Chronicles of the West

Hey everyone. First off, I really missed you all so much! I guess since I have had no takers on the drawing the kids I get to do that too. J I will be getting them up on deviant art soon. I'll post when I do. Enjoy the updates!

Chapter Seventy Seven

Satoru would not come out. He had demanded that everyone leave him be in the library. His rage and hurt a tangible force. So they had. Victor was left alone to worry about this new turn of events. Reny. The previous love of the stoic demon. The one he'd killed. Somehow returned to the living plane in a body not his own.

His eyes narrowed, damn that Alastair. This was his doing. His dark dementia pushing him further and further into the dark maelstrom of the unknown. Victor felt pity for him, one could only delve so deeply before they were lost. His fate could not be good. Once again, the man interfered with his life.

He was uncertain now, of his standing in Satoru's eyes. He knew that Satoru was not a fickle man and his attentions not likely to leave him so abruptly. However, circumstances were far from normal at this point. What was to come? It was not the loss of his lover that worried him so much as the damage to the heart that beat within the honorable chest of that man.

Victor stared at the tall doors and sighed, he could not force his way in this time. Victor could well understand how he felt at the moment. After all, he had a former love return from the supposed edge of death to wreak havoc on his life. It wasn't an enviable position.

He sighed, knowing that Satoru needed time. Like he had needed. Time to think, time to prepare, time to choose. "I'll be here should you need me" he said quietly. Then he turned and slowly walked away.

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Satoru felt him, through the door. Victor, his lover, his human lover. He knew that Victor didn't understand what was happening within the confines of a demonic mind. He couldn't possibly. But he could feel, feel the perceived rejection, the uncertainty of his lover.

He wanted to fling the door wide and comfort him, tell him that everything would be fine. But he wasn't sure that it would and he'd not make promises he could not keep. Reny was alive. Or at least his soul, and he was angry. No longer the gentle spirit that Satoru had loved so deeply.

He had to find the nature of this occurrence. He knew that Alastair was behind it at some level. He needed to know the means by which it had been done. That creature, that beautiful winged creature had carried the scent of holy ki, like Reny. However, under it all was the dark aura that snapped wildly.

He had to discover if Reny could be freed or if he had to be destroyed. He had attacked the west. Was he being controlled as the other creations were? He had seemed calm, collected, as if he enjoyed it. Had he? Had he been resurrected to take revenge on the house of the Taisho?

So many questions, they made the demon's head pound and his heart ache. What if Reny had found his own way back and had chosen to be as he was? He wouldn't, would he? What about Victor? What would happen if he had to choose? Could a choice be made? He growled, disgusted with himself. Reny was dead, Victor was alive. Reny's soul had returned from a place it should not have. He'd either live in peace or he'd have to go back.

So he sat, pouring over books and parchments, not allowing anyone to help him. His mind and heart in turmoil. He had loved Reny. No, he loved Reny. His golden eyes closed with a small pained sound. He'd killed Reny once. Could he do it again? Knowing what he was doing this time?

The scent of Daishi filtered through the doors to his nose. Of course she would come to him now. "Satoru?" she called softly through the door. He remained silent, hoping she'd leave him. "Satoru, you open this door!". No such luck.

Daishi blinked at the door, hearing the menacing growl that erupted from beyond it. Green eyes narrowed, "Stop that this minute" she barked angrily, "You have us all terribly worried. It's been two days and you haven't come out, haven't eaten. Haven't spoken". Her voice grew softer, more sad. "I worry for you".

Satoru eyed the door, growling roughly, "Leave me Daishi" he commanded. It made him feel guilty to hear that note in her voice. His fault, entirely. So he'd spoken. There, she'd heard his voice, proof he lived and wanted to be left alone. For good effect he let his holy ki seep along the floor and into the door. Daishi leapt back feeling the power come closer.

She glared at the door, her heart full of worry. Purification pulsed in the doors. She dared not touch them. Straightening she turned and left him alone. Behind the door, he sighed. He'd hurt her, was hurting them all. He just couldn't bear to face them. For they would ask the very questions that he was unable to answer.

With a determined motion, he flipped a page and went on reading. He could search for years and not make any headway. He knew that. After another hour he gave up. "Might as well do it the easy way". Lifting his hand in the air, he let his mind form the question and his youki commanded the related materials come to him. Frightened blue eyes flashed in his mind, shifting to be replaced by gold.

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Sesshoumaru stared at the made creature laying still beneath his chilled golden gaze. Amari, felt his whole body grow cold under those eyes. Sesshoumaru, the fame lord of the west. The ruling Taisho. As a child his father had spoken in awed reverence of the demon. A more powerful creature was not to be found.

"You have awakened" he said simply. Amari barely breathed, wondering how many more breaths he'd be allowed to take. Sesshoumaru sensed the inner turmoil of the creature. "Who are you?" he asked. Amari's eyes grew sad, "I am no one my lord" he replied softly.

Sesshoumaru took in the condition of the once kitsune. "Yes, I suppose that is true" he said stoically, "Who were you then?". The silver fox gave a weak smile, "I was Amari, the son of Matsuko" he said then, "our village was attacked and many taken, the rest killed".

Sesshoumaru listened quietly as the young demon spoke. He was perhaps a few years older than Tohru. Little more than a child, and yet, he'd been twisted to this. "The human made you" he said stiffly. At this looked away, "I was the result of three attempts" he admitted.

Sesshoumaru hid his surprise. Three attempts? He'd survived three transmutations? "Tell me" he commanded. Amari did as he was told, "I was fused with a bat youkai and another, I am not sure what, he was little more than bloodied scraps when he was brought in".

Amari felt better speaking of the horrors he'd endured. "The second effort, allowed for regenerative properties to be fused with this form. Although massive injuries take longer, and there is no guarantee that they will seal. Hair from your line was given to me then".

Sesshoumaru pondered that. "And then?" he asked. Amari felt fear shoot down his spine, "Then I was sent to harvest materials my lord" he whispered. Golden eyes narrowed on him at this. "Harvest". One word, it fell from his lips like a sparkling chip of ice.

Amari nodded as much as he was able, "I fought members of your house. With the blood and tissue, the new creature was to be made". Sesshoumaru growled softly, "What is it you are not telling me?". The silver creature blinked up at him, "My lord, your blood is the key" he whispered.

Sesshoumaru blinked and Amari rushed to continue, "Your bloodline is perfection. It attacks imperfections and destroys them. With your cells, your make up, he was able to create the perfect being. The blood of the Taisho's acts as a refining process. Allowing the being to be perfected at the smallest level".

The Taiyoukai sat silently for a long while, his mind racing through the information that he'd been given. Amari took his silence as a bad sign, yes he would die today. Perhaps that was for the best, he was an unnatural creature as it was. What kind of life could he hope to have in this twisted form of half beings?

Sesshoumaru stood and strode to the door. "My lord?" came the soft voice. He didn't turn but paused, "Speak". Amari swallowed, "I know that you are bound to carry out justice and I accept the punishment of death". Sesshoumaru arched a brow, unseen by the winged kitsune. "Truly?" he asked, his voice deadpan.

Amari waited in tense silence. Sesshoumaru glanced over his shoulder, "So long as you are no danger to me and mine I will seek justice for you. Death will not come to you until that time you betray me". Amari blinked. Was…was he being spared?

Sesshoumaru turned from him again, "You will however remain sealed as you are until I know the full extent of your capabilities". He stepped through the door and left the young demon alone with his thoughts. He had better things to do. He had Ryu to calm and Satoru to speak to. Neither was exactly a pleasing thought at the moment.

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Ryu paced his quarters irritably. He wanted to rush out and find her. There was no scent and that made him all the more worried. Damn it, he should have mated her. Ayeka watched her son pace, his movements making her restless in turn.

"Ryu" she reasoned, "They are searching out any clues". He growled softly, "It's my fault" he muttered, "If we were mates I would feel her". Ayeka rose and crossed the floor to her hanyou son, "Ryu". He stopped his movements and stared down at his dam.

"There have been times when your father was unable to find me" she pointed out, "The mark is not infallible. We will find her". Ryu felt his mother slide her arms around his waist and sighed, dropping his chin to rest atop her head. "I am a fool mother" he said sadly.

Ayeka looked up at her son, and smiled gently, "That is the curse of the Taisho bloodline. To love long and love well, and go about it in a backwards fashion". Her light words did little to cheer her child. Ryu did not want to sit and plan, he wanted to take action and his beast was enraged that his female had been taken.

He growled a little louder at the thought of it. Ayeka sighed, "Do I have to call your father? Are you losing control?" she asked. Ryu blinked and shook his head, "No. I'm fine". He sure as hell didn't want to take another hit from Tokijin. His father might have complete control of the bloodthirsty blade but when that weapon was unable to deal death, it dealt pain…. In vast amounts.

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Toga stood in the hall, he wanted to rip the library doors apart and shake Satoru until answers came from him. However, the heavy dose of holy energy crackling around the doors made certain that Satoru would not be disturbed for some time.

Aislin stepped forward towards the doors, she was human and therefore couldn't be purified. It made sense to her. Toga growled at his large hand fell on her shoulder halting her a hair's breadth from the snapping energy.

She turned questioning eyes to him, and he shook his head. "No Aislin. It won't kill you, but it can still harm you to some extent,. It is a barrier and it will not allow anyone through it" he told her. She sighed, "But poor Victor" she whispered. Toga growled again, "He'll have to wait, like us. There is nothing else that can be done at this time".