Chronicles of the West

Chapter Sixty Four

Toga walked toward Aislin as she sat in the garden, she was alone expect for his mother. That damn horse was nowhere in sight. For once. Ayeka looked up at her son and smiled, "Hello Toga" she said. Aislin looked up at him, it hurt to even see him.

"Good morning lord Toga" she said politely. He disliked hearing that cool formal tone from her lips. He missed the soft whispered words, the kisses, the warmth of her company. He stared at her, but she was already looking at his father's exquisite blossoms.

"Aislin" he said, she turned to him. There was so much he wanted to tell her, try and set her mind at rest, but the look in her eyes gave him pause. He read the hurt there, the doubt and confusion. His father was right. He'd have to show her, prove to her. "I am surprised to see you" she said in a low voice. His brow lifted, "Why is that?" he asked. She turned from him to stroke her fingertips over a velvety bloom. "I have seen you so rarely that I assumed your attentions were required elsewhere" she said.

Toga's jaw ticked. His mother had wandered to the far edge of the koi pond, allowing them some measure of privacy. "I have been patrolling" he said, "I would like to spend my time here with you, but there is a threat advancing on us" he said plainly.

She nodded, "Have you learned anything new?" she asked. He shook his head, "You? Since you closet yourself away in the library you must know something". She shook her head at him, "I know what you do" she insisted, "However last night Satoru seemed more tense".

Toga grunted, "There was a surge of energy" he explained, "Father and Satoru have spent half the morning trying to locate it's source. At one point it neared the border. They are concerned of course". Aislin plucked a sprig of blossoms from the bush before her.

"Taisha and Kurama are patrolling" she said aloud, wanting to fill the tense silence that stretched between them. She wanted to ask, wanted to demand that he tell her what was going on. Sesshoumaru had warned against that however. 'The quickest way to capture a youkai is to walk away' he'd said.

Easier said than done she thought ruefully. Just being so near him and not being able to touch him made her ache. She missed his arms around her in the night, the soft deep rhythm of his breathing, his very presence banishing her fears.

She knew he spent long hours patrolling, they all did. And long hours cooped up in the war room where Sesshoumaru and the other lords planned their strategy against the enemy. She felt useless, she had no powers to speak of, all she could do what read and search, and try to help.

Toga sighed, he had to receive the reports from Taisha and Kurama soon. They would be returning. Once again his time with Aislin was stolen away from him. "I have important matters to attend to" he said, his voice stiff, his eyes pleading.

"I know" she whispered, and held out the sprig to him. Toga took the blooms from her small hand, his fingers lingering against hers. "I will come again" he told her. She nodded, "I am sure I will find something to pass the time until then" she said. Toga held her fingers captive, "I dislike that horse" he muttered.

Lavender eyes went wide, "Daisuke?" she asked. He growled, "How many others are there?". His jealousy made her heart leap but at the same time she was angry. Pulling her fingers from his grasp, she glared up at him, "I could ask the same" she said in a low voice. Toga straightened, "Just one" he told her, "And I will make her see the truth of that".

She watched him walk away, her heart aching her thoughts scattered. Ayeka had seen the display between them and she understood only too well how Aislin was feeling. She moved to stand beside her, "It is always like that" she said, "I think it might be genetic".

Aislin turned her eyes to red haired woman, "I don't envy you that" she said with a shy smile. Sesshoumaru appeared on the walk above them, peering over the railing he called to his wife, "Ayeka. Come". Ayeka chuckled, "I know… poor me" she said dryly. Aislin looked up at her stoic ward. His face betrayed nothing. She was picking up on his habits. It helped when surrounded by youkai, not to show your every thought or emotion. Sesshoumaru was pleased that she'd taken to the practice.

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Taisha sighed, "This patrol was pointless" she muttered. Kurama looked over his shoulder at her, "Not really" he teased, "You got to spend time with me". She rolled her eyes, "You have too high an opinion of yourself" she snapped.

Kurama took no offense and chuckled, "You think so too" he told her. Green eyes flared dangerously, "Is that so?" she asked softly, icily. Kurama nodded, "I can tell". She flexed her claws, "How?" she asked. The fox winked at her as he kept walking, "Your kiss".

Taisha growled, "That was….well, nothing" she told him. He paused then, "I think not" he growled at her. Taisha felt his irritation rise and inwardly smiled. "I suppose" she said airly, "That females fall upon themselves for your company Kurama. At least that is what father says".

A silver ear twitched. "I am not most females however" she pointed out. Kurama glared at her, "And what else does your father tell you?" he snapped in indignation. She smirked, "That dogs are far better than foxes". Kurama grunted.

His silence was thunderous. Taisha looked over at him, "Kurama?" she asked. He stared straight ahead, "I was only teasing. But you do have too high an opinion". Pale golden eyes moved over her slowly from the top of her head to the tips of her boots. "Seems that I am not the only one" he said.

Her cheeks heated. Was he implying that she was conceited? "You are so difficult" she whispered and moved to brush ahead of him. He caught her in a vice like grip and pinned her to the closest tree. Green eyes went wide as they locked with his. "And you" he muttered his lips brushing against hers, "Are fucking impossible".

He snarled suddenly and flung her away from him, only her swift reflexes kept her from falling. She threw a hot glare at him but he wasn't looking at her. No, he was looking at the misshapen creatures that were rising from the soil around them.

His silver tail thrashed in anger. His eyes following the disjointed movements of the things. They looked like skinned creatures put together with a child's gross impatience. He sniffed the air and his eyes narrowed, and they were venomous.

"Taisha keep clear" he barked but the inu princess had already drawn her sword and was leaping at them. Her blade a shimmering arc of light as she hacked them to bits. Kurama's rose whip lashed out again and again, taking them down in sharp cracking hits.

When the forest floor was littered with the broken beasts, they ceased. Kurama looked over at Taisha. "You look like hell" he told her, her fine silks covered with gore and goo. She sniffed daintily, then wrinkled her nose at the smell. "I have to bathe" she muttered.

There were numerous small scratches on her arms and hands, as well as his. "I think that would be wise" he replied, "Considering that they are venomous. Call it precaution". She flicked her blade and turned to the east, "Call it done".

With a large boulder blocking his view, Kurama kept watch was she bathed the filth from her. Her clothing was ripped and stained and she'd just have to live with that until they got back from patrol. A few minutes later she emerged from the water with a light slosh of water and Kurama called on every ounce of willpower not to turn and look at her.

The soft rustling of silks drew his attention, and then her voice. "Your turn Kurama". He nodded and she took up the watch, keeping her back to him as he shed his own clothing. He felt too hot. A bath in the cool water would help.

Minutes later Kurama was sad to find that the cool water did not help. He began to search his flesh for a deeper wound. His eyes narrowed on the deeper gash just above his elbow. He stood to retrieve his clothing, feeling a wave of dizziness overcome him. He reached into his hair to grasp a healing seed, but the world tilted and he went down.

Taisha heard the loud splash and smiled, "We don't have time to play Kurama" she told him, "Hurry and get out of there". There was no answer. "Kurama? Did you hear me?" she called. Again no answer. Taisha began to worry, "Kurama?" her voice filled with concern.

She turned to see him face down in the shallow water. "Kurama!". She rushed into the water, and rolled him over, using her strength to pull him ashore. She blushed furiously over his nudity but damn it something was wrong.

He was pale, more than usual. "Kurama…can you hear me?" she asked, tapping his cheek. His thick lashes fluttered, and his eyes slitted. "Seed" he whispered. Her eyes flew from his face to his soaked hair. With gentle claws she pulled forth a half visible seed. "This one?" she asked. He tried to focus on it, it looked right.

"Yes" came the choked reply. His breath was becoming labored and Taisha impaled the seed with her claw, and placed it in his mouth. The toxin appeared to be causing his airway to swell. Breathing was a burden of pain for him.

Taisha's hand smoothed over his throat, causing the muscles to work reflexively. "Come on Kurama" she whispered, her voice held a sharp edge to it. Kurama could feel the seed fighting the toxin. Breath came easier now, the dizziness clearing from him.

Long minutes later, his head was still cradled on her lap. She'd tossed his shirt over his lap for the sake of decency. He felt her claws stroke through his hair in a soothing manner. It was quite nice to say the least. "Kurama?" she asked.

He opened his eyes to see the swell of her breasts and moist green eyes hovering above him, reaching up, he caught a droplet of moisture from her long lashes. "Tears Taisha?" he asked softly, she'd been crying for him. He was touched. Hell. He might just have to feign weakness to stay where he was for a while longer. A slight smirk played on his features.

She saw it and growled, "I just didn't want to have to carry you back" she snapped at him. He chuckled and captured one hand as she tried to draw it away from him. He turned his face toward her palm and placed a kiss on the soft flesh. "I would never wish to inconvenience you" he assured her.