Chronicles of the West

Chapter Thirty Six

Kurama sought her out, as he'd promised but his efforts accomplished little. Daishi insisted, quite firmly that this be done. "He cares for you. He only wants your happiness. You are safe within his walls, you will always have a home here" he'd argued.

Daishi had nodded, "I know. But I cannot depend on him forever. It isn't right" she replied softly, setting another silken garment in her travel trunk. "It's time that I face things on my own. I've hidden long enough, too long". Kurama sighed, her mind was made up and there was no way to change it.

"This could be something more sinister than it appears" he pointed out. Pale green eyes locked with champagne gold, "You're a fool if you think I haven't considered that. However this may be the one chance I have to set things right. To show them that I'm not….." She broke off with a shake of her head and chuckled, "The past is the past".

Kurama brushed her auburn bangs from her face, "Your leaving hurts him, you have been friend and family to him and his only comfort in his darkest hour" he told her, studying her reaction carefully. Her lips trembled, "I know. But to stay is to invite trouble to his house. I do not want that. I would do anything to keep him and his beautiful dream safe". Kurama kissed her brow, "Damn stubborn children" he muttered and he pulled from her, striding to the door, "Just remember when something goes wrong, I have no control over him".

The young vixen was left to stare at the closed door. Her heart heavy, her mind whirling with what-if's. Her decision was made, her path was set. She owed Satoru so much and the first thing was to show him and the world that she was strong as he'd taught her. Made her.

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Toga watched as Kurama slipped from the quiet study. He made his way to the door and opened it without knocking. Satoru didn't bother to look up from his work, "Ah Toga, how nice of you to grace me with your presence" he said dryly.

Toga sank into the seat opposite of his cousin, "Did I catch your little rendezvous?" he asked lightly. Satoru met his eyes with a patient gaze, "Use your nose, there was no rendezvous here" he replied before returning to his charts, "There has never been anything of the kind between the Youko and myself".

Toga grunted, "Ha. With the debauchery of his escapades… I doubt it". Satoru glared at him, "Kurama has been our friend since childhood. Do not forget that we have each sought his counsel for different reasons. Leave mine to me" he snapped.

Toga did enjoy baiting his cousin, "Fine. Fine. I came to ask after the kitsune. Daishi.". Satoru's gaze became guarded but he continued his work, "What of her?" he asked. The protective note was not lost on the northern Taiyoukai. Toga traced his claws along the carved arm of his chair. "Perhaps it would be wise if she traveled with us to Japan. It will ensure her safety and we can see how her family is" he said.

Satoru blinked. Yes, that was a fine idea. "I would want you to see her settled of course" he said. "Of course" Toga agreed lightly. Satoru smirked at him, "You are quite clever Toga. Quite". Toga gave him a lopsided grin, displaying one deadly fang, "There is something else you should know". His tone serious now.

The scholar looked up, "And what is that?" he asked. Toga leaned forward, "How many offers for marriage have come for her?" he asked. Satoru answered quickly, easily, "One. And it was not so much an offer but a demand. Her family wishes to ally with the stronger clan of coyotes. There has, from what I can tell, been a great deal of negotiation. There will be no bride price as she is" here Satoru sniffed delicately, "damaged. Therefore she will be denied most of the festivities. The ritual will be completed and she will be bedded".

Less a bride than an indentured servant to her husband and family. Satoru growled at the thought. "Why do you ask?" he pressed. Toga grinned and slid a parchment across the desk, "She's received one more. This one is quite prestigious" he said simply and rose to leave the room.

Satoru eyed the papers, the ribbon that held it all closed. "Who?" he breathed. Toga arched a brow over his shoulder. "Open it and see. As her lord and master, it is for you to know" then he was gone. Leaving Satoru to blink at the scroll on his desk.

Memory swam back to him, he'd recently returned to Japan to visit his family. He'd been studying on the continent for decades and so apt a pupil was he that the old tiger demoness who'd run the small school had left it to him. She had long since lost the desire to teach.

He'd envisioned a great academy known far and wide where those who wished to learn, could. Regardless of blood. He'd shared this thought with his family and of course they'd been delighted and supportive. He'd been returning to the port to return and cut through the forests.

A cry so painful and plaintive had reached his keen ears and prompted him to rush to it's source. He would never forget the first time he'd seen her. Small, terribly small, broken and bleeding among the ferns and grasses. Her chest barely moving with her breath.

The scent of blood and tears and the musky scent of male lust hovered in the area. Sweeping out with his senses, he'd located her attackers in short time. He had confronted a group of seven demons, grotesque half humanoid things. Badgers and boars. Odd group.

"What have you done?" he had demanded. His sensibilities raging. The badgers had looked at him, unconcerned. "What is it to you?" they'd wanted to know. Satoru had growled, his fangs bared. "She was innocent, her scent is not even that of a matured female" he snapped. The badgers didn't seem to care, "And she shouldn't have been wandering alone, especially when so many able bodied males are in musk" they pointed out.

Satoru had drawn his sword and focused his holy powers into it. He wanted them to suffer a painful death and so they had. Blue light of purification sliced through the air, sizzling against them to burn and maim. His eyes had been a bright demonic red, even as his spiritual power had arched around him.

And in a sudden burst of wind, they were gone. No more than dust settling in the silent forest. Satoru had sheathed his blade and made his way back to the girl. She'd not moved, and the pool of blood around her had grown. Life was fleeing from this one.

He'd knelt beside her small form, gentle fingers seeking the thrum of life beneath the flesh of her throat. Faint. So very faint. She was kitsune. Easing off his haori, he'd wrapped her in it and cradled her against his chest. The scent of kitsune was stronger to the east.

However, his ship was closer and he could care for her there. Time was crucial and he made the decision. He took the girl with him. Long hours later, he'd bathed the blood and tears and seed from her tiny form. He'd bandaged her and eased the child preventing herbs down her throat in small trickles at a time. He had no idea how old she was and he wasn't about to take any chances.

He'd kept watch over her through the night. Using his saliva to seal the wounds as best he could. By dawn, she burned with fever. He was convinced that she would die, yet he could not bring himself to give up.

By the time they'd reached the shores of his adopted homeland, her fever had passed. Leaving a broken shell of a girl. She'd said nothing, not uttered a word, and she hid from him. Satoru took it all in stride, his gentle nature lending him patience.

She'd cowered in a corner behind his trunks. Her knees drawn up to her chest, watching him with wide green eyes. Fear radiated from her and he forced himself to sit some distance away and pick up a tome. "In the world of science" he read, "astounding discoveries have been made concerning the natural power of water". His voice was soft and calm. For hours he'd read to her, as though she was not there, but he knew she listened to every word.

Exhaustion soon won out over the half wild fox and she curled into a tiny ball to sleep. Satoru took off his haori and covered her with it. In time she'd come to associate his scent with safety and warmth. He made sure to have food hidden in her corner so that she would eat. But she showed no interest in that. She cried often, in that darkened space and the inu lord remained silent and watchful. He wasn't entirely certain how to deal with such matters. Through it all she clutched his haori. He replaced it as often as he could.

Days passed and she grew weaker. He'd purposefully remained aboard his ship with her, waiting for her to regain her strength. Her outlook at present was not good. Her arms and legs were painfully thin and her cheeks sunken, her eyes flat. He had dispatched a messenger back towards the area he'd found her, he suspected her name was Daishi. She often rocked herself in tears whimpering, "Daishi is bad, Daishi is dirty".

He'd been angered to hear such things from her. This was what she'd been raised to think. She was not a person of low moral character, she was a child, nothing more. His messenger returned with a written response from her parents. After hearing the details of her attack, they were appalled by her continued life. Her family honor demanded that having been sullied, she offer her life to restore it.

Satoru had growled angrily as he read it. His parents, his house would never react this way. This was an outrage. His father would have demanded blood, but then he'd already seen to that. He'd sent a clipped message back stating that as her defender, he now regarded her as his property to serve him until he felt her debt paid. He'd signed it with his full and true title. A prince of the powerful house of the west.

He knelt in the center of his cabin, ignoring the smell that came from the child. He'd tried again and again to get her to bathe, but she wouldn't. Perhaps couldn't. With a sigh, he looked in the opposite direction of her. "You are dying" he told her, "You will not eat, and you will not bathe. You hardly move from that corner. Death is coming little one, are you sure it's his hand you wish to take?"

She remained silent, though he could faintly catch the scent of sadness coming from her. He rose gracefully. A hoarse hint of a whisper grated over his ears, "I am impure. I am….. Dishonored" she said. The first words she'd spoken to him. Had she perhaps overheard his rants at the idiocy of her blood relatives?

He grunted, "That is nonsense. You were attacked, it is no fault of yours. Now, you can stay here and take death's hand or you can take mine". He held his hand at the ready, half expecting her to reject him and if that were so, he'd leave her.

The child watched him with wide uncertain eyes, hopelessness clung to her like the limp hair on her head. Slowly, ever so slowly she moved, and the inu prince felt a tug at his heart. Perhaps she had the will to live after all. She reached for him, but her arms were so heavy and her body was weak.

Satoru caught her small hand as it fell. She blinked up at him in wonder. The tall, silver demon smiled gently down at her, "Today we being a new life" he told her, "You are under my protection". So weak was she that she couldn't leave the cabin under her own power.

Satoru called for a tub of steaming water to be brought in and sent a servant to fetch her fresh clothing from the port merchants. Looking at her bedraggled appearance, he added one more command, "Something bright and fine. For the lady she has become". The servants bowed and sped away.

He stared at the child, "You must bathe" he told her. Once more, her lack of strength manifested itself. With a blank face, he carried her to the hip tub, "May I help you? Or would you prefer I call a maid?" he asked softly. Her little hand gripped his haori.

So, the stoic and powerful demon lord, stripped his filthy little fox and set her gently in the tub. He washed gently as he spoke to her. Her body shivered and the scent of fear rose, but he chased dark thoughts away from her. Replacing them with the brighter thoughts of a new future.

After two baths, Satoru proclaimed her clean again. She was quite a lovely child now that the bruising and swelling was gone, and her flesh was clean. He wrapped her in a thick, soft blanket and set her on his lap as he began to brush her hair. "Why?" she asked him softly, "Why do you help me… I am nothing".

Satoru tilted her little face toward his and locked eyes with her, "Not to me" he told her, "You are very important Daishi. You are my companion. I am building a fine school, would you like to learn?". She nodded and laid her head against his chest, her bath having worn her out.

Servants brought savory broth for her later that night and she clung to him as she sipped it. He dressed her, and tied her hair up. Reading to her as she fell asleep, not in her corner, but in his bed. The large inu curled protectively around her and thus the bond was made.

When she was stronger, they left the ship. She was painfully shy and remained close to him, not that he minded. She clung to his long sleeve, until he took the silk from her grip and gave her his hand instead. As they walked, he taught her numbers and letters and when they camped, he began to teach her to read.

When they reached a nearby inn, she remained in his rooms. She devoted herself to her studies, finding joy in them, and in pleasing the man who had saved her. Satoru was kind and patient wit her. She knew her parents wanted nothing of her, to them she was dead. So she built this new life, with the strange prince of the far famed west.

Months later, Satoru had purchased the land he wished to build the school on. He hired men and work began at once. Not above working hard himself, he tied his silver hair up and began moving the great stone blocks. Imagine his surprise when he looked beside him and saw her there, working hard alongside of him.

Satoru smiled at the memory. Such a bright and brave little thing she'd been. Three winters later, she'd reached her maturity. Satoru had wished then that he could bring her attackers to life once more just to smite them again. She never saw him as a fatherly figure, or a brother figure. The dynamics of the relationship between them was a mystery to most. To this day it remained so.

He had accepted her, given her hope and made her live. She loved him. She had laughed at him when she'd first caught him kissing another male. He'd been horrified that she knew, she'd kissed his cheek and told him she was happy for him. Her acceptance made him feel at peace.

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Shippo looked over at Daishi. She was humming softly in the herb garden. "Why would you go?" he asked her. She sighed, tired of having to explain to everyone. "Because no one else has offered and my family wants this… badly" she replied in a terse tone. Shippo grunted, "They want power" he told her. She nodded. No argument there.

"Will you travel with us?" he asked, and she blinked up at him, "What?". Shippo crossed his arms over his chest, leaning against the stone wall, "We are going that way and thought it would be safer for you" he explained. She seemed to consider it, "I… I suppose so. If that's acceptable".

Shippo grinned at her, "Of course it is, Toga has already spoke to Satoru about it" he told her. She gave a small silent, O. "I will miss your brother" she told him. Shippo nodded, "Yeah, he's a good guy". Daishi gathered the herbs to keep her clothing fresh in the trunks.

Shippo followed behind her, chatting happily. Her long robes caught on an exposed rock and she pitched forward. Shippo moved like lightening, catching her and her basket of herbs. She looked up at him and blushed, "I'm sorry, I can be so clumsy" she muttered. He gave her a small reassuring squeeze and set her basket back in her arms, "You could never be clumsy" he told her.

She blushed deeper still, to the roots of her hair. He chuckled at her reaction and she scowled at him. Tapping a clawed fingertip to her nose, he grinned, "You are quite lovely when your temper is up. I'll keep that in mind" he told her.

Then he turned and walked away. Her curiosity piqued she chased after him, "In mind for what?" she asked. He didn't turn to face her as he kept walking, "For when you are my mate". She dropped her basket, "What the hell are you talking about Shippo?" she demanded.

He paused to look at her, green herbs and flower buds scattered at her feet. "There has been another offer for your hand" he said calmly. She knelt and began stuffing her plants back in the basket, "That is just absurd. You?" she huffed.

Shippo eyed her carefully, letting nothing show. "And why not?" he argued, "Your betrothed is only a minor lord". She blinked at him. Shippo glared at her, "You would take that over a prince of the west?" he demanded. She frowned, "You mean a thief" she shot back. He growled softly, "And a prince, even so. My house is the most powerful in Japan. And you know me".

She stared at this stranger that looked so much like her friend. "What has gotten into you?" she asked softly, "You don't have to do this. Not for me". He grunted and helped her to stand, "I'm not doing it for you" he told her gruffly, "I'm doing it for purely selfish reasons".

She laughed lightly, he had to be teasing her. "You don't love me" she pointed out. Shippo smirked, "Neither does he". She opened her mouth to say something, but Shippo wouldn't hear it. "We'll go and you'll see him and you'll thank your blessed stars that you have the option" he told her. Her cheeks flared with hot color, and her nostrils flared with indignation, "Why you self assured, son of a……". Shippo cut off her words with his lips.

She stiffened and the slight scent of fear appeared. Shippo kept his kiss light, a press of lips and nothing more. He drew back and walked off, leaving a blushing woman in the halls and a basket at her feet once more. She didn't bother to pick it up this time, she turned and walked in the opposite direction with a bemused expression on her face.

"Very smooth Shippo" Ippiku muttered from the corner. Shippo grabbed the imp and chucked him over the garden wall, ignoring the muttered curses that followed. He'd have her. That was a certainty. He supposed she thought it was a whim or perhaps some selfless plan to save her and that might be partly true.

Shippo had always admired her great beauty, her quick wit and he'd never offered for her before, because he'd never thought she'd leave Satoru. Ever. He knew her story and he wasn't trusting her family to have suddenly taken a change of heart.

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Silvana walked the halls, listening to the soft whispering sounds of students practicing incantations and formulas. The aura of this place reflected that of it's lord. Calm and still. Several students were outside, sparring. Demons, and humans and hanyou, laughing and calling encouragement to each other.

"He's built a utopia" came a soft voice and she turned to greet Victor. She smiled at the human, "And now you are a part of it" she told him. He blushed, "I suppose I am. I have never felt so at ease" he replied, "Thank you Silvana". She shook her head, "Do not thank me. You saved my life and I spared yours. Satoru is the one who offered you a new beginning".

Ryu's scent swirled around her then, "He does that a lot. It's why he is so well loved and hated" he announced. They turned to greet him. He stared out across the compound, "If only the whole world could be this way".

His voice was wistful and Silvana brushed her hand against his. "I found something in the library that might interest you Silvana" Victor said, breaking the heavy silence. She turned her blue eyes to him, "What might that be?" she asked.

Victor smiled gently, "A book that deals with elemental powers and entities" he told her, "I didn’t reach much of it. I do have it with me, perhaps you'd like to look it over?". He offered said book to her and she grasped it gently. "Thank you Victor, that is very thoughtful". Victor knew that while she might not find much of interest in those pages, that Ryu would. Perhaps it would help them toward the happiness they sought.

He smiled shyly at the ruggedly handsome hanyou and turned to leave them alone. He was intercepted by Hidi. "Sir, I have the items you requested, please come and look them over in case there are any mistakes" she said. He nodded, but knew that there would be none.

Satoru's staff was like a well oiled machine, everything ran smoothly and reached perfection. Much like the lord, Victor entertained. Blushing over his thoughts, he cleared his throat and focused on what the housekeeper was telling him.