be handling the power that the Keyblade represents."
"So says you but only in a human's hands can it achieve the true power that's within it."
"So much faith in a weak race brother, and I am disgusted."
He could hear Akita tense behind him. The distinct sound of the bones in her hand cracking made him flinch knowing she was about ready to summon to her a Keyblade. He heard something come from her that he thought he'd never hear from her, it was a soft threatening growl. It almost sounded like a growl that an inu youkai would give to someone trying to harm her pups. Looking over his shoulder she was still entirely human but the feral look in her eyes made him start. Before he could even question what was going on in his mind she summoned the Kumori Keyblade. Without warning she leapt for Kyo's brother. The Keyblade met resistance as his brother blocked the blade. The two of them fought back and forth it seemed the youkai had the upper hand but the Keyblade Master was holding her own against his brother. The scent of blood hit Kyo the instant the blades clashed again. His brother's claws were dripping with blood but there was also a smirk on Akita's face. His brother stopped smiling when he looked down stupidly to see another Keyblade that Kyo had never seen before sticking out of his chest. It had gone all the way through. It was a black Keyblade with a chain on it.
"How could a human…"
"Because I fight for what I love."
"And you'll die for it."
"Then so be it," she coughed softly.
Blood was speckling her lips. His brother fell back wards drowning in a pool of his own blood. Kyo rushed to his mate's side and held her up as her breath was getting shallower.
"Kita don't leave me."
"Sorry," she breathed softly.
She let the unknown black Keyblade go and still held onto the Kumori Keyblade. "Kyo I wanted to give you children."
"I know mate. Rest, and save your strength."
"No time. The Kumori blade needs to be sealed so it can't be used by anyone but a human Keyblade Master protecting their youkai mate."
"I agree. That other blade…"
"Oblivion, dearest. I love you," she breathed softly as her bloodied fingers stroked his cheek.
He bowed his head as she went limp in his arms. A long low keen escaped his throat. He knew that he'd soon be joining her in death as was the destiny of all true bonded mates. The other youkai friend and foe looked upon the bonded pair in sadness. Kyo's keens could be heard echoing through the halls and it didn't fail to bring tears to the even hardest heart.
Destiny felt tears slide down her cheeks. Reaching up she brushed them away. Their story had been tragic, and it saddened her to think that the Kage Samurai would see fit to tear apart mates like that even to gain the Keyblade's power.
"They have gotten away with that crime for two thousand years Destiny and it needs to end, either by your claws, or your lover's Keyblade."
"How do I get the Kumori Keyblade?"
"Weren't you paying attention. You two have to be bonded and the only way for him to get it is to have the intent to protect you."
"I feared as much. Thank you for your time."
The large fox statue nodded before laying its head back down and closing its eyes. It stilled and the magic left the room. She rose to her feet gracefully. Before she could even move to put up a portal to leave a portal appeared before her and a mass of tangled limbs fell out in a heap. Silver, red and brown caught her eyes.
"Couldn't you wait five more minutes?" she asked them.
They were failing to untangle themselves and the portal closed. She sighed and laughed softly at them. Sora was the first to get untangled from the group and he launched himself at her. The brunt end of his weight didn't even faze her in the least. She hugged him just as tightly as he was doing to her.
"Don't do that to me again," he breathed against her neck making her shiver.
"I'm sorry Sora but I had to know something that only he could answer."
"He?"
Sora let her go. He saw the big white marble fox and then glanced back at Destiny in confusion.
"In the right instances and with the right spells he speaks. Basically a vessel for the kitsune that he use to be a very ancient one that died a hundred years ago."
Riku and Axel joined Sora in gawking at the statue.
"What did he have to say?" Riku asked.
"Only Sora will know what he had to say to me I'm sorry my friends."
"It's no big deal Destiny," Axel said with a shrug. "Let's get back dinner was about to be put on the table."
"You two go on ahead," Destiny told the two. "I need to speak with Sora here."
They nodded and went through the newly formed portal and it vanished behind them.
"What is it Destiny?"
"I denied you the bond you wanted Sora because I didn't think you were ready for it."
"What do you mean?"
She ran her fingers through her hair before she turned her back on him and faced the large statue again. Her chin was touching her chest because she felt so bad about it.
"I denied you the chance at us being partners for as long as it take for one of us to die."
"What are you saying?"
"I denied you the chance at forever. I didn't want you to suffer when your friends died in front of you and you'd live for as long as my youkai body holds out."
"Destiny did it ever occur to you that I might like the sound of forever with you?"
"I thought about it but I was worried."
Sora moved forward and cupped her cheeks gently in his warm palms.
"I want forever with you mate," he breathed softly against her lips.
She pulled back and looked into Sora's eyes and swore for a moment they were amethyst. As soon as she thought she saw it, the color vanished and was the normal deep sapphire of his eyes. Mentally she shook the thoughts off. She didn't even want to consider the possibilities that they had been given a third chance to live a life that they should have had two thousand years ago.
"The blade…"
"It can wait. We may not have forever Destiny and I want to be as near you as I possibly can."
She couldn't argue with that. His stomach at that moment chose to growl ruining the sappy moment. Destiny chuckled as Sora blushed a charming shade of crimson.
"Let's go home and feed you and then you and I need to make a short trip after dinner."
He nodded and followed her into the portal wondering what strange things would happen from then on out. Sora looked over his shoulder and saw the white marble fox with its head up looking strait at him. It winked before laying its head back down and closing its eyes. He smiled knowing that at least a few people accepted the relationship for what it was.
A/N: And another chapter done… sorry it took so long people… I was working on my new Transformer fic 'A Deceptive Heart' which is totally a cool fic or so people tell me… It's really popular thus far and you should go check it out if you've seen the new transformer movie.
