Chronicles of the West

Special thanks to Jing for the riddle help. Hope you all enjoy and review.


Chapter Fourteen

Toga stared at Silvana as she made her report. This was not what he had hoped for. "The moon?" he asked again. She nodded, glancing sideways to glare at Ryu from beneath the bright fringe of her hair. Toga growled softly. Ryu chuckled, "Why don't you just ask Kurama for it?" he asked lightly.

Toga glared at his younger sibling, "While I am sure that Kurama is a most gifted thief I doubt even he can steal the moon". Ryu snorted, "Wrong. He already has". Toga blinked at him and Ryu smirked at this, "You take things too literally". With that he turned and walked out of the hall.

Silvana lifted her eyes to Toga, "I am sorry Toga, I did try" she said. Toga waved a hand dismissively, "Never mind. It's possible that the creature has gone mad in his solitude. I still say that we scout the mountain". Silvana shook her head, "He was odd, but didn't appear to be mad" she told him.

Toga supposed that the only way to get to the bottom of it was to either go and confront the thing himself or find out what Ryu was smug about. He Brushed past Silvana to follow his brother. He didn't have very far to go, Ryu and Kurama were talking softly in the hall.

"So Kurama, Ryu tells me that you have stolen the moon" he said bluntly. Kurama grinned, "Of course I have. I have it with me now. All you need do is ask for it" he told the inu. Silvana stepped from behind him, and moved to stand near Ryu. "What is it Kurama?" she asked softly.

The silver fox reached into the satchel he had slung at his side and withdrew a bundled wad of cloth. "This is the moon" he replied, pulling the dull covering away and handing it to Silvana. She stared at her own milky haze of a reflection in a perfect pearl the size of her hand.

"That pretty bauble once resided in the palace of the water sprites. They guarded it quite viciously. It's no ordinary pearl. It is believed to open the gate between this world and the next. Whoever has this gem is capable of moving along the stream of ancients. Sounds quite lovely." Kurama told them.

Silvana handed the pearl to Toga who grazed the pad of his thumb over it, "So why haven't you done so?" he asked the fox. Kurama chuckled, "I have no wi


sh as yet to die". Toga blinked at him, "So you stole a treasure you wouldn't use. Why?" Ryu slapped his brother's shoulder, "You are so dull Toga" he teased, "It's large, pretty and a true challenge. It isn't the prize that drives a thief" His golden gaze swept over Silvana, "It's the chase".

Toga had not missed the look or the implication of the words but chose to ignore them.. For now. He met Kurama's eyes. "Are you willing to part with it?" he asked. The fox shrugged slightly, "Every good thief knows that you have to give to take something better". Toga nodded and tossed the pearl to Ryu. "You made the deal, you finish it". Ryu nodded and tucked the pearl away safely.

"We should be ready to go and as soon as I get the map" he announced. Silvana nodded, "What if he is mad and there is no map?" she asked suddenly. Ryu cocked his head at her, "Then the only thing he'll get is a cold watery grave and Kurama gets the moon once more". So assured, so confident, so damn cocky! He really irritated her. Confounded her. She spun on her heel and went to her rooms. Toga sighed and watched her go, "You have made your peace with her?" he asked his sibling. Ryu Keh'd, "As much as I can with that one" his shrewd eyes locked with Toga, "Maybe you should talk to her, and I do mean talk Toga".

Kurama pretended to find great interest in picking non-existent hairs from his clothing. Toga looked at his little brother in question. "You sound quite possessive" he commented. Ryu glared at him, "She's not for you Toga… you have made your choice" he said softly and to his surprise, his brother nodded, "Yes I have".

Nothing left to say between them, they parted. Ryu heading to his room to think and prepare himself and Toga making his way to Silvana's room. He didn't bother to knock at her door, just pushed it open and stepped inside. She stood near the window staring at him. Her expression unreadable.

"Silvana" he said softly, she turned to look out the window. She supposed he was coming to make his own apologies and while she had forgiven him, the hurt remained. She found it hard to look at him now, with all that lay between them, that had never mattered before. It mattered now, and when she looked into his golden eyes she couldn't help but see Ryu staring back at her.

Toga stood a foot away from her, his large frame stiff with unease. "Silvana, I owe you many apologies" he told her softly. She shook her head, squaring her shoulders. "No Toga, you've done nothing that I haven't been an equal participant in. I know that you didn't mean those things. I know that. It's ok" she whispered.

He watched her closely, something was changing in her. Slowly, she met his eyes and smiled at him. Forgiveness was there and it would have to be enough for him. He'd hurt her and so had Ryu and for no good reason. He nodded, and slowly reached for her. She allowed it, letting his draw her into the warm circle of his arms.
He hugged her to him, nothing needed to be said. He wanted to let her know that he cared about her and that wouldn't change. She wanted him to know that she understood it.

That night at dinner, they contemplated what it all meant. What they might find. It was decided that they would go together to the lake and turn over the pearl. From there they'd start the search at once. Toga wanted this business done and over with. His desire was growing, his hunger and that was not acceptable to him.

Aislin refused to be left behind. Toga did not want her to accompany them. It was dangerous, even for them, far too many things could befall her. He would not allow that risk. He'd argued and threatened and she'd shouted and snarled. Giving as good as she got to the towering dog demon.

In the end, Silvana managed to calm both enough to listen to reason. Ryu listened as her soft voice washed over the room, easing combatants to silence. "Aislin, we don't know what we will find and there is too great a risk to you. Toga simply wants to keep you safe" she told the human woman.

Aislin stood and smiled in the general direction of the voices. "Ippiku?" she called and the imp fluttered to her side, "I want to go to bed" she told him. He latched onto her finger and tugged her along. Pausing she tossed her final words over her shoulder at the dog demon, "I am not a child. You shouldn't treat me as one". Then she was gone.

Toga glared at the hallway where she had stood, his growls a soft sound in the air. Ryu chuckled and drew that hot golden gaze to himself. "Something funny Ryu?" Toga muttered. The hanyou nodded as he rose, "Of course" he chuckled, "The great Toga has been brought low by a mortal woman's tongue".

Ryu headed into the gardens before his brother's ire raised any further. He wandered amongst the flowers and trees for some time. The soft scent of blooms and night wind soothing him. He agreed with Toga that she couldn't come with him. He also understood her desire to remain close to him, he was all that was familiar to her, had been for years. Everyone else had left her behind, and he suspected that some part of her feared he would as well. Poor kid.

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Aislin turned when her door was flung wide and the low growl surrounded the air around her. She heard Ippiku mutter his goodbyes and knew that Toga had deigned to visit her. Her eyes widened when she felt his hard body pin hers to the wall behind her.

Toga held the small female between himself and the hardness of the wall. Her face showed her surprise at his actions, and he wished that those brilliant eyes would show her reaction to him. He wished that the pupils would dilate , the irises darken in her desire of him. But they didn't.

"You do not wish to be treated as a child?" he rumbled against her, fighting his inner beast with nearly all he had. She nodded, her small hands braced against his chest. He nosed his way down to her ear, and breathed across the soft shell. "You are no child to me woman, you would do well not to push me. It gets harder all the time!" he barked sharply at her.

Aislin felt her heart pound at his tone, a feral tone. "What gets harder?" she asked in a small whisper. Toga pressed himself against her fully, letting her feel the hard length of his sex pressed against her lower belly, "The need to take you is driving me mad but I cannot do that. Not yet" he growled at her. Her mouth opened in a silent O of understanding.

Toga's head descended to claim those lips, to silence her and drink in the small cries of need that rose in her throat. Her tongue curled around one of his fangs and he tasted the slight tinge of her blood in his mouth, his beast howling in happiness at the sweetness it carried.

Toga felt his vision alter, pink covering everything behind his lids and he forced himself off of the woman he was sworn to protect. Her chest rose and fell in heavy pants, her lips swollen and moist from his fervent kisses. Toga shrank from her and fought to steady his breath, his beast clamoring to get out, wanting her, catching her arousal in the air, her innocence.

"You will remain here Aislin" he said in a strained voice, "You will question me no more of it. I will see this quest done and I will return for you". She breathed raggedly. Eyes closed, head pressed back against the wall. "Do you understand me?" he demanded, his voice almost harsh. She nodded quickly. He wanted her. Wanted HER?

She heard him leave her rooms a moment later. Damn confusing dog! His scent lingered in her clothing and she inhaled deeply. The clean masculine scent that she'd grown to know like the scent of the hearth and water. Unmistakable. She felt her way over to the edge of her bed and sat, her breath still unsteady, her heart racing. Such was the power of Toga.

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They departed just before dawn, the odd looking group of demons. Ippiku had demanded to go along and Toga could see no reason why he couldn't. Aislin assured him she was fine with it. So they made their way thought the deep forest. Toga couldn't help but feel that something was going to happen but after a day of nothing he was ready to accept it as an unbecoming bout of nerves.
They made camp for the night as the sun sank into the trees. Tomorrow they would reach the lake and begin the journey. They said little as they settled for the night, each lost in his or her own thoughts of what was to come. What manner of beast would they face? No.. what would he face? For they knew that Toga would allow no interference in his fight to restore the sight of his intended. Not that she knew this.

Ryu understood his brother's need to do this, and his reason for keeping it from her. He wanted it to be her choice and he could respect that. He wondered if his brother was so damn stubborn that he didn't see her feelings already. Probably not, his head was as thick as a rock sometimes.

Dawn rose over them, camp was broken and they began the journey to the lake anew. Several hours passed before they spied it through the brush. Silvana moved forward and brushed her youki over the water. Then she stepped back and Ryu leaned against a tree waiting.

The water churned and Toga's hand moved to his hilt. Kurama watched his young friend. Ryu seemed unaffected by the huge splashing motions and angry bellowing of the turtle. Silvana dared not take her eyes off the massive beast. "What do you want?!' it demanded again.

Ryu stepped into the clearing then, the turtle fell silent and stared at him. Bleary eyes narrowed in calculating coldness. "So pup, you've come back". Ryu growled at the turtle, "Keep it up and I won't give you the thing you want so much" he said matter of factly.

The turtle lowered his large head to the dog and sniffed. Ryu pushed his head away, "Man you reek" he told the turtle. The large beak snapped with the turtle's dark laughter. "We had a deal" Ryu reminded him. The turtle nodded, "That we did. The moon for the map".

Ryu stepped back and withdrew the pearl, cloudy eyes fixed on the gleaming sphere. "How did you…" he began. Ryu cut him off, "That's not the point. I have it, give me the map". The turtle kept his eye on the pearl as he spoke, "At the topmost peak , In the lowest cavern. Without flint or tinder, Try and light the lantern .Acrobatic serpent hidden in the bones .Grants the key to the maiden, Who's youth is withered away .Steal the first kiss of frost To know another, hidden in plain .And yet never found .The ice maker wields the key. The truth cannot be seen "

Ryu frowned, a riddle? That was the map? Glancing at Kurama he saw the older fox nod and set the pearl on the grassy bank. "Thanks mud slug". The turtle lowered his head and grasped the pearl in his massive beak with infinite care before sliding back into the murky water.

Toga glared at Ryu, "That was a jumble of words" he snapped. Kurama lightly touched his arm, "That is the map". Toga glared at him too. Ryu's handsome face was expressionless as he pondered the riddle. He remembered each line, a special gift he had. Hear or see something once and remember it forever. It had been a helpful ability over the years.

"Well, we are heading for the mountain" he said out loud. With that he set off and the others joined him. The journey had begun now.