Chronicles of the West

Well as you can see another eventful say at school. Two chappies for you. Hope you enjoy and please review. It keeps me going…*damnit Rawben get off my nose!* LoL

Chapter Thirty Four

Satoru waited patiently in his study for Toga and the other males to make their appearance, he was only slightly surprised when the whole group stepped into his office. He blinked up at them and then gracefully moved to take his seat. He motioned them to do the same.

"As you are aware Toga, we have several gifted professors here, and not a small number of very talented students" he said. Toga said nothing, wondering what he was getting at. Satoru barked lightly and the door opened admitting a small kitsune woman.

"This is Daishi, she is, among other things a seer" he told them. All eyes fell to the fragile looking female that stood so proudly before them. She inclined her head to them as Satoru lifted his hand to her. She slid her slender hand into his as he helped her kneel beside him.

An unspoken conversation seemed to pass between them and finally she turned to the newcomers. "I have seen that you recently fought a great spirit of evilness" she told them calmly, "I also see that you have no victory".

Ryu spoke up then, "Wrong, the whole place fell to pieces, no one could survive that". Light green eyes settled on him in questioning amusement. She toyed with the edge of a silken sleeve, "Saw you a body? Smelled you his dying blood?" she asked softly, poignantly.

Shippo answered her, his voice deep and soft, "No. But I am inclined to agree with Ryu, if not for the help of Victor to find the exit I fear we might have fallen to the same fate". She turned her attention to the handsome kitsune and he felt the air grow almost too heavy to breathe. It was always so, when he beheld her.

"You are intelligent Shippo", she chided softly, "Surely, in all your childhood travels you saw, experienced such amazing things that this can be considered a possibility?". Her words struck a chord, yes, he knew only too well that those who desired to live could do unbelievable things.

Daishi gifted him with a small, indulgent smile before she turned to face Toga and the human male that sat a few feet from him. "Your enemy lives, he gathers strength and he is coming for vengeance against the human".

Victor's eyes went wide at the news. Alastair had survived? How was that possible? Unless, he'd performed some alchemy that would have freed him from the rubble of guarded him from it until his blasphemous minions could dig him out. There were a great number of things he might have done.

Victor's heart clenched at the thought of his return. He had betrayed the man he loved, but that love had long since died and his lover had betrayed the principles of God and man and nature. He did not regret his decision to end Alastair's dark plans, no, if what this demoness said was true, his only regret was not seeing him dead.

Toga stared at the lovely kitsune female, perched so closely to his cousin. "When?" he asked. She shrugged delicately, "That I cannot say, but his plan is in action even as we speak. He is fueled by the dark dreams of a new world and the betrayal of love".

Satoru did not miss the way the human male flinched slightly at his words. Perhaps he was frightened of the power the other was capable of? A mystery, yet to be revealed. Satoru nodded, "I think that it is safe to say that he will follow you into Japan, Toga". The others silently agreed.

Toga growled, "It matters little. If we meet in Japan then so be it, I will not postpone my actions to wait upon my enemies". His eyes cut to the corner and touched upon Aislin's quiet form. "There are matters more pressing". Satoru smiled inwardly but remained silent, stoic, so unlike his father.

"In the meantime, I hope your stay here is pleasant" he announced. He rose, extending a hand down to Daishi and helping her rise. He could almost hear her muttering under her breath about the long billowing robes she was required to wear as part of the academy cadre.

Together they walked from the study and down the stone corridor. They were already discussing academy business. Toga looked at his companions. So the fight was not over, that was fine. He'd rip the damnable human apart this time. As if reading his thoughts, Ryu spoke up, "Get in line. I got some personal business with him". Silvana glanced his way but said nothing.

Long hours later found Satoru seated behind his desk penning yet more missives. He felt it only proper to inform his family of the possible danger to reach them. He would prefer to meet this opponent here in the confines of the school but no, he could not endanger his students and staff. Not again.

A light scent like Jasmin and almonds floated to his nose and he inhaled deeply, knowing the origin of that sweetness. "And she appears, like moonlight through my window" he said aloud as Daishi stepped into his inner sanctum.

Her green eyes, usually so veiled were open for him and him alone. "Satoru" she said softly, "The hour grows late, dawn is speeding towards us". He grunted and went back to his work. Daishi sighed, Satoru was her dearest friend and his behavior over the last ten years had caused her much worry.

She moved around his desk to perch lightly on the corner. His quill stopped scratching. Daishi leaned forward to look at him, "You must stop this" she whispered. He refused to look at her, knowing only too well what she spoke of. His writing began again until she covered his hand with her much smaller one, "Night and day you work, you hardly sleep, you barely eat. Work and work and more work. You hide yourself in it, you run from life using it as a shield".

He growled softly in warning, not wanting to have this discussion. She lifted her hand to his smooth cheek, cupping it gently. Golden eyes locked with green. "Even great demons like yourself can fall without the will to go on" she told him, her eyes imploring him to choose. To live. "Your suffering, your wish for death, cannot….".

His clawed fingers pressed against her lips, to silence her. To hear the words uttered was to make them true and he didn't want that to be so, even if there was no other way it could be. She knew this and pulled from him, "It won't bring him back. Ever".

His golden eyes snapped to the side, away from her, as though to look upon her made his heart ache. And perhaps it did. Daishi sighed and rose to her feet, "For the love of your family and your friends Satoru…. I beg you" she whispered to him, pressing a kiss to his warm cheek before resting her forehead against it, "Do not follow him".

She turned and swept from his study, leaving the inu to sit the mixed gold and solver lights of lamps and moon. His head full of doubts, his heart full of pain. She was right and was the only one brave enough to tell him what he had to hear. He'd have killed anyone else. He briefly considered going and at the very least shaking that Kitsune bitch.

However, he loved her. She was so very like his sisters and so he took her words in the spirit they were spoken in. He set his quill down and turned his head to look out the window. Ten years. Ten years ago was nothing in the lifespan of a demon…. Unless it hurt. And it did. A decade of pain and longing.

The events of that fateful day were fresh in his mind and over the years he'd kept the pain fresh and vibrant as well. He made himself grieve, made himself function in a world that no longer held his interest. A world without the one thing that had made him feel complete. It was only right, fitting that he suffer for the rest of his life.

He rose from his seat and moved to stare down at the moonlit courtyard. He could almost see the blood lingering on the stones, though it was gone. Clawed fingertips traced the panes of glass lightly. Why did the pain seem to lessen while he clung to it? Sounds of shouts and screams echoed through his mind, the scent of smoke and flame and the metallic bite of blood. The clash of steel on steel and the splintering of doors. "Lord Satoru! Lord Satoru!". Golden eyes shut tightly, blocking away the image of frightened blue eyes, the urgent tone of the voice. The horror that followed.

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Toga stood at the tall window and stared over the rugged hills and trees. The air was sweet here, carrying the scent of Satoru's vast herb gardens and orchards. He sensed the sadness of this place, had heard, distantly of some tragedy that had occurred here. He knew well enough to leave it alone. Satoru went on and so did this place. It was enough.

He felt Aislin move behind him, her soft arms coming around him from behind. He covered her hands with his own. Golden eyes fixed on the courtyard. Satoru stepped into view and made his way to the neat lines of students. Like soldiers they stood, silent and stiff in the torchlight.

"Look" he murmured to his human companion, "He teaches them". Aislin stepped to his side and stared downward. The tall, handsome demon was calling commands to his pupils. She watched as bursts of blue light flared around them. Around Satoru.

"What is that?" she asked softly. Toga stroked her shoulder, "Holy power. The powers to purify evil, to destroy demons" he replied, "Monks and priestesses train under Satoru himself". She blinked down at the sight, "But he is a demon" she pointed out. Toga pressed a kiss to her temple, "Yes he is. The result of love between a demon and priestess. He holds both powers which makes him very dangerous"

She looked at the man who exuded gentleness, "He is kind" she said. Toga nodded, "He is very kind. He has his mother's loving spirit and his father's strength. Humans fear him because being a demon, his spiritual powers should have purified him to non-existence. They did not, in fact he was able to harness them. Demons fear him, because he could, if he so desired, kill them with a touch"

Aislin watched his interaction with the young people below him. One girl seemed to struggle and he stepped up beside her with a smile. Whatever he said was driven away with the distance but the students laughed lightly.

Satoru placed his hands over the girls and together they tried the exercise. In a few moments, blue light flared brightly around her. Satoru stepped back from her, leaving her bathed in her own blossoming power. She smiled up at her teacher and he clapped his hands at her success.

"He cannot be purified?" she asked Toga. Toga considered her question, "When they are fully trained. If they all banded together they might stand a chance" he said quietly. Aislin knew, looking down at the scene before her, that such a thing would never happen.

She let out a small yawn which she hid behind her hand. Toga nuzzled against her, "Come on woman, time for sleep" he told her, tugging her from the window. It would be dawn soon and between meeting with Satoru and eating and bathing they'd had retired far later than was usual.

She nodded and followed him. When they were settled in the silk covered bed and he tugged her close she nestled against him, "Will Satoru be angry that you told the maid that we would be sharing a room?" she asked. He kissed the top of her head, "No. He isn't like that" he assured her.