Chronicles of the West

Chapter Nine

Aislin found that she enjoyed her time in the halls of the fox, though Toga had been absent frequently. Ippiku assured her it was a matter of little consequence. The girl, however wasn't so sure. After their last encounter, she felt uneasy about his distance from her. Of course she couldn't tell the ice sprite that.

Of course Toga was never far from his ward, he just didn't let her know. Silvana watched him watch her. Aislin sat in the enclosed gardens, basking in the light. Toga stood in the high branches of a sturdy tree. His golden gaze never wavering from her. His youki snapping out to secure the surrounding area.

Silvana sighed, her many scouts would be returning soon enough and she hoped they'd have the answers she sought. She'd uncovered the rumors of a powerful and ancient beast. It was reported to live deep in the bowels of a great mountain and hadn't been seen for ages.

Her interest with the creature was something else entirely. The beast was rumored to be able to grant the wish of it's master. Of course to master it, was to kill it, and that was believed to be nigh impossible. She wasn't even certain that the creature existed. Still, if it did, she might very well have the key to Toga's true happiness.

The breeze lifted the silvery strands of his hair, setting them to dance in shining streaks of light. His arms folded over his chest. Looking every inch the stoic demon lord. His beauty was truly without rival and Silvana wondered just how the human would react if she every saw him.

She let her youki flare slightly, gaining the lord's attention. His eyes met hers, narrowed in though and then with a final glance at Aislin and the fox soldiers coming to fetch her, he leapt into the air and across the treetops to land on Silvana's balcony.

She met his gaze, reading the hunger in them. She stepped back, into the comfort of her chambers. Toga smirked as he sat in the large chair near the bed. "Come" he murmured. Silvana draped herself elegantly across his lap, her eyes never leaving his. "I think I have found the solution" she whispered to him. His lips traced over her jaw, "Hn". She clasped his face in her pale hands, "Toga listen to me" she commanded. He blinked and nodded. Silvana told him what she believed and he sat in silence.

She smiled at him, "What would you wish for?" she asked. He said nothing but she knew. He would wish to remove the handicap of his ward. Making her whole and worthy. She kissed his chin, "When do we leave?" she asked. He frowned at her, "We?"

She nodded, "Of course. I would not send you alone into the unknown" she told him. He chuckled, his hand grasping her hip. "Why would you do this?" he asked. She hugged him to her, "Because happiness is for everyone Toga. Even you".


"Dammit Kurama!" Ryu barked in irritation at the silver fox. The hanyou looked at his feet and glared at the many vines caressing his ankles. They'd tripped him up several times in the last few minutes and he was sure his traveling companion had set them on him on purpose.

"Stop whining Ryu" the fox replied smoothly, a hint of a smirk appearing on his ageless features. Shippo chuckled, "Next time maybe you should find out who the female is BEFORE you bed her" he offered. Ryu shot him a cold glare. "Well, if she was Kurama's plaything then she wouldn’t have come to me now would she?" he grumbled.

Kurama laughed out loud, "So young Ryu. I have no issues with your most recent bed partner. I just like to listen to you growl. You sound like your father" he teased. They'd been traveling for long years and took great delight in goading one another. They had picked up the best of his thieving habits and most of his fighting tactics. Ryu, however had also taken up his wanton ways.

Ayeka was going to kick his ass for it. Shippo was also quite popular with the ladies but he generally didn't indulge them as Ryu or even himself did. Kurama had been quite shocked to find the hanyou and the red fox both seeking his company. Years had rolled by faster than he realized.

By all accounts they were incredibly wealthy and incredibly beautiful. Dangerous combinations when you stole something and needed to blend into the crowd. However of late, they had taken several commissions. As Kurama had once told them, it's not as much fun to steal for someone else, but the payment is nice.

They were heading over the steppes at present. Kurama was cryptic as to where they were headed. He only said that they would arrive soon. So they wandered through the plains until they reached forests again. Shippo paused, he sensed something coming. Something powerful.

Kurama agreed and they leapt into the high branches to see what they would find. Scents carefully masked, they waited. Ryu was peering through the trees when a sudden flash of power spiked close to him. He leapt back and got a glimpse of white before he was tossed to the ground. He was up and snarling as the form swept close to him again. With sharp reflexes he snagged the body and rolled with it. A fist connected with his jaw and he closed his eyes on a growl.

He rolled and tussled with his attacker, seeing nothing more than a bounty of white. Suddenly a voice rang out over the woodland, setting everything silent. "Ryu? Ryu what the hell are you doing?". Ryu stiffened, just as the body beneath his did. He peered over his shoulder and met the eyes of his older brother.

"Toga, what are you doing here?" he asked. Toga shook his head, then gestured to the one pinned beneath Ryu. "I heard you had a way with the females Ryu. I must admit I never thought this was it". His tone held no small amount of amusement.

Ryu blinked in confusion and then his nose twitched. He smelled a woman. A woman that smelled of his brother. He blinked and turned his golden gaze upon the body weighed down by his. His eyes swept over the white curls, the bluer than blue eyes. His breath caught in his throat. She was beautiful!

"Way to go Ryu" Kurama's voice floated over him, "Just tackle our newest patron". Ryu had yet to release her. Silvana looked up at him, his face. It was Toga's face, without demon markings and soft white ears topped his head. She sucked in a small breath, "You are a hanyou" she breathed.

Golden eyes narrowed at her words, "That bother you?" he asked, his voice a rough whisper. She surprised him then and smiled, "Well you have the same temper" she told him. Before Ryu could react to her strange words, a strong pair of hands pulled him from her.

Toga yanked his brother off Silvana and stood between them. His hand stretched behind him to assist her to her feet. "Silvana?" he asked. She brushed herself off, "Fine. He's not as heavy as you are" she replied. Ryu looked from his full demon brother to the lovely vixen behind him.

"I ask again Ryu, why are you here?" Toga repeated. Ryu brushed himself off, damn but that woman could hit. It was Kurama who answered, "Silvana hired us". Toga blinked. Well that was news. Turning to the female his brow arched in silent question. Silvana nodded, "What?" she asked in turn, "They are the best at finding things"

Toga relaxed his stance, "You are fortunate Ryu that I recognized your scents. I might have killed you" he pointed out. Ryu grunted, "Ha! Easier said than done". Toga held his smile, then turned his gaze to the brush. Ryu wondered what he was after when he caught the scent of the girl.

He watched somewhat surprised when his feared eldest sibling reached into to bushes and gently lifted a girl to her feet. She clasped his hand as he led her back to where they stood. Ryu's eyes went wide. This must be the fabled ward. This was his brother's kept mortal girl?

He was about to speak when Kurama nudged him gently. He turned to face his mentor and the fox motioned to his eyes. Ryu looked back at the girl and noticed what he meant. Toga's ward lacked sight. He then noticed Toga's slight unease. Stepping forward slowly, he took her hand from Toga. His brother's eyes narrowed in warning but he paid no heed.

He let her explore the differences in their hands. "Hello. I am Ryu" he said softly, "I am Toga's brother". Aislin smiled softly and lifted her hands toward his face. He shot a look at Toga but the eldest merely nodded and so Ryu held very still as she traced the contours of his face. Her hands sliding over the long silver braid that hung over one shoulder and upwards.

Her brow furrowed slightly when she didn't find his elvish ears. Ryu seemed to understand and slowly guided her hands higher. She gasped at the feeling of the velvety triangles. Ryu would have pulled away but she gently grasped the furred appendages and lightly stroked them. "You are not the same" she whispered to him.

Ryu found no shock, no judgment in her voice. He took her hands from his person and pressed her lightly back to Toga. "No I am only half human" he told her. She mulled it over in her mind. "Then you are half human". He grunted and she smiled, "I am Aislin. It's nice to meet you, but you aren't alone"

Kurama introduced himself and then Shippo stepped forward. His green eyes studied her carefully. She knew they were demons and yet she didn't tense. Even if Toga did protect her, most humans feared those they didn't know. Kurama and Shippo, like Silvana were more in tune with the emotional. It was simply that way with Kitsune demons.
"Well are you going to stand there all night or come to the fortress?" Toga asked at length. Silvana and he were already prepared to return. Toga had settled Aislin on the oni horse and slid up behind her. Silvana was fast enough on her own as were the others.

Ryu found his gaze drawn to the vixen time and time again. She was not marked, yet was obviously scented by Toga. A fact that he was rather surprised to find he didn't care for. His brother, while protective of her, did not display an overt sense of possessiveness toward her. He did with the human however. Of course that might be because of her weakness. This was a strange puzzle indeed and one he looked forward to solving.

Kurama inwardly chuckled at Ryu's attentions. Clearly the dog was attracted to the odd kitsune woman. Hell, who wouldn't be? He had also caught the scent of Sesshoumaru's son on her. He grinned slightly knowing that had to chafe Ryu's pride. Of course Ryu didn't know Silvana like he did, and he knew exactly what capacity the two indulged in. Having scent said female himself.

"Get over it" he said lightly to the dog as he passed him. Ryu glared at him, disliking the fact that his companions could so easily read him. Kurama bounded alongside the vixen and she caught his golden eyes with a smile, "What are you after?" he asked her. She laughed, a delicious sound that shot straight to his loins.

"To help the one who made me free" she answered. Kurama blinked in question. "You smell of him" he pointed out, knowing that the others were still far enough behind not to hear. She eyed him, "Does that bother you Youko?". The fox shook his head. "No, I think it rubs Ryu the wrong way though". Her gaze wavered back to the young hanyou and then straight ahead.

They arrived within her halls minutes later and she called for more rooms to be made ready for her guests. They would be staying for while. Ippiku knew who Ryu was at once, and bowed low to him. "I am Ippiku prince of the west" he said politely.

Ryu's ears flickered at the title, "Ryu" he said shortly, "Just Ryu". Silvana sighed, clearly they both sought to truly be their own men. Aislin's usual escort arrived to take her to the gardens and Ippiku decided to go with her. One she was gone, the demons looked at one another.

Kurama spoke first, "Well, now that we are all here. Let's get everything out in the open". An hour later the objective of their upcoming quest was clear. They were to track down all leads regarding this strange creature and then Toga was going to kill it. While the nature of his desire to do so escaped Ryu and Shippo, the two older foxes were putting the pieces together.

Toga rose and strode to the sparring circle a few minutes later. Ryu hot on his heels. Toga eyed him with some amusement. "What's this?" he asked, "You wish to spar with me?". Ryu nodded and unsheathed his sword, "That's why you came here isn't it?" Ryu asked him in turn, "At least I know you'll get a workout".

Toga nodded and sprang, his brother was fast, nearly as fast as a full blood. "You aren't too bad for a common thief" he announced, swinging his blade in a deadly arc. Ryu backflipped into the air to land ina graceful crouch. "Nothing common here" he replied.

For the next hour they fought, trading banter and insults. Obviously they were quite fond of one another. Silvana stood on the balcony watching them with a small smile on her face. "Amusing?" came the soft voice of Kurama near her ear. She felt his arms slide around her waist and closed her eyes.

"You've been away for a very long time" she told him. He pressed a kiss to her shoulder, "I have. My apologies. You appear to have done well.". She nodded and her hand moved to caress his velvety ear. He rumbled and leaned into her touch.

"The dog has been with you recently" he said, inhaling her scent lightly. She looked back over the balcony, "Only this morning. His heat is beginning to wane now" she replied. Kurama looked at her profile, strong and yet delicate. Utterly lovely. "It's the girl isn't it?" he asked.

Silvana let a small smile play over features, "He denies his very heart Kurama. He was here with me, but his soul… it wished to be elsewhere" she admitted. Kurama rubbed her upper arms, his hands gliding up to sweep the pale curls from her throat. Her breath catching at his deliberate movements. He nipped a small kiss there before stepping back.

She looked at him as he withdrew. "I have missed your company" she whispered. He smiled a soft smile, "I've missed yours but you are soothing Toga now and I cannot ask it of you. Besides, I think my companion would not be pleased with me" he told her. She nodded.

Kurama was the only other besides Toga that could make her feel anything at all. Like Toga was he was far more gentle than he allowed the world to believe. "So you will take this task?" she asked as he reached the door. He didn't turn but nodded.

Her eyes swept back to the training yard, seeing that the two had finally called a halt to the exertions. They were heading inside now. Dinner would be served within the hour and she had things to visit Aislin about. Turning from the balcony she made her way to the gardens and found the human girl easily.

"Aislin" she called softly and the girl turned towards her voice. The kitsune sank to the soft grass beside her. "Aislin, there is a journey we must take" she said softly, "That Toga must make". The girl seemed saddened, "You wish me to remain behind" she whispered.

Silvana sighed, "Yes, it would be safer for you to remain here. Toga will want you to come of course and that is fine with me. I want you to know that you have options. That's all". Aislin nodded, "I understand and I will consider them carefully. What is the purpose of this journey?". Silvana lifted her head to the sky, "Freedom Aislin" she replied simply.