Chronicles of the West

Chapter Fifty
Ayeka and Kagome spent the day with the women. Ayeka was left to explain her mate's dictates to them. She'd expected shock, worry, no small amount of embarrassment and of course anger. She got them all. They'd heard her out and agreed that Sesshoumaru-sama was correct and of course they'd not argue with him in his own house. If ever.

Daishi seemed very quiet and pensive through the morning and finally Kagome called her aside to speak to her. The kitsune was most apologetic for having dragged the famed miko's child into her personal problems. Kagome laughed at her.

"You have no idea do you?" she asked. Green eyes locked with gray-blue in question. "Know what?". Kagome patted her hand, "My Shippo has wanted you for a very long time" she said. Daishi nearly fell off her chair, what?

Kagome smoothed non-existent wrinkles from her kimono. "Oh yes" she went on, "He wrote many times and in several letters he mentioned that he was very fond of his brother's beautiful ward. That she was clever and kind and if it weren't for her unwavering loyalty to Satoru. Well, he might have stolen her away". Daishi blushed, her mouth opened but her voice would not come. "So you see. He thought that you would not ever wish to leave Satoru and would only ever want to remain as you were. When he heard about your nuptials he acted rashly, I will admit… but Daishi, my heart knows my son. He would not have done this to merely save you" Kagome concluded.

Daishi's tail swished in thought, "Thank you Lady Kagome for your kind words and I shall think on them. Sadly, I must tell you Shippo doesn't love me. He's never said he has" she pointed out. Kagome watched the confused female rise and leave her. With a small smile on her face she looked out the window and out over the sparring yard, "He hasn't said he doesn't either" she whispered.

Aislin took the news the hardest. She understood that Toga was no longer her guardian and she began to fear the worst. She didn't want to be presented to youkai court to choose an acceptable mate. She wanted him, buy held her tongue.

Ayeka told her, that Toga would of course be among that number but it made little difference to the younger woman. She felt abandoned and more so when she was told that Toga would be leaving for the north in a short time. He'd go to his own fortress and leave her here alone. No one bothered to explain to her that Sesshoumaru had commanded him to do so.

Toga needed to see to his own region, and he needed to stay the hell away from his former ward before something happened. Sesshoumaru had not missed his son's eyes tracking her movements through the gardens after breakfast. "Damn it Toga" he'd snapped during the morning meditations., "Concentrate".

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Ryu sparred against Inuyasha for the better part of the morning, his uncle was a vicious fighter, Where as his father fought with grace and fluidity, Inuyasha was not above pummeling his opponent with his bare hands for the fun of it. It was a trait that Ryu shared.

Ryu had managed to land a solid blow to his uncle's jaw and Inuyasha laughed at it. "You got some power kid" he said and Ryu grunted. "Good blood" he replied stiffly. Inuyasha called a halt to the practice and clapped his hand to Ryu's shoulder, "And all his arrogance too" he said good naturedly, "You are your father's son".

Ryu grumbled and Inuyasha popped his jaw, "You are more than that however" he went on, "You and Toga have to understand that you don't live in his shadow, or mine. You live in your own. When you gonna stop looking down at it? There's a whole word before your eyes that you are missing. Gotta look up some time".

Ryu blinked at him, his ear twitching. "When did you get wise?" he cracked. Inuyasha sighed, "When I realized that for myself. And that was because of your Aunt". Inuyasha's eyes moved past him to the balconies and Ryu turned to look over his shoulder.

Framed by the glow of the sun stood Silvana. Her hair lifting around her, her eyes fixed on the yard. "World looks pretty good doesn't it?" the once hanyou asked. The young hanyou nodded, slowly understanding Inuyasha's words. Inuyasha watched the realization spread over his features and chuckled, "Damn" he teased, "She's about as pretty as your dad". Ryu frowned at him before laughing. "Yeah, and she almost growls as much".

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Taisha sifted through the many messages that cluttered her desktop. Haru entered a moment later with a cup of tea. She said her thank you's in a dull voice and went back to work. "What are you worried about?" Haru asked her.

Green eyes lifted to the bear, "Toga will be arriving any day" she said. Haru raised a brow, "But you wanted that". Taisha nodded, "Gods yes I do". Haru cocked her head, "Then what is the problem?". Taisha tossed a scroll at her and the bear caught it, unfurling it to take in it's contents.

"Marriage?" she blurted out. Taisha nodded, "Yes, father received one too. I have better things to do than play hostess to some spoiled wolf who thinks she will be my brother's wife". Haru eyed her friend closely, "She might be" she pointed out. Taisha grunted, a most unladylike sound. "No Haru. She won't. No one backs him into a corner" she said quietly, "There will be problems, I can tell you that".

Haru set the scroll down, "Perhaps he loves her" she offered. Taisha shook her head, "No. If that were so, he'd have brought her with him and her brother wouldn't be demanding a marriage". Haru nodded, that was true.

"I suppose we shall see" she said at last and Taisha pinched the bridge of her nose, "I suppose we shall" she said tiredly, "I just want to go home". Haru patted her shoulder, "Soon enough". Taisha sighed and gave an inward chuckle, "Just what manner of adventures have you been having, brother mine?". She was rather envious of that freedom.

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Satoru felt the tingling at the edges of his awareness. Something was coming, and fast. Uncurling his body from his sphere, he touched down softly in the grassy field. An open area. His enemy must be certain of themselves to attack without cover.

Victor raised his head as the air crackled around them. His eyes locking with Satoru's. "You will remain here" Satoru told him. His tone clipped and brooked no argument. Victor was about to protest but a shimmering barrier of blue rose up around him. Purification powers swirling around him. No demon could approach him now.

Satoru stood, impassive and unmoving in the clear. The growing wind whipping his silver hair over his shoulders to dance behind him. His opponent was like dark air, swirling, solid one moment, vapor the next. Satoru sniffed lightly.

"You are a made creature" he said, "Half shadow and something else. Something that smells far too vile for me to consider further. Come then, meet your death". The thing hissed before him. Victor stared through the barrier. These were Alastair's creations without questions.

Satoru seemed unaffected and simply bored with this strange creation. "You reek of alchemy and darkness. Are you going to attack or continue to waste my time?". The thing seemed to be observing him, taking his measure and Satoru's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.

His every movement was no doubt being seen by the master of this monstrous abomination. A shadowy tentacle crept toward the sphere holding Victor. Satoru's elegant brow arched, "That will not help you" he said, more to the master than the creation.

A slight shifting of the beast's aura confirmed his suspicion. This was the eyes and ears of the master. Satoru decided to test it one last time, "You are done. He is mine". The tentacles slapped at him with great force but his purification burned and blistered the appendages before it would lose it's solidity.

"You are cleverly made" he went on, his tone light, conversational, "But you are no match for me". Drawing his blade he let his holy ki flit along the tapered blade of steel. Using demon speed, he drew close to it, his claws rending it deeply as his blade sought it's hidden heart.

Victor watched his lover slay the creature. It hadn't been difficult for him. Satoru was an astounding being. Satoru stood in the chaos like a pillar of light, untouched, unfazed. Immovable. In that moment, Victor knew with perfect clarity that this is what Alastair sought. To be as he was.

He stumbled forward as the barrier holding him fell. The scent of death hung heavy over them and Satoru turned calm golden eyes to him. Victor's eyes lowered fractionally. "Do not" Satoru said softly, "Do not look at it".

He placed himself between Victor and the fallen beast. "That is Alastair's work" he said, "He's gotten better. Damn him anyway". Satoru lifted Victor's chin, "I am aware of it's creator" he told the human. Victor blinked in question, "How? How did you know?"

Satoru pulled Victor against him once more, "Scent. There are few alchemists in this corner of the world. Fewer who can obtain such results. You were with me, so that only leaves the logical threat of the other human" he replied.

Victor wrapped his arms around Satoru's waist as they became less solid, and curled into the sphere once again. Victor turned his face into the powerful chest of his lover as the world sped by in swirling upside down flashes.