InuYasha Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Cry of the Wolf ❯ City of the Moon ( Chapter 5 )

Cry of the wolf

Part five: City of the Moon

By

Lance the Flamesniper

 

Kagome leaned against the wall of the carrier watching Kouga. For the last several hours he'd merely sat very still and stared at the floor. She assumed it was because most of the people in this carrier thought of him as a hostile presence.

 

She also wondered what would happen when he met the Neoqueen. Most people would bow to the queen, but then again Kouga wasn't most people. He was a free spirited individual and an incident in their shared past pointed that out very vividly.

 

-Flash back-

 

Nobunaga rode at head of his army. At his side rode Tatekawi Kirishima, one of his many lieutenants. Also at his side, were a disguised Inu Yasha and the miko he was guard to. They, along with the army, were escorting the warlord to the regional governor's palace in the Northern Lands.

 

The governor had recently had problems with people refusing to pay their tributes. Rather than just send troops to help, Nobunaga had decided to travel to the Northern lands himself as a show of force.

 

The trip had gone smoothly, until at the crest of the rise there appeared a solitary man clad in furs. He stood in the middle of the road with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face. If he was in any way impressed by the army, or the warlord for that matter, he didn't show it. Finally the army came to a halt before him.

 

“Move knave!” Kirishima growled.

 

The man before them looked straight at Nobunaga as he spoke. “By whose right, do you order me?”

 

“This is Oda Nobunaga! The greatest warrior to live!” Kirishima snapped. “You will bow to him then move aside!”

 

“Does the great Nobunaga not know how to speak for himself?” The man asked mockingly.

 

“Insolent fool! You will bow or by the kami I will make you!”

 

“You wish me to bow voice of Nobunaga?” the man asked as Kagome watched on in awe. She knew that no sane man would dare defy Nobunaga, then again the person they were faced with wasn't a man per se. “Then, by all means, try to make me.”

 

Kirishima got off his horse drawing his katana as he did so. The irate lieutenant swung his blade only to have Kouga duck under his attack. The irate samurai swung twice more with the same results.

 

“Quit dancing like a drunken geisha and fight me!” Kirishima yelled.

 

“If you insist,” the stranger replied as he waded in.

 

Kagome could only wince as Kirishima's sword was knocked away. From there it was armor breaking punches by the man in their path until Kirishima was on his knees. The strange man then grabbed his neck in such a way that with just one twist Kirishima would be dead.

 

“Enough!” Nobunaga bellowed. “Who are you, stranger, who will not bow to me?”

 

“Know this Oda Nobunaga, ruler of men. I am Kouga, Demon Lord of the North. I bow to no one!”

 

-End Flashback-

 

Kouga bows to no one, Kagome remembered those words. They were words he'd proven time and time again. He simply would not break no matter what. Still, it pained her to see him so badly hurt.

 

“Tell me about this city,” Kouga asked breaking her out of her reverie.

 

“Well, it's a beautiful city. The air is clean and the people are happy. The Queen is fair and her King is noble and brave. It's made of pure crystal and defended by the Senshi and the people if the need arises. Though the court can be something of a pain.”

 

“Court?”

 

“Yes. That's where people go with their problems. The Queen hears them out then renders a decision.”

 

“Sounds tedious.”

 

“It can be,” Inu Yasha huffed.

 

“The things I'll do for justice,” Kouga mumbled as he resumed his observance of the floor.

 

 

It was early evening when the carrier touched down. Kouga was the first out of the carrier. He took one deep breath then blinked. There was something in the air. It tugged at his senses as if calling to him. It sent shock waves of sensation down his spine causing his heart to race.

 

“Something wrong Kouga-kun?” Kagome asked.

 

“No,” Kouga responded hesitantly. “Everything is fine.”

 

“Uh huh,” Kagome agreed, not sounding at all convinced.

 

Just then a man in the livery of the court came up. “Lady Kagome! Lady Kagome!”

 

“Yes what is it?” She asked.

 

“You and your… uh … guest have been requested to meet with the Neoqueen as soon as you arrive.”

 

“I see,” Kagome stated. How did she know Kouga was here?

 

“Very well,” Kouga sighed. “Let us meet this Neoqueen.”

 

With that Kagome, Inu Yasha and Kouga began to walk. All the while, Kouga kept looking around. His nose was telling him that whatever he smelled was near and getting closer. He couldn't put his finger on the scent; all he knew was that it was triggering some memory buried deep in the most primal parts of his mind. To cover the sensation Kouga tried to act as if he were looking at the walls, the floors and the scattered pieces of art adorning the halls.

 

“You're being quiet Kouga,” Kagome stated. “Is something wrong?”

 

“Feh!” snorted Inu Yasha. “Him being quiet beats his constant talking from when he was younger.”

 

“You're one to talk,” Kouga responded distractedly. “With all your barking I would have thought Kagome would have brought a muzzle back with her at least once.”

 

Finally they came to a very undecorated waiting room and were instructed to remain there.

 

Ten seconds later Kouga began to pace with unnatural impatients.

 

“Calm down Kouga,” Kagome soothed. He's been acting strangely since we arrived. What's going on here?

 

“I am calm. No one could be calmer to than me. I'm the picture of calm,” Responded Kouga. Meanwhile, the scent began to filter through his mind. It was sweet without being overly so and as intoxicating as the most potent of wines. It was a scent his sire's sire had once told him of. A scent so powerful and alluring, that no wolf could smell it and not be moved. It was the scent of the moon.

 

Just then the door on the farthest side or the room opened. Kagome and Inu Yasha were on their feet immediately as Neoqueen Serenity entered the room. She, as always was clad in a white gown with his blonde going platinum hair streaming down from her double odangos. Her blue eyes seemingly shining with curiosity and wisdom mixed with genuine care.

 

“Priestess Kagome,” Serenity began. “I trust you and Inu Yasha's mission went well?”

 

“There were a few complications, your majesty, but for the most part things went well. Allow me to introduce…” Kagome began as she motioned towards where Kouga'd been standing only to find the space to be empty.

 

Looking around Kagome's eyes found themselves fixed on a sight she'd never thought she'd see. Kouga was in front of the Neoqueen, only he was kneeling his head bent so his neck was revealed likewise his hands were placed flat on the floor. It was a pose that looked to be one of submission to a superior.

 

Kouga bows to no one, her mind reminded her. Then why does he bow to the Neoqueen?

 

“I am Kouga son of Benjira and Kawa, prince of the wolf youkai, Taiyoukai of the North and your servant,” Kouga responded reverently.

 

“What?” Both Kagome and Inu Yasha shouted.

 

“I thought you didn't bow to anyone,” Inu Yasha snorted.

 

“I don't bow to anyone of this world,” Kouga responded. “But this is the child of the Moon. I must bow to her.”

 

“Child of the Moon?” Serenity questioned. She knew it to be a true statement, though how one such as this had known it was beyond her.

 

“Yes,” Kouga responded. “Clearly your scent rings true to all servants of the moon. Though you may not be her who made us, you are of her line.”

 

“I see,” Serenity responded. “And what brings you to my home, Prince Kouga?”

 

“I have come to address a grievous wrong,” Kouga responded.

 

“A wrong?” asked the queen.

 

“Yes,” Kouga responded. “My mate was slain by your people. I have dealt with them as the law of my people have deemed fit. However, there has been a terrible price for their act.”

 

The Neoqueen nodded. “And that price was?”

 

“I am now the last of my kind,” responded Kouga sadly.

 

“Oh no,” Serenity whispered sorrowfully. “That cannot be allowed.”

 

“I place myself in your judgment as to my fate and the fate of people's heritage,” Stated Kouga from his bowed state.

 

“Rise Kouga,” Serenity said. “I will have to think on this matter. But please, consider yourself my guest and stay as long as you need. Hopefully, I can find a way to keep your line alive so that such noble spirit is not lost.”

 

“Thank you, my lady,” Kouga responded.

 

Before Kouga could be escorted to a suite of rooms, in came Endymion.

 

“Who's this?” Endymion asked disdainfully as he eyed Kouga. “Some kind of youma?”

 

“Arrrgh!” growled Kouga, making due of an earlier promise.

 

“This is Kouga,” Serenity replied. “He's a wolf youkai who will be staying with us until we figure out what to do about his race being endangered.”

 

“Why not just put him and his survivors on an endangered species list?” Endymion suggested.

 

“He's the only one left,” Serenity replied weakly.

 

“How…tragic,” Endymion replied dryly.

 

“You dare to mock me,” Kouga responded angrily.

 

“I'm merely stating the obvious. But don't worry, I'm sure my wife will have them prepare the finest kennel we have for you,” Endymion added acidicly.

 

“Endymion, that wasn't very nice,” Serenity chided.

 

Meanwhile Kouga was incensed. “You would dare treat me like some mangy dog come to beg crumbs from the table?”

 

“If the collar fits,” Endymion began only to be cut off.

 

“Enough Endy,” Serenity placated. “He came to us because his plight is our doing. It is only fair that we aid him in his time of need.”

 

“And likewise I can help you,” Kouga replied.

 

“And how is that?” The king asked.

 

“In your city somewhere is a demon of great power. His name is Naraku, though I doubt he goes by it. He has in the past caused myself, and people I know a great deal of trouble. He is here, and that means he's up to something. In return for assisting me I will help you rid the city of this pest,” Kouga responded.

 

“I don't believe you,” Endymion scoffed. “Besides, between the priests, mikos, taijya and Senshi, nothing of that sort could slip in.”

 

“It could and it has,” Kagome interjected. “Now is not the time to discuss this matter. All of us are tired and would be better suited to thinking about this in the morning.”

 

Endymion, Kouga, Inu Yasha and Serenity all nodded in agreement to that.

 

 

Once they were in their rooms Endymion sighed. “What exactly are we going to do with a “youkai” as he called himself any away?”

 

“Youkai and Hanyou are very useful,” Serenity replied from her dressing room. “After all Inu Yasha's a hanyou and he's served us very well over the centuries.”

 

“He's not one of them,” Endymion protested.

 

“Yes dear, he is,” Serenity sighed. “He's has some kind of spell on him that allows him to hide his looks.” And he's not the only one around. She mentally added.

 

“And you know this how?” Endymion asked. “Wait. He's been a monster this whole time and you never said anything? What if he was dangerous or some kind of spy?”

 

“He isn't dangerous and he's not a spy. And had I had him led away, he'd not have been around to watch your back during the invasion. Because he isn't a danger, I didn't think it would be something to concern you with.”

 

“I see,” Endymion responded. “Perhaps we should ask Kagome and the head of the taijya to advise us on this.”

 

“That's an excellent idea,” Serenity responded, resting her head on Endymion's shoulder.

 

The room they put Kouga in had a forest-like theme and would have done a credible job of passing as a forest. If it had the smells of a forest to go with it, that is. It didn't matter to Kouga. This room was merely a formality. A temporary den until the matter of justice was settled.

 

He'd made it three steps into the room when the first wave of pent up sorrow hit him. He staggered forward as the next wave him. Again and again waves of loss, sorrow and sadness washed over him cause him to whimper and sob uncontrollably. Slowly he curled into a fetal position as only one repeated word came from him.

 

“Ayame.”

 

TBC