Chronicles of the West

Sorry this one is short, it won't leave me alone LoL. Enjoy


Chapter Eleven

Two days later the vixen was up and mobile, nearly fully healed. In that time Kurama and the others had seen to her usual patrols. She was grateful and irritated. She hated having to depend on anyone for anything. Ryu was standoffish as ever and she began to wonder if perhaps she had thought more of his healing actions than she should have.

The preparations for departure were nearly complete. There was an old mud turtle that have lived near the mountain in question for many a century. Toga thought it might be best to see him and question him regarding the unknown beast. While Kurama had agreed with him, he knew that it would be no easy task. Older ones were reclusive and aggressive.

It seemed the best choice to go was Silvana as she had guarded the lands for a long time and would be known to the turtle. Toga had agreed, earning a glare from Ryu. "She's not fully recovered. What if he wants to fight?" he demanded. Toga eyed his hanyou brother, "Then she'll handle it" he said plainly. Silvana was not wilting flower, she was a fighter and he knew that better than most.

Ryu Keh'd. "That's bullshit" he said in a low voice. Toga straightened, "What is your problem?". Ryu crossed his arms over his chest, "She could get hurt" he said as though that explained everything. Toga smirked, "That's unlikely". Ryu growled, "Yeah. Whatever. You were wrong before".

Toga glared at his brother's goading. "Spit it out Ryu, whatever is pissing you off, get it said" he warned. Ryu nodded, "Why are you doing this? This journey?" he asked. Toga glared at him, "None of your concern" he snapped back. Ryu lifted an eyebrow.

"I'm not some trusting fool Toga, this thing, if it's even there… is a killer. Plain and simple. If I am gonna risk my neck for you I want a reason why and not some crap story either. I want the truth". The hanyou waited for his hot tempered sibling to decide what he would do. Confess or fight.

Toga finally sighed, "I am going for Aislin" he said at last, his voice tired and sounding softer than usual. Ryu blinked at him, "You are going to get her sight back?". Toga nodded, "I don't know if it can be done, but I will try". Ryu considered his words, "She must want this very much". Toga's eyes snapped to his, "She doesn't know, and she will not know."

Ryu opened his mouth to argue but Toga cut him off, "I won't lift her hopes in case we fail" he growled. Ryu nodded, "I understand that much of it. I still need to know why. You didn't just decide on a whim to fight for her eyes". Toga stiffened, he didn't want to explain himself to his arrogant brother, or anyone else for that matter.

Ryu was far more astute than he appeared however. His golden eyes widened, :You… you love her" he whispered. Toga snarled at him. Ryu pointed his finger at him, "You do and you are denying it". Toga spun from him and Ryu closed in for his 'kill'.

"If you want her then mate her" the hanyou said, "Mate her, mark her and take her home Toga". The solution seemed far too simple. Toga shook his head and chuckled darkly, "I can't do that" he muttered. Ryu cocked his head, "And why the hell not? That's the way things have worked since the dawn of time what makes you different?".

Toga glared at him. Ryu wasn't stupid, he should have understood. Why was he questioning what should have been more than clear? His younger sibling stared at him intent, waiting. Toga snarled at him, tossing a scroll at him from the table.

"Fool! Because she cannot see!" he raged. Ryu blinked at him, feeling his anger rise, "Well you knew that from the start" he said coldly. Toga lunged at him, pinning him to the wall. His eyes pink now, he rasped at his more than calm brother. "I am a demon and she is not. Don't you think that she deserves that choice? If I ask her she will not deny me, not for any other reason than I am known to her and she depends on me. So you tell me Ryu, if I took her that way… just what would that make me?"

He let Ryu's feet touch the floor. Toga was riled for certain now. His youkai flared wildly through the halls and Silvana hurried as best she could to the source. Toga and Ryu faced off, Toga angry and Ryu unafraid. "And Silvana? What about her? You just going to risk her too?"

Toga growled, "She knows my decision and she supports it, the choice to follow is hers" he bit out. Ryu's own angered flared and both males were unaware of the female at the door now. Their own scents up and powers washing out everything else. "Was that before or after you made her your whore?" Ryu asked softly.

Toga's blade was at his throat in a moment, his low growl setting the hairs on the back of Silvana's neck on end. "Don't. You. Ever. Call. Her. That". Ryu snarled at his older brother, leaping free of the blade and drawing his own. "What is she? Some pawn for you to use Toga?" Steel slapped steel as growls escalated.

Toga pivoted and landed a solid blow to Ryu who countered slashing his brother's perfect cheek. Not deep, but it was a blow to his pride. "Damn hanyou" Toga snarled. Ryu smirked, "Full blood prick! Can't care about anyone but himself".

"You have no idea what you speak of" Toga told him, slashing at him. Kurama had joined Silvana at the door, watching the two lunge and dodge. Silvana tried to step into the room, but Kurama held her back. "No, they need this. It has to be now" he murmured to her. These two rarely fought, Sesshoumaru had learned his lessons with his own brother and rivalry had no place in the halls of the west. This was something else. This was for her.

The clash and clang was deafening in the stillness of the hall, accented with grunts and growls. "I know that you are using her skills to give Aislin sight and you are using her body to ease your own" Ryu hissed viciously. Toga barked angrily. "What's the matter Ryu? Find yourself wanting something I have? Can't have it, so you lash out at her? That's low…even for you"

Ryu's eyes widened, "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he demanded. Toga slapped his blade harshly, "I smelled you on her, I smelled your arousal when you brought her back. An injured woman and you wanted her" he taunted. Ryu leapt into the air and kicked his brother hard in the chest.

"I do want her Toga. I healed her out there for one reason only. I give a shit about what happens to her. Can you say the same thing? Honestly?" he demanded. His lowered his sword. Toga met his gaze, "I can and I do. She is my friend and ally" he replied. Ryu grunted, "Then act like it. She's not one of your men to push so hard".

He turned his back on Toga and for the first time noticed the two kitsune in the doorway. Silvana looked at him, her eyes bright with anger and hurt and then she looked away and turned from them all. "Silvana" Ryu called out to her, Kurama stepped in his path. He glared at the two inu's. "Silence. You pups have caused enough damage for one day don't you think? You both may have had the best of intentions but it sure as hell doesn't look that way at the moment" he growled.

Ryu's ears drooped and Toga sighed. He moved to pass Kurama but the kitsune would not budge. "You best leave her alone Toga" he warned. Toga and Ryu growled at the interloper, Kurama folded his arms and glared at them, "What would your mother think of you both right now?" he asked.