InuYasha Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction ❯ Shattered Minds, Shattered Hearts ❯ Unexpected ( Chapter 14 )

We tend to take the Pattern for granted. I know I do. I also forget it is sentient. Any usage of its powers, it would know about. I just have to figure out how to communicate with it.

 

Kouga and I bolted down the spiral staircase, while Shippou rode on Kouga's shoulder.

 

Seventh corridor, follow it all the way to the back. As we approached, I noticed several of the wolf-pack stationed outside. They gave a collective sigh when they sighted Kouga.

 

“Kouga-sama, what's goin—“

 

“Not now.”

 

The one known as Ginta shut his mouth and nodded.

 

I walked inside the room, and saw several other of the wolf tribe, including Hakkaku. I ignored him, and walked around the edge of the Pattern, to where it read “Start here”. I always though that was a bit cheesey, too much like one of those pencil-mazes in game magazines.

 

Instead of walking it, like I normally would, I spoke to it. “I need to know where Random is.”

 

I saw a flash of white, and heard several gasps. Standing dead center of the Pattern was a Pattern Ghost of the Unicorn. She looked me in the eye, and I felt her probing my mind. My instinctual reaction was to shut her out, but I kept myself from doing so.

 

Walk the Pattern with Kaerukoun, and Kouga.

 

I shook my head. “How? Surely it will kill him? He's not an Amberite.”

 

Trust me, Grandson Corwin. I choose whom I kill. He needs this power, and you need to activate the sword.

 

Activate the sword? As confused as I was, I obeyed. “Kouga, walk the pattern with me. Hold onto my shoulder at all times. You will feel a current, and some of it will be very difficult. But you must walk it with me.” I wasn't taking any chances letting Kouga walk it alone.

 

So we started the difficult, winding way together. I felt the familiar pull, the feeling of it passing through me instead of around. I saw the familiar sparks start about my feet, surrounded by the blue circle. What I didn't expect was Kaerukoun to start pulsating and jiggling, as if wishing to be drawn. Who was I to deny it?

 

I drew the sword, and instead of me wielding the sword, it began wielding me. Immediately, I felt it jerk, and try as I might, I couldn't hold onto it, and it slipped from my fingers, then righted itself, point-down along the pattern, as if it was walking it itself. I followed it. I noticed it slowed when it hit the First Veil, just as any normal person would, and I and Kouga hit it shortly after, and my concentration returned to the task at hand. The familiar sensation of being taken apart, atom by atom, then reassembled fell upon me, and I vaguely heard Kouga grunt. The resistance fell away, and I noticed the sweat on my brow, though I did not spare the concentration to wipe it away. The Second Veil was worse, and lasted longer, as I expected it to. The feeling of always essaying the Pattern arose in my chest; I had never been anything other than the Corwin Walking The Pattern. I briefly wondered if Kouga felt the same way. The Third Veil came and went, and finally I was to the Grand Curve. The last three steps are always the hardest. I felt like a claymation character in slow motion. Time sped up again as I exited the Pattern, and stood in its center, Kouga beside me, Kaerukoun in front of me, still standing though not touching anything. Sounds returned to my ears, and I was very aware of my overworking heart.

 

I felt Kaerukoun begin to vibrate, and soon it became a buzzing sound, and I reached down to hold it, and the buzzing stopped immediately. However, I did feel it begin to pulsate with power not my own.

 

Corwin… Do you hear me?

 

The voice rang out loud and clear in my head. I knew that voice, though I had thought I would never hear it again. It was the voice of my father.