"Come, my lady, we shall take a turn in the Eye."
Gwen's eyes widened as she secured her long fingers in leather gloves. The chill of the night settled upon her shoulders; after the overheated restaurant, her muscles tensed in protest. She had expected Tōga to drag her home, buzzed as she was, not to push them further away on the Thames' banks. She lifted an eyebrow as he tugged on the fabric of her gloves to help her.
"Really ?"
He let go of the hem to grab her hand instead.
"If you are willing ?"
His voice was slightly insecure, and the very sight of his uncertain features caused her mind to blank. Taishō always looked so confident, but in this moment, he seemed almost boyish. His adorable expression was her undoing.
"Hai, that would be nice. What spurred this on ?"
Golden eyes turned to the sky suspiciously before they returned to her assorted with an easy grin.
"Well it's not raining, we might as well enjoy it."
"Umbrella effect."
Everyone knew that if you took an umbrella, it wouldn't rain. But leave with a perfect blue sky and no umbrella, and a downpour materialised just above your head. Laughing at her silliness, Gwen laid her head over her companion's shoulder.
"It's a dog's night", she whined with a shiver.
His arm circled her to pull her close, bringing welcome warmth to her side. A kiss was dropped at her temple, a tender token of affection that usually spoke of years of habit. Except that it had only been a few months. Strange, how they fit together like two pieces of a puzzle. With Tōga by her side, Gwen felt thoroughly and utterly complete; already, she couldn't imagine a life without him. And even though he was one of a kind – his yōkai inheritance would ask her to lie to her family – she would protect his secrets to the end.
Provided he didn't perform any crazy feat in front of her little brother.
"No jumping out of the carriage, eh ?", she said. "I've had my fill in that building."
"Wouldn't dream of it", he purred in her ear.
His low voice caused her shoulders to shiver; Tōga perfectly knew the effect he had on her. Sneaky, insufferable Inu…
They progressed leisurely, reaching the Thames and following counter current along the Queen's walk. Words were sweet, but unnecessary; Gwen had never found anyone that understood her with barely a look. Perhaps it was his yōkai nature to be aware of every single change in her demeanour, but she had to admit that it was comfortable.
The sight ensured Gwen discerned his moods just as efficiently.
It truly was a blessing.
The London Eye dominated murky waters, carriages illuminated, rotating so slowly that even the river seemed agitated in comparison. Gwen stared, wondering if the last time she's gotten into one of those oval glass eggs was really four years ago with her little brother.
How time flies.
But time had brought her an incredible present in the form of the man that strolled by her side. Her man. Who would have thought she would, one day, happily walk beside a reincarnated yōkai ? In the city lights, Tōga's hair shone so brightly that it would have competed with the moon itself – had it been visible. And those eyes, light hazel that gleamed with golden intent, never failed at weakening her knees.
Gwen enjoyed the crispness of his leather jacket, her head resting upon his upper arm when he suddenly stopped. His whole body tensed, muscles coiling under her fingers, every bit the commander. Attuned to his body language, Gwen released his arm at once.
"What's wrong ?", she whispered.
Tōga stood stock still, all senses alert. The icy breeze had picked up at the night progressed, and Gwen though she'd heard a distant sound only to realise it might be the wind singing against the metal wheel. Eventually, Tōga cocked his head aside in a very canine move and slightly relaxed.
"Nothing. I thought I saw a shadow."
Gwen's eyebrows knitted; shadows lurked everywhere in between night lights. Her gaze lingered from the dark river bank to the illuminated wheel, and returned to Tōga. His jaw was still tense, a muscle ticking in his cheek.
"Sorry", he exhaled, putting his hands in his pockets sheepishly. "I sometimes get those flashes about dragons. It's stupid, really and…"
Whooosh.
Tōga's whole body shot forward, so fast that she didn't understand she'd been twisted aside and pushed out of the way at the same time. Heart thundering, Gwen was flung behind him as he took a protective stance before her.
"Stay close !", he growled, right hand splayed in front of her.
Surprise turned to dread as growls echoed in the distance, their pitch so low that it vibrated in her bones. The night suddenly became oppressive; her eyes darted to the side, searching. Muscles coiled, breath short, Gwen awaited anxiously. Tōga's exhalation produced whitish volutes as he panted in anticipation, his whole body ready to spring.
The sudden rush of air that lifted her tresses was the only indication of a movement behind her. Gwen jerked, pivoting to place her back against Tōga's massive frame.
What the hell is happening ?
Dread pooled in her veins, humming with the ancestral reflex to flee before a predator. She wanted to hug her invincible Captain, to hide her face in his chest and wish for any threat to disappear. But Gwen wasn't a little girl anymore; she knew better than to impair the best fighter. His yōki spiked aggressively, coiling around her in an attempt to shield her from whatever was out there. But she wasn't blind; those growls were unnatural, powerful, and probably out of his control. The very thought of Tōga, overpowered, sent chills down her bones.
They descended upon him at the same time, overgrown lizards with bony arms that looked like church gargoyles, white fangs bared in a sneer. Then, their faces morphed into that of two chilling humans, souless eyes and dark hair spilling over wide shoulders. Fright twisted her stomach; Gwen froze, paralyzed. Her brain struggled to understand what was happening.
How many ?
The creatures ignored her, banding against Tōga. Gwen refrained from screaming her lungs out when he barely avoided a set of claws that could have cleaved his arm off.
"Run !", he ordered, his voice mustering all the authority of a commander.
The former Gwen would have trembled in her boots at his tone, and scurried away to flee the wrath of the mighty Captain. But this wasn't the station, and she now knew that it wasn't anger that fuelled the intensity of his order, but the desperate need to protect her. Inu yōkai indeed.
But Gwen refused to turn tail; he had trained her in self defense. She just couldn't abandon him ! Her feet were glued; she couldn't walk away. Tōga shifted brusquely, catching her gaze; his eyes were bleeding red, the predator surging forth.
"Get the hell out of…"
"Never."
She had not screamed, but his staggering stance told her the message came across all the same. Tōga squared his shoulders, his own energy rising to the challenge. Impressive, unyielding, and positively livid. The very air seemed to compress. Then he was moving, his yōki swirling angrily in the dark, dealing punches against creatures that would haunt her nights forever.
He moved so fast - so did they – and held nothing back as he launched vicious attacks that would have felled any man. Moonspun hair danced around his tall frame, his long limbs connecting; one of his fists broke through an arm that cracked under pressure. The creature hissed its displeasure, features morphing from human form to something much uglier that resembled a dragon.
Tōga was a war machine in battle, but they were faster, stronger, untainted by human blood. Claws ripped at the leather of his vest and he hissed, counterattacking with the rage of a daiyōkai. Suddenly, Gwen saw a massive dog in his stead, red eyes blazing with anger, blue markings adorning his cheeks. The vision cleared, and she squeaked in surprise; Tōga's sturdy frame was hurling her way at great speed. She dodged just in time, knowing that if he collapsed on top of her, she'd be trapped and unable to fight back.
The sickening crunch of bones connecting the concrete caused her heart to lurch; she regretted her decision now. Sprawled upon the ground, limbs strewn like those of a ragdoll, the Captain wasn't moving. Gwen's stomach plummeted, overwhelming fear squeezing her heart like a veil of darkness.
"Tōga !", she screamed as she fell to her knees.
Words rose in the silent night, an inhuman hiss carried by the breeze.
"Inu no Taishō. You should have stayed dead."
They know.
Anger gave way to panic; Gwen cupped Tōga's unmoving cheek, watching the blue streak fade from his skin. Crimson stained his shirt, his blood or theirs ? Still like death, eyes closed, a trickle of red liquid trailed down the corner of his mouth. She had never seen him so vulnerable, and it terrified her.
She wanted to cry and howl, to gather him in her arms and crush him against her chest. Shaking hands trailed his silver hair, fearful. Despite the blood roaring in her ears, Gwen couldn't ignore her enemies were approaching. It was a miracle they had not discarded her already; were they boasting, or bidding time ? She was but a lowly human, after all; no threat to their superior abilities.
Her eyes landed on the buckle of Tōga's leather belt. Heart jumping in her throat, the young woman worked the loops of metal and tore it from his waist with a mighty pull. Then she turned to the creatures and summoned rightful rage.
"Begone !", she yelled, her voice crackling with anger.
"Step aside, ningen."
Gwen grit her teeth and stood her ground, all the while knowing her resistance was futile. The few potential witnesses were too far away to lend a hand, and the only person that could have matched them in might – one to one – was unconscious. She refused to believe Tōga might be dead – even though the possibility fuelled her ire. She'd be damned if she didn't protect him to her last breath.
Ignoring the frantic warnings of her thundering heart, Gwen lashed out with the makeshift whip with her left hand and thrust the umbrella on the other side. The leather belt connected with something – a sharp cry rose in the sky. Vicious joy filled her in this moment; she felt positively murderous.
"Bitch !"
Greenish tendrils of energy suddenly rose from the two human forms, licking at their pale skin, filled with malicious intent. Their combined aura rose like a magnetic field; she could almost feel it humming under her skin, pickling it with a thousand needles, seeking to crush her.
Gwen didn't realise at once that death was coming her way. There was no epic music, no camera or wonderful mise-en-scene. The breeze remained mild, the river banks silent, nightlife subdued in the heart of London. Caught in the action, Gwen replaced dread by anger, desperation by purpose. Her only goal was to protect Tōga until he was fit again. All senses alert, she watched her opponents gather their yōki, only visible to one who possessed the sight… or fellow yōkai, probably.
In a suspended moment, there was no past and no future, the present moment so intense that it mobilised all her resources, including her ever wandering brain. Each second felt like eternity, each breath lasted forever. Gwen's muscles tensed, ready to uncoil and deal as much damage as possible.
But what could she do, a mere human against two full blooded yōkai ?
Nothing.
Tōga had not moved from his spot, and she cursed her human senses to be unable to discern whether his heart was still beating. From the corner of her eye, she spotted the waterfall of his silver hair; her beacon of hope.
My amazing, wonderful man.
Another breath, and a smirk spread over her opponent's lips. Dark, malevolent eyes twinkled in amusement. When they both lunged at her, Gwen accepted her fate.
So be it.