Chronicles of the West

Chapter Sixty

Sesshoumaru eyed the battered company that was streaming into his courtyard. Adus stood some distance away speaking to his men, when his head snapped around. "Elda!" he called out. Madu paused, the female on his back turning her head slightly to meet her sibling's gaze.

Adus bristled at Madu, "What have you done to her?" he demanded. Before Sesshoumaru could speak, Madu barked at the other, "Watch your mouth puppy", he shifted the woman against him, "This your brother?" he wanted to know.

Elda nodded and Madu snorted, "You are the epitome of male courage aren't you?" he mocked, "In this land we don't leave our people behind". Sesshoumaru eyed the exchange, "Enough" he said quietly, though he may as well have thundered it. All present fell silent. "Get them inside and get them tended to. There will be time enough for bickering. Madu, come, Kagura will see to your arm and then you can tell me what you know".

Madu allowed Satoshi to take Elda then, the inu soldier was tall and powerfully built but held her gently like a newborn. "Rest easy lady" he soothed, he shot a glare at Adus, "You can see your brother…after your taken care of". His words cold and hard.

Kagome was standing by, ready to bandage and heal those who needed it. So this was Toga's supposed bride to be. Interesting. Toga and Taisha entered the courtyard then, as she was carried away. Adus's eyes fell on the dog. "You!" he barked, "You are the cause of all of this".

Toga lifted one brow in question, his arm anchoring his sister to him. "And you are?" he asked. Given the steady patrol schedules, he'd spent only a small amount of time within the walls, and those were usually in the library.

"I am Adus, and you cur will marry my sister" he snapped back. Toga grunted, "And why would I?" he asked softly. The wolf was getting more angry as the moments ticked by. "Because you stole her innocence" he grated out. Toga growled softly and then smirked, "I regret to inform you that your journey has been wasted… as there was no innocence to steal… I am not willing to oblige you".

Adus tensed to lunge at Toga, but Silvana stepped into the sunlight, "Not wise" she said softly. Adus' eyes grew wide for a moment, "Silvana?" he whispered. She glared at him. Ryu stepped before her. Angry eyes moved from Silvana to Toga and back again. "You stole her from me" he growled. Toga blinked in confusion.

"Wrong bastard" Ryu replied, "She was never yours". Adus eyed the half demon with contempt, "And what would a half breed know of it?". Ryu's golden eyes narrowed dangerously, "Quite a bit actually" he said quietly, "Since she will be mated to me, the reason for your demands are becoming clear now".

The wolf's eyes bled red, and his growls filled the air. Inuyasha had seen enough, "Shut the hell up already. You lose, we win, deal with it" he commanded. His youki washing over the assemblage and forcing the wolf to back down.

With the wolf properly subdued, Inuyasha grunted. "We have things to do" he barked, "We don't have time to consider petty differences right now". The others agreed and followed the proud demon into the palace.

Kagura finished wrapping Madu's arm. "Another vaporous thing" Sesshoumaru mused, "There has been a new development". Madu listened intently as the dog lord spoke. Things were looking worse now. "So your bloodline allows him greater success" the wolf whispered, "This is terrible".

Sesshoumaru grunted, "It is only a matter of time. He will grow over confident and he will err. We must be ready to move when that happens. Satoru and Victor are working to solve this riddle. From what they have uncovered, it appears that he is trying to create a perfect being"

Madu felt his skin crawl, "At the expense of others" he whispered. Sesshoumaru nodded, "Indeed. We can conclude that he has hair, blood, and now flesh. Courtesy of Taisha". Aqua eyes snapped up to stare, "He struck her?". Sesshoumaru looked out the tall window, "The lords will arrive soon. I have three females to present at court. Two marriages to approve and a foe to track and slaughter".

Madu nodded, "I will help all I can" he said at once, just as the inu had known he would. "I have written your father and asked for his presence as well. As allies it is only fitting" came the smooth cool voice.

It was nearly impossible to seal the borders between the domains. Unless Sesshoumaru erected barriers along every inch of the way. That level of power would not sit well with the other lords. They feared Sesshoumaru and for good reason. He was much too powerful. To allow him to erect his barriers would be to invite disaster. What if he decided to take over?

However, there was the matter his honor. That was unquestionable, despite his taking of a human mate. So many things to thing of. The great inu was very aware of the thoughts of the court. How he hated the court, but he needed them, for now.

Another hour passed as Inuyasha came to speak with Madu about the events of the day as well. Satisfied that they had overlooked nothing, Sesshoumaru allowed the weary wolf to retire. "I shall have a meal sent to you" he said. Madu was grateful for this small kindness, having no wish to mingle with the others just yet.

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Taisha paused in the hallway. She should go and see how Madu was doing, that was what a friend would do right? But what if he thought it was more than that? "Taisha" came a soft voice, and she turned to stare into pale golden eyes. "Kurama" she said softly, "You have been very hard to find since your arrival".

The silver fox smiled, "My apologies, I was not aware you were seeking me" he said, "I have been trying to find something that might help with the coming battle". She looked away, "So you think it will be a battle then?" she asked.

His silver ears flickered, "Of course whether it is fought by one or many, this will be a battle to remember". She nodded, that was true she supposed. "There is talk, in the court" she murmured, "That the days of youkai are coming to an end. I wonder if this person, this foe, will be the factor that erases us".

Kurama breathed in her sweet scent and leaned against the wall, "Taisha, the old ways are indeed passing away" he told her, "But this is the nature of the world. Nothing remains untouched. Not even we". She looked up at him again, "I understand that" she said, "I just cannot imagine a world where our kind do not exist".

Kurama pulled himself away from the wall and moved to stand before her. "There will never be such a thing" he assured her, "Our role as rulers will fall away and humans will take up the mantle of power, but we will remain, unseen by most, but here".

She shook her head, "I suppose I should worry more about the immediate future" she said with a small mirthless laugh. Kurama cocked his head, taking in the elegant curve of her cheek, her dusky lips. "What are you doing lingering in the halls?" he asked.

She blushed and her eyes moved to the far door. Kurama couldn't help the small spark of irritation. She was going to the wolf. "I thought I should see how he is feeling" she admitted, "But I am hesitant". Kurama grunted, "Why is that?" he asked. She blushed hotter, "Because the damn fool insists on pursuing me. I worry that he might think it more than friendly concern". The silver kitsune smiled, his youkai calming somewhat. "I could walk with you" he offered. Taisha smiled up at him, "I would like that Kurama".

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A few minutes later Taisha and Kurama left Madu to his rest. The wolf was nearly healed, and rest was the best thing for him. Taisha and Kurama wandered the halls away from the guest corridors and to the family wing where they were housed.

Kurama liked the quiet warmth of her company. He'd half expected her to be brash and bossy, like the previous meeting. Her mind was filled with questions and there were too few answers in sight. It was not a position that anyone liked. Still, she held herself with the stoic grace of her family. A bright and shining star.

"Toga tells me that you have done a fine job with the northern territory in his absence" Kurama said. Taisha shrugged, "It was not difficult". Kurama paused outside her door, "Is anything ever difficult for you?" he asked. Was anything difficult for any of them… well he knew the answer to that.

Taisha felt her throat constrict. How was she supposed to answer that? No, life in general was not difficult for her and her greatest challenge was standing right in front of her. "Only two things" she admitted. Silver brows rose, "And they are?" he pressed.

Taisha laughed, "I want to be free" she told him, "Like you are, to journey across the wide world and see the many things you have". Kurama chuckled, "It's hardly as wondrous as it may seem" he told her. Green eyes glared up at him, "But it's so easy for you to tell me that, for you've known it" she pointed out, with a shake of her head. One pale braid catching at her shoulder.

Kurama gently eased the plait to it's correct place. "And the other?" he asked. Taisha sucked in a sharp breath as his fingertips ghosted over her cheek. Stirring thoughts and emotions into a whirling cacophony around her. "What?" she asked, her line of thought broken. Kurama smiled softly, leaning ever closer. "The other thing that is hard for you" he reminded. Biting back the thought that he could fall into that category at the moment.

She blushed and stepped back from him, his lips far too close for her peace of mind. "That is private Kurama" she said. He lifted a brow, "Fine brat" he teased. The fox watched her as she turned and shoved her door open only to shut it with a sharp click behind her. Kurama lifted his head slightly and caught the scent of her on the air.

Apparently, she was as affected by him as he was by her. Well this could complicate matters, but not unpleasantly. "Good night Taisha" he whispered. From the other side of the door came the muffled wishes for pleasant dreams. Oh he planned on it. Visions of a green eyed goddess rising in his mind.

Oh how Sesshoumaru would rage if he knew the desire that the silver fox held for his lovely daughter. And desire her he did. From the day she'd lost the lankiness of childhood and became the Taisha of the present. The day she'd given him a scathing set down, with that aloof manner of her father. Infuriating and captivating. The one glittering treasure that he long to steal away and covet to himself.

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Behind her door, Taisha's heart thundered in her chest. Her mind sorting through every word, each look. Committing them to memory. Her secret dream. Kurama. The thief who'd stolen her heart so many years ago. The one who sparked the fire of rebellion in her heart. She wanted to be free, and in her mind Kurama was freedom. Bound by none, to none, free as the wind. She wanted to feel that way.

When the fight was over, she'd convince her father of her sincerity. She would leave the west behind, leave Japan behind and discover the world before it changed too drastically. Her fingers moved to the side of her face, mirroring Kurama's touch to her face. The barest of caresses, scalding. There was no spark under her own hand, only the strange tingling linger of his warmth that seemed to sink into her flesh. Closing her eyes, she leaned against her heavy door, "Kurama".