InuYasha Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction ❯ Shattered Minds, Shattered Hearts ❯ Control Issues ( Chapter 13 )

Damn, and damn again! “Who's attacking?” I asked Flora.

 

“You're worried about who is attacking Us at a time like this?”

 

“Whatever. I'll trump you later. Let me talk with the others first.” Then, with a hard mental shove, I broke contact. “Well, this just got a bit more interesting.”

 

Kouga nodded. “What should I do?”

 

“Follow me. I must speak with the others.”

 

I bounded off towards camp, Kouga at my heels, and arrived in the clearing not thirty seconds later. “Everyone, listen up, now. That's an order.” I used a tone that brooked no argument. “Amber is under siege.” I studied each reaction, looking for any hint of treason. Julian and Fiona stared at me impassively, Benedict simply raised a delicate eyebrow, though worry shone in his eyes. Miroku's gripped his staff till his knuckles turned white. The others just looked mildly confused. “Not only that, but Random is missing, and Martin is wounded, though not mortally. Benedict, you, Julian, Gerard, Miroku, Sango and that cat mononoke go to Amber and fight. Benedict, I want you to take the lead.” They all nodded, and Benedict pulled one of his trumps, and in a matter of moments, they were gone, with nothing but a rainbow after-image left.

 

“What about the rest of us?” Kagome asked.

 

“Kouga, sent your two men to retrieve the rest of your tribe. Make sure they know to follow my orders.” Ginta and Hakkaku looked at Kouga, and he nodded and they left. “Fiona, I need you to go to the cave that the Unicorn is in and free her any way you can. Inuyasha and Kagome will join you. Kou—“

 

“Like hell we will!” He crossed he arms in his Haori and looked off towards the east. “You expect me to just take orders for you? Fat chance. You know, I should—“

 

Before he could react, Kouga had slugged him, and sent him flying into a tree. The three foot diameter tree gave a resounding crack, then fell in slow motion. Growling, Kouga stalked up to his fallen form, and spoke in a stone cold voice, “You. Will. Take. Orders. From. Corwin. You will do what he says. He is the Alpha male here. I do not know what all has happened, but I see his pack obeying him, so you will also.”

 

By this time, Inuyasha had stood, and glared at the wolf demon. “And what do you care what happens to this Amber place?”

 

“BECAUSE I WANT IT TO BE MY HOME!”

“Whatever, I still don't want to take orders from some wimpy human.” Even though he said this, the fire in his voice was gone.

 

I watched the scene with interest. Kouga was very dedicated. Interesting, and good to know.

 

“We do not have time for your petty control issues. If you do not wish to come, then by all means, go with Corwin, and Kagome will accompany me alone.” Fiona stated, leaving no inflection in her voice whatsoever. Those that did not know her would think her apathetic. I knew better. She was pissed to high heaven.

 

“Feh.”

 

“I thought so.” She replied.

 

“What about Shippou?” Kagome asked me.

 

“He will come with me.”

 

“Are you sure he will be alright?”

 

“Yes, now go.”

 

I heard her sigh. I knew she wasn't happy leaving the kit, and that she was a bit miffed at me, but I needed him.

 

Inuyasha couched down for Kagome to climb on, which she did. I saw Fi reach into thin air and pull out a tall green stallion. She mounted, and rode off, not waiting for the other two.

 

“Hey, wait up!” Inuyasha yelled to her.

 

I turned to and saw the young kit looking very depressed, and nervous. “Shippou, you will be accompanying Kouga and myself. We need to look for Random.”

 

“Why couldn't I go with Kagome?” He asked, looking at the ground.

 

“Because I need you with me.”

 

Shippou looked sharply up at me. “Why? Why me? How could I help?” He sounded almost hopeful.

 

“I need you because you are small, and easily hid, and you have very good senses, better than mine.”

 

His chest puffed out in pride. “Tell me what to do!”

 

“First, we travel to Amber.”

 

I told them of my plan, and warned them about trumping.

 

“It's like stepping though a doorway, so don't be afraid.” I wanted to make sure that neither one of them would go into hysterics when we trumped, seeing as neither one of them had done it before. Also, I needed to wait till Kouga's men returned with everyone.

 

I saw Kouga sniff the air. “They will be here soon. Very soon.”

 

Shippou squealed and jumped up to my shoulder. “I want Kagome!” he wailed.

 

“You'll see her soon enough. Don't worry.” Kouga told him.

 

Just then, Ginta, Hakkaku, and Ayame broke though the clearing, shortly followed by many others I had not seen before. “This is Corwin, and you all will submit to him as you do to me, am I clear?”

 

There were many nodded heads.

 

“Alright” I started, “First off, I need you to come with me to Amber. You will fight for the city. In return, it will be your home, and you will be paid as professional soldiers.”

 

I heard one growl, from somewhere in the middle of the pack.

 

“Come forward, if you refuse.”

 

Growling Mouth stepped forward. I turned to Kouga and nodded.

 

“You are hereby banished from the pack. Leave and never return, or forfeit your life,” Kouga said to him.

 

I watched as the disobedient one's jaw fell slack. He growled again, and Kouga replied in kind. I didn't understand what was going on, though I figured that it was some form of conversation. Suddenly, Kouga slashed his claws at him, and tore the muscles in his right arm all the way down to the bone. “Take that as a warning, Koragima, and leave now if you value you life.”

 

Koragima nodded, and dashed off.

 

“Any other questions?” Kouga asked. Dead silence replied. “Good.”

 

“Stand in single file, I am going to send you though to Amber. When your turn comes, grab the person's hand and step forward. Don't think too much on it.”

 

I saw them reassemble themselves, while I pulled out Flora's trump.

 

“Corwin?” She greeted me.

 

“Yes. I'm sending in reinforcements. How goes the battle?”

 

“Strangely. The first wave was very strong, but there have been no reinforcements. I would have thought the cavalry would have arrived by now.”

 

Shit. This was probably meant to be a distraction. Damn. “Flora, please tell me you have extra guards on all the Patterns, and on Dworkin.”

 

“No, just the Primal Pattern.”

 

I felt my heart clench, and a feeling of dread overcome me. “I'm sending them though. Put them as guards. And do it in a hurry!”

 

“Why, what's—“

 

“Just do it now!”

 

I motioned for them to come forward. I had them trumped in a matter of minutes. When they were all on the other side, I slid my palm over the card, and replaced it, then looked up at Kouga. He had a very worried expression marring his features.

 

“What?”

 

Suddenly, I heard Shippou wail into my shoulder, and I felt his tears through my clothes.

 

Kouga pulled him off my shoulder, and spoke gruffly, but fatherly to him, “Shippou, what's wrong with you?”

 

“I'm SCARED! I can't help you guys! I'd make too much noise, and… and…”

 

“Shhhh. Don't be. I have faith in you.”

 

“We do need to hurry, though.” I cut in.

 

Shippou dried his tears, and nodded, a new determination in his eyes. Kouga placed him on his own shoulder then. I pulled out a trump of Amber then, and concentrated on Random's room in the castle. When I felt it was sufficiently strong link, I grabbed Kouga's shoulder and stepped forward, dragging him with me. I replaced my trump, then looked around.

 

“We need to figure out where Random went, and how. If he trumped out, I can't track him, but if he shadowshifted, then I might be able to. I doubt he would use the Patte… wait, I have an idea. You two, memorize his scent, then follow me. Kouga leaped to the bed, and sniffed the comforter, as did Shippou. It took not ten seconds for them to turn and look at me, then nod. I left the room without further ado and headed down into the heart to Kolvir, down to the Pattern.