InuYasha Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction ❯ Shattered Minds, Shattered Hearts ❯ Alliances ( Chapter 12 )

I arrived in time to see Inuyasha trampled by a tornado. When it stop and the dust cleared, I saw a Chaosian, dressed in brown pelts, with his long black hair up in a high ponytail. He was holding Kagome's hands, and it looked like she was feeling a bit awkward, and I realized that this demon was standing on Inuyasha. The hanyou-turned-footstool didn't look pleased.

 

“Get off of me, you mangy wolf! And get away from Kagome!”

 

“How have you been, my Kago—“ He cut himself off and started sniffing, then turned towards me, and the rest of my family. I noticed someone had trumped in Julian. “So, you are Dworkin's offspring. I was wondering when you would come looking for these,” he said, motioning towards the jewel shards in his legs and arm.

 

“How do you know of our grandsire?” Gerard asked, guardedly.

 

“My pack supported him when he revolted against Chaos. Unfortunately, since we are not of his blood, we could not follow unless he allowed us, and he was `preoccupied' shortly after. We were immediately cast out, and exiled to this shadow.”

 

Something was gnawing at my brain. This demon looked familiar, and I knew at some point I had known him. When he glanced over at me for the first time, his features betrayed a momentary amount of surprise, but it was quickly hidden. He knew me too. If what he said was true, then it was highly possible I had run into him when I was unaware of my heritage.

 

“Are you still loyal to him?” Fiona broke the uneasy silence that had consumed us.

 

He bowed. “Yes, milady. I and my pack are still loyal to him.”

 

“What do you mean by `preoccupied'?” Julian asked.

 

“As soon as he had created the Pattern, Swayvill used it as a distraction to King Uther so he could overthrow him.”

 

This was news to me. I glanced at my siblings. Gerard showed surprise unhidden, Fiona looked cool as always, and Julian betrayed nothing either. Benedict hid surprise, but it was displayed plainly for a moment. Miroku didn't know enough about Chaos' history to understand.

 

Benedict spoke, and while his voice was soft, it demanded attention. “Why is Brand back? Last time, he was attempting to destroy Amber; are those his intentions again?”

 

“Brand? Who is—“ the demon looked confused.

 

“Yes.” Miroku cut in. “He intends to feed the Heart of the Unicorn to the Serpent of Chaos. Kouga, Brand is Naraku.”

 

Kouga snarled. “What relation does that thing have to you?” His voice was laced with venom.

 

“He was our brother.” Fiona answered. So she too no longer acknowledged him as a sibling.

 

“What do you mean, `was'?” Kouga shot back.

 

“He has forsaken Amber and sided with Chaos. He is but its tool now, and—“ Fiona started.

 

“And he was adopted by the Logrus. He is no longer our sibling or allie. He is our enemy.” I finished.

 

“We must go to the cave of Moridiko. Time is of the essence; and we have business there. If you are loyal to Amber, I suggest you come with us. We can talk about the past on the way, but we must hurry.” Miroku interjected before any more was said.

 

“Why the hurry?” Julian asked in his almost impeded way of speaking.

 

“Moridiko is the Unicorn. We must free her—she will know what to do. But I will need your help, Fiona.” He answered.

 

Just then, two panting demons broke into the clearing.

 

“Ginta, Hakaku, we must accompany them to Moridiko.” Kouga commanded. His voice left no room for argument.

 

“Like hell you are!” Inuyasha cut in.

 

“He is going.” Both Benedict and Fiona stated, simply.

 

“Oh no he isn't! I don't want him anywhere near Kagome!” Inuyasha retorted.

 

I chuckled at his antics.

 

“And what are you laughing at?” he snarled at me.

 

“Your about to get your ass handed to you on a platter.”

 

“By these two weakling? Yeah, right.”

 

Kouga raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

 

“You wish to challenge me?” Benedict asked.

 

“Keh, I'll take you on anytime!” He added to Fiona, “You too, after I finish with this bastard.”

 

Benedict drew one of his swords, from his waist, and left the more obvious two handed sword on his back in place. He was holding a katana; it was a nice, silver affair with kanji inscribed near the hilt: a warrior's sword is imbued with his soul.

 

Inuyasha drew Tetsusaiga, and it transformed to the fang; he held it in an offensive pose towards Benedict. He really didn't know what he was getting himself into.

 

Inuyasha attacked, a simple charge with no real finesse. Benedict, moving with such speed it tricked the eye, blocked, then parried and reposed, but in such a way that it knocked Tetsusaiga from Inuyasha's hands and put him off balance. Benedict used the blunt side to knock him down, and then pressed the tip to his throat. I saw Kagome tense, and Kouga try to hide a smile.

 

“Get up, and grab your sword.” Benedict commanded, and resheathed his own. He turned and walked towards Moridiko's cave, leaving a very bewildered and embarrassed Inuyasha on the ground.

 

--+++--

 

We made camp that night in a clearing adjacent to a stream. After the duel, the rest of the trip had been uneventful and silent.

 

Inuyasha had said something about hunting and had left. I wondered if it was to hunt or to nurse his wounded pride. Kagome started a fire, and had put a pot of water on to boil. I excused myself to go and bathe in the water upriver a bit, as to ensure a bit of privacy.

 

I was just rebuckling my sword belt when Kouga stepped out from the woods.

 

I still hadn't recalled where I had known Kouga from before. It bothered me—a feeling of something that was just beyond my recollection, and fairly important.

 

“Where do I know you from?” I asked.

 

“I see they did what they wanted to, with that electroshock therapy.”

 

Back before I had been in the car accident that had landed me in Greenwood Private Hospital, I had been admitted to Porter Sanitarium, forced in by Brand, who was acting as some doctor. He had used it to hide the memories of my life that were beginning to return to me, after 600 years.

 

“How do you know about that?”

 

“I had been with you the three days before; a man named Ganelon had come to me, and asked me to help you remember who you were.” He chuckled. “I didn't know at the time, but he was Dworkin's son, your father. He masked not only his looks but also his scent with that disguise. Quite the character.”

 

I nodded.

 

“It wasn't until he showed up almost a decade later and entrusted me with this sword,” indicating the weapon at his waist with the red hilt, “under instructions to carry it with me always, but never draw it, and to give it to you should I ever see again, that he revealed who he was.”

 

“Why did you help him the first time, when you didn't know who he was?”

 

“Because he told me who you were. That you were to take the throne of Amber, and that I could get off this Kami-forsaken shadow.”

 

“Do you still wish to leave?”

 

“Hell yes!”

 

“Do you swear to serve Amber with your life?” I wasn't taking any chances bringing a traitor into our homeland.

 

He nodded, then took the sword, sheath and all, and laid it at my feet. “I and my kinsmen will serve Amber, and her liege, with our lives. I only ask that you bring us out of this exile.” He swore, still kneeling before me, offering the sword.

 

I took the sword, a sign of acceptance. Great power radiated from it, similar to Tetsusaiga and Grayswandir. I drew it, and held the blunt edge to my forehead. All swords of Substance had names, and I asked this one what it was called. Kaerukoun. It pulsed in my hand, proving that yes, its name is Kaerukoun—`alter luck'—and that I was to wield it. I resheathed Kaerukoun and placed it in my sword belt, next to Grayswandir.

 

At that, I turned and headed back towards camp; Kouga followed.

 

“Why is it that you and Inuyasha don't get along?”

 

“Mutt-face doesn't like me because he's afraid I'll steal Kagome.” He chuckled. “I just do it to get him all riled up. Everyone else can see it clear as day—but those two don't realize their in love.”

 

I wondered why anyone would take a mate for life. Sure, Random seemed happy with Vialle, but she will die eventually; she doesn't have royal blood, so while she may live longer than most creatures of Shadow because of her proximity to Substance, eventually she will die, and Random will be a bachelor once again. Besides, if our family is any indication of how faithful we would be to our life mates, I doubt any of us would be happy. “Do you intend to take a mate for life?”

 

“Yes—Ayame. She's another Chaosian, and a wolf-Chaosian at that. She will help me rebuild the pack.”

 

“What's with the different animal types of Chaosians, anyways?” I still didn't quite understand that.

 

“Well, we're shapeshifters, and while we can assume any shape we want, we have a select few we prefer. Mutt-face is half-dog Chaosian. He can't shapeshift yet because he has to walk to Logrus first. His brother, Sesshoumaru, walked it long ago, and his preferred shapes are his human-form, his dog form—though it isn't very efficient without his left arm—and his energy ball form. Dara is a goat Chaosian.”

 

I sneered at her name. “How do you know Dara?”

 

“Her husband, Sawall, is my father. I'm not sure if they're still married, though.”

 

“Why would you want a mate for life, if it isn't in keeping with `tradition'?”

 

“Because I discovered something, from reading ancient scrolls when I was still a pup; there is a way to extend your mate's life, to match your own. I want the person I have pups with to be someone I want to spend the rest of my life with. No offence, but I don't dig the whole dysfunctional family thing.”

 

I felt the tingling that accompanied trump contact, and held up my hand to silence Kouga. It was Flora, but there was a sense of urgency with her. “Flora, what's wrong?”

 

“It's Random—he's missing, and we can't reach him with trumps, and there was another of those things that followed him when he came to my house on Shadow Earth—you know the guys with the grey skin and sharp teeth and—“

 

“How long has he been gone?” I asked, cutting her off.

 

“Two hours. We searched the whole castle—we can't find him. And Martin's been wounded!”

 

Shit. “How bad is it?”

 

“He'll be fine, I think, but we need to find Random, NOW!” She was screaming at me.

 

“Why? What's so important, woman, you're shouting my ear off?” I was loosing patience with her.

 

“Because Amber's under attack!”