Chapter 19
Past gradually returned back to the distant present on two large creatures in the middle of a damaged battlefield. One a large InuYoukai and the other a nine tailed Youko fox demon. Kazo was slowly losing grip on his soul as it begged to be released to the netherworld. The moon shun down beaming on the few sparkles glittering on the dying fox's face.
"
I never knew." Taisho groaned tucking his muzzle into Kazo's bleeding wound.
"You've been through so much. How could you not trust me with the truth? Why didn't you let me—tell me when all of this had happened to you? " He whispered around the choke in his throat.
Kazo tensed and relaxed from the sudden shocks of pain from the multitude of wounds littering his body.
"What good what it have done for you to know Taisho? My secrets…I'm to blame for them—" "
Silence! You stop that now!" Taisho buried himself deeper into the blood dried fur.
"You're not to blame for any of this. I should've been there for you. I-I should've protected you from all of that." He spat angrily at himself.
Kazo miffed a chuckled.
"What could you have done for me Taisho? You were engaged to another while we were together. There wasn't much you could've done." "
But I should've left and been there for you. You've had to raise my…our son all alone when I should've been the one to teach him how to fight, how to be strong, how to be a decent warrior. I'm so ashamed to think that I had a son who didn't know his father…" "
Taisho," Kazo clumsily lifted his head to nuzzle his nose to the upset Inu. "
It was meant for things to be this way. My son still knew at least one of his fathers which is more than what I could hope for with my little rose. My other young kit never even experienced the light of the fresh morning sun or got to feel the grass beneath his feet. But with Kurama I'm happy to say you and I were able to give him that and so much more. Besides if things hadn't been what they are now, you never would've had Sesshomaru or Inuyasha. I could never dream of a life without having my beautiful kits here." He smiled thinking of his four children.
"Don't you see? It was best this way." The haunted flashes of his friend's past still tormented the dog general's conscious. The only bright sides to this were that he did and can still now love the fox he's admired for so long. Laws forbid Alphas becoming one but with Kazo being an Omega he was submissive meaning they could be together. And to make matters even lighter…they had a son together. Their romance from the past was not done in vain with the birth of Kurama. He too could never think of life without his…eldest pup in it.
"
He and all of them will hate me for this Taisho." Taisho snapped from his fantasy stored mind.
"How could you say such a thing? They could never despise their father." "
But I've kept them from each other in a way only true brothers could bond. Yes I may have wanted them all to have a relationship together but I destroyed that one line of connection where blood brothers are truly whole. And I've kept the truth from you about my— our son. I feel so disgraceful!" He cried feeling a sharp agony pierce his spirit.
"Please just let me pass on. You'll all be better off without me to cloud your happiness with my lies. You should hate me for what I've kept from you." The great dog lord sighed and growled. "
Listen to me to because I won't repeat myself. You are not to blame for the shame that was bestowed upon you forcefully. You never knew you were an Omega. That was a secret kept from you by your father. If he hadn't been so caught up in his need for an Alpha son none of these misfortunes would've happened. You didn't ask Ryuukotsesui to rape you. That damned dragon sort to invade your quarters while you rested and forced himself on a defenseless pup who was still getting into his adult years. Your pup's death wasn't your fault either. His death was yet a poor excuse by your father to save your family blood line from being tainted. The death of your father wasn't your fault. You were defending you and our son's life from the tyrant. As for my memories…" He shook his head.
"You only did it to try and protect me thinking that I would hate you for crimes that weren't your fault. So don't you ever say that I or our sons will hate you EVER AGAIN! The centuries of how you've raised and love, you nurtured into them more than makes up for keeping them apart. If you speak of this false shame again so help me I WILL KILL YOU MYSELF!" Kazo remained silent and hurting for a very long time. Never had he heard Taisho speak so passionately before and all for him. No that was a lie, he had heard him speak like this before. But it was so long ago that he thought it was all a dream. "
Do you," He coughed heavily as the cold winds made him feel colder
. "You do think that we could, in time?" The unfinished question was left in the air for Taisho to complete.
"
Of course. In fact I already do. I don't think I've ever stopped." He laughed softly nuzzling his nose to the side of the fox's face.
"
Hm Taisho," Kazo sighed fully content. "
That makes me…so…very happy." The blissful breeze of relief coursed through Kazo's jaws as he calmly closed his eyes. The look of pure satisfaction printed on his face brought a smile to Taisho…that is until he noticed that the expression seemed a little too peaceful. "
Kazo?" The fox lay still with the same emotion written on his face. He wasn't moving.
"
Kazo? Kazo." Taisho stood up walking around to lie down in front of the fox.
"Kazo? Open your eyes." He said desperately rubbing his nose with the other demon.
"Kazo, wake up." There was no movement. Not a single whisper.
"
Kazo? I said to wake up damn you!" Taisho growled furiously.
"You will not die do you understand! Open your damned eyes!" The expression remained unchanged. He was still smiling with his eyes closed shut. Taisho's entire body shook fearfully at thinking the worst.
"Kazo," He called once more, using his paw to gently nudge him.
"Kazo, please. Open your eyes for me please…please." No answer. Not a smart remark. No swish of his long tail. Nothing.
Taisho's breathing came in shortened gasps
. "Kazo. No. Oh no." He hoarse, placing his head on the fox's neck trying to hold back his salty tears.
"H-How could you? How could you leave me this way?" He felt his heart breaking with every word he spoke.
"We…we haven't even begun to rekindle our old flame…and now you dare to me leave me here alone? You cruel bastard. We have sons. Do you hear? We have sons who need us both to guide them and you left me here to do this task on my own." He buried his face into the silky fur squeezing his eyes shut.
"What about me? What about us? We could've been together. We can still have a life and have more children. Please Kazo don't do this to me. Not we when finally are able to be together. Please. Please wake up." He croaked inhaling the scent that only belonged to his beloved. It was becoming so hard. So very hard to sit there waiting for an answer he knew he wouldn't receive. But somewhere inside he hoped. He hoped that he would open his beautiful blue eyes and let them twinkle for him just once more. If even for a moment.
"Kazo…please…I-I love you…" He whispered before letting the tears finally fall to soak the lifeless body of his dead love.
"Kazo…Kazo…I beg of you to please…please…open your beautiful eyes….please." Taisho cried and cried and cried the mourning loss of his Youko love and feeling the emptiness engulf his heart. No one not anyone could make him feel so alive like Kazo could. And now the only piece of excitement and joy in his life was gone. Gone forever…How could he leave him?
With a heavy heart Taisho's blurry eye turned to see the joyous sight of his fox's expression still holding that pleased smiled. "
Kazo…I love you so much." He mumbled rising to his full massive height.
"I promise to avenge your death and make it known now that no other will take your place with me." The demon dog lend down to cuddle his nose once more to the wet one lying on the ground before releasing a chilling howl to the heavens. The sound echoed for miles around of the sorrow filled sadness of a great demon lord.
"
Taisho as much as I love the sound of your voice you're giving me a headache with that infernal howling." The howling stopped in a stunned halt.
"Kazo? You're a live?" He mumbled disbelievingly.
"
Yes but not for long if you don't be silent!" "
I don't understand." Taisho lowered himself to Kazo's level. "
You stopped breathing and you weren't speaking. I thought you'd— "
I'm trying to concentrate on healing but your constant babbling is making me lose my train of focus." "
My constant—how dare you! I poured my heart out thinking you had died!" "
Yes with a few insults to boot. Now be quiet dog!" Snapped the impatient fox demon.
Taisho was a few seconds from tearing his jaws into the damned Youko's throat. He couldn't believe this. Here he had cried and declared assured vengeance and an eternity of loyalty to a person he thought was died. How embarrassing. The ungrateful fool.
Kazo snickered to himself, as the main part of his energy went toward the shivered spine in his back. The last remnants of his energy could be used to heal the most critical damage but he was still going to need time to heal. At least this way he could still manage to have a better chance of survival until given the proper herbs for healing.
"
Stop pouting Taisho." He teased softly.
"It doesn't become a king." Taisho kept his head turned hiding his blush.
"Go to hell you blasted Fox." The nerve. The absolute nerve of this bastard. Having him all worried and crying for Kami's sake. Damn him! But the anger was short lived as he twisted around to see a slight move in the fox's paws. He was slowly gaining feeling in his body.
Nearly an hour passed before Taisho noticed the fox's legs tucking underneath him to test his strength.
"How do you feel?" Kazo stumbled around a bit using his tails for support.
"I'm still fairly weak but I think I can…" He suddenly lost balance on his thin paws falling over.
He surely thought he'd hit the ground until a heavy head shifted under his neck. "
T-Taisho." "
I'll carry you my friend." "
No." Kazo shrugged him away
. "I'm not some defenseless vixen Taisho. I can still manage on my own—whoa." Taisho caught him this time swinging his body over onto his back. The fox's long legs dangled grazing the ground on both sides.
"
As much as I want to listen to your complaining fox, we need to get back to our children." Oh how could he have forgotten his children? His little kits
. "Taisho where are they? Are they still in the cave where I left them?" "
Yes. I dropped Inuyasha and Koga off there to take care of their brothers until I returned." "
Oh what a relief." He sighed getting comfortable on the strong back. Kazo scrubbed his nose into Taisho's white fur breathing in his odor.
"Hmm you smell heavenly." "
Hn, I remember you saying something similar long ago. But we were in a more compromising position than." Kazo blushed
. "Foolish hound." Taisho laughed while taking flight up in the sky. With Kazo on his back they hurried off toward where they last left the young demons. But still a dark feeling settled in Kazo's mind. Where exactly had Ryuukotsesui gone when they last fought each other hours ago? The beast was gravely wounded but it would heal faster than the damage on his body. Could he have gone home to recuperate, waiting for the next time he would strike?
"
Kazo! Look!" Hearing the panicked tone in Taisho's tone drew the fox back from his train of thought.
"What is it?" "
Look down there!" He howled enraged.
Kazo glanced over the dog's shoulder to see two small pale specs on the ground. His demon vision hadn't healed fully so he wasn't able to make out what those dots were until they descended further. Upon closer inspection, the two figures began to increase in size slowly taking shape. The closer they came the more he suddenly realized that the two large figures were identical beings similar to himself and Taisho's true forms.
"
Kurama, Sesshomaru!" Taisho landed beside the still beast forms of his sons lowering Kazo down to step off.
"
My sons." Kazo went over to Kurama while Taisho walked over to check on Sesshomaru. Kazo stumbled over feeling a bit dizzy and lay beside Kurama. "My son awaken." He whispered gently. The extent of the damage over Yoko's smaller form was terrible. Deep clawed gashes, slashes along his sides, bloody tears on pieces of his fur. How could this have happen? Did the damned dragon sort to take advantage of his sons while they were still weakened?
"
Uhh Father." Groaned the smaller Youko beast.
"
I'm here my son. I'm here." Kazo nuzzled his nose into the younger demon's neck.
Kurama painfully returned the gesture laying his head back on the ground.
"Father…the dragon…he has Koga and… Inuyasha" "
WHAT! THAT BASTARD HAS MY SONS?" Roared the furious Inu king.
"
Calm yourself Taisho!" Kazo said.
"This isn't the time for your barreling voice now. Just focus on the boys." Taisho nodded and returned to using his large flat tongue to stroke away the crusted blood stains on his child's fur.
Sesshomaru grunted from the many or so bite wounds on his legs and neck. Taisho calmed his anger a moment to return to nursing his child's wounds with his tongue.
"He took us…by surprise Father…when he transformed." He explained flinching from the heavy tongue cleaning his injuries.
"
Be still now and don't talk. Save your strength." "
No…No." Kurama murmured pushing himself up by the front of his paws.
"I must…I must save my…my clan…Ah." The last part sighed off his lips when he fell back to the ground unconscious.
His clan? What did he mean his clan? Kazo thought. Never mind he'd ask questions about that later but for now he needed to get himself and his children back somewhere safe to heal.
"Taisho we must retreat for now." "
Are you mad? He attacked our sons and kidnapped Inuyasha and Koga! I must go and retrieve our pups!" "
Wake up Taisho!" Kazo growled. "
These two must come first. Ryuukotsesui won't kill Koga or Inuyasha. They're far too valuable to him. The best we can do for now is to recollect ourselves and come up with a better plan." Taisho mentally debated between shoot off toward the dragon's kingdom but thought against it. Kazo was right. They needed to get these two somewhere safe to heal not to mention Kazo still needed to heal from his ordeal with the beast.
"Very well. We'll take them to my home. It's still intact after the invasion took place." He mumbled lending down to pick Sesshomaru up by the scruff of his neck. "
Can you manage to carry Kurama?" "
I will try." Kazo took a deep breath and on shaky legs stood up to his full height picking up his now four tailed child in his jaws. At first he was unable to maintain his balance and to carry his son but gained some power in his legs coming to stand beside the waiting dog lord.
"Come on." "
Right." Carefully, each with a pup in tow, the two began the long walk home. It was all Taisho could do not to drop his young charge on the ground and tear off like the hounds of hell and skin that blasted reptile's hide. The fool dared to touch his family and has the audacity to take his youngest pups? The beast would pay. He would pay dearly.
Kazo could feel the stinging aura seething through his friend's body. Visible sparks could be seen generating off his fur as it stood up like tiny needles. A few shock waves struck down accidentally burning the younger demon's fur. Kazo was the only one to notice their soft whimpers of agony and sort to fix it. Using three of his long tails he gently interwined them around the furry length of his ally into a comforting braid.
Taisho glanced over to see a tiny grin spread over Kazo's face and immediately relaxed. He nodded his thanks and continued on with a better mood.
Unknown to them, one of the pups was silently taking note of the loving gazes than closed his golden eyes. These two were going a lot to explain once they arrived home.
Dark…It was so very dark. Where was he? It was so very dark and…surprisingly very soft…
A sluggish hanyou sat up in what appeared to be a wide set bed. Shaking his head clear of the evil pounding, Inuyasha scanned around taking in the well decorated environment. His eyes could see perfectly that whoever designed this room had exquisite tastes and elegance. Judging by the feel of the spider silk sheets, he'd have to say they had expensive tastes too. But how did he get in here?
His right ear twitched when he heard a muffled groan lying next to him. His first thought was to strike down and ask questions later but when he caught a scent of the being next to him the claws retracted. "Damn you scared me." He whispered.
Koga sat up holding his aching head. "Ugh fuck it feels like I got hit by a boulder." First one than both blue eyes opened to give the exact same inspection as Inuyasha had done. "Where the hell are we?"
"Beats me but— hey what the hell?"
"What? WHAT?" Koga panicked jumping up on the bed.
Inuyasha's hands roamed over his body in frantic maze. "My clothes! I-I'm naked!"
Koga mimicked the hanyou's gestures and nearly went into shock. "Where the hell is my armor?"
"Awww fuck!" Inuyasha flopped back in the bed thinking the worst. First they were in some strange place and now his clothes were missing in action. Where they molested while unconscious? Oh hell what next?
"Ah I see you finally woke up." Said an incredibly deep voice that sent icy chills down their backs. Beads of sweat formed on their brows immediately recognizing the sound of that tone.
Probably for the very first time in both of their young lives, a tiny trickle of fear snaked up their backs. Neither dared to turn their backs knowing if they did the reality of the situation would come true. How could they have forgotten the battle earlier? When their brothers went to battle with that beast? They hadn't been much of any help expect in the dragon's favor by getting in the way.
Gulping a deep swallow Inuyasha was the first to gain courage enough to turn his head around to see…
Standing in front of the giant window was a tall dark menacing figure staring at them with the deepest green eyes. The brilliance of the moon light cast into the chambers, illuminating his long shadow directly over them. A subtle glow of his emerald orbs flashed momentarily in a glittery wink.
Inuyasha gasped swallowing the bile's threatening to spill as he looked at the terrifying creature only a few feet away begin to approach the bed.
"I think we'll need to get to know each other young pups." Ryuu spoke as he stalked toward his guests. "What do you think?"
Inuyasha and Koga quickly shoved themselves against the head of the bed watching the giant approaching them with a sinister smile gracing his lips.
"Oh fuck…"
TBC: Short I know. But at least Kazo is going to be ok. However that only means he's got a ton of explain to do to the young demons. Then there's the fact of Inuyasha and Koga being trapped with the dragon. What will he do to them? Stay tuned. ^_^
