InuYasha Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Cry of the Wolf ❯ Trials and seaches ( Chapter 10 )

Cry of the Wolf

Part Ten: Trials and Searches

By

Lance the Flamesniper

 

As a general rule, wolves and most canines for that matter, tend to dislike loud sounds. With their sensitive ears, that isn't a surprise. That Minako Aino, who is more used to cats than canines, did not know that it would be. The club she'd taken Kouga to after lunch was the kind of club that was active all day long. It was also the kind of place that tended to like pulse-pounding music with bass that caused one's bones to rattle.

 

In short, Minako had taken Kouga to auditory Hell.

 

I don't REALLY need a right arm do I? I mean Sesshoumaru lived almost five hundred years without an arm until that Inu retainer tried to over throw him. If I can just draw my blade with my left hand, I can be free of this has-to-be-part-Kitsune woman. Kouga thought as he eyed the limb in question. Minako, who was continuously talking about herself all the while trying to be heard over the god-awful music, still deftly trapped it.

 

Just then Kouga spotted a woman in the crowd who looked familiar. Tall, elegant, smelling of sea foam even though people surrounded her soaked in their own sweat and scents.

 

Kouga was sure though, since his nose didn't ever lie. All he needed was confirmation and he might just have an escape route from the `Minako arm trap'. Though chewing through his arm or cutting it off entirely still seemed like viable options. Using what little strength he could without harming his well-meaning captor, he slowly dragged her though the crowd.

 

 

Ami had finally calmed her nerves. Of all the embarrassing moments to have! He probably thinks I'm some shameless hussy!

 

Still with her nerves now calmed she could look over the information she had on “Youkai: subject one” as he'd been labeled by the computer. Part of Ami found that to be offensive. After all, she'd spoken with Kouga as well as heard him speak to others. He was not a mindless beast or some inert material.

 

“Computer change file name. New File name Kouga.”

 

“Confirmed,” A mechanized voice toned.

 

“Subject is a male Ookami Youkai Scientific name as of now Demonicus lupus. Age based on looks would place him in his mid-twenties. Height-wise he's five feet eleven and on half inches tall and weighs roughly 210 pounds. Kouga seems to be a very fine example of a here-to-fore undocumented, unexamined species. Unfortunately he's also the last of his kind. Tests show his IQ to be in the mid-two hundreds and that he's a Kinesthetic Visual Learner. Psychologically Kouga seems to be stable, though the field reports of Dr. Winona Wilks point to a slight temper and aggressive nature, similar to a normal wolf whose territory is threatened.

 

Physically Kouga is stunning to view and impressive to witness in motion. He possesses elfin-like ears, fangs, claws and a tail as well as blue eyes and black hair. His muscle tone is lean but at the same time durable. His skeletal structure shows his bones, especially his skull, are thicker than a human's. Most likely this is an adaptive trait implying an intense physical lifestyle where bone might be broken easily. Likewise Kouga possesses greater than normal strength for his build, being able to lift five hundred seventy-five pounds with little difficulty.

 

Whether it's because of his power as a `taiyoukai' or some natural ability of his own, Kouga has endurance equal to or greater than that found in most marathon runners. Speed-wise Kouga at what he claimed was close to his top speed, was moving at sub-tornado-like speeds.

 

More tests will be necessary as well as consultation with a miko or priest as to the nature of `Taiyoukai powers'. It is my hope that study of this unique individual will improve my overall grasp of what his species was like before it was depleted.”

 

Ami sighed as the computer finished her recording as well as saved all the biological information on Kouga. She still had a lot of work to do.

 

 

Michiru hated this club. It wasn't that she didn't like people, or socializing. It was just that she preferred things to be elegant. She only came to this particular place because Haruka liked it.

 

As was mentioned before, Michiru valued elegance. Be it the elegance of orchestral music, the elegance of a well-done seascape or even the rugged elegance shown in a certain wolf prince's cave. Elegance was elegant and thus was her contentment.

 

“Michiru-san!” A voice called out cutting through her thoughts.

 

The sea senshi turned not sure she'd heard properly. If anyone would dislike the sonic mulch that this club turned out, it would be a wolf. Sure enough she found herself trying not to laugh as she spied the hapless wolf-prince dragging a clingy blonde through the crowd. There was just enough of a look that screamed `help me' in his blue eyes to clue her in to the idea that her was here against his will.

 

Minako always was overly aggressive when it came to men, Michiru thought archly. ”Ah Kouga-sama. I'm surprised to see you here.”

 

“Indeed. This is not my normal venue. However, my `date' was most insistent on coming here,” Kouga sighed.

 

“I see. Minako-chan? Kouga looks thirsty. Maybe you should go get him something to drink?” Michiru suggested.

 

Minako considered it then nodded. “He hasn't said anything about being thirsty. But I forgot he's probably not used to such large places and didn't know where the bar is. I'll be right back!”

 

Once Minako was out of earshot Kouga smiled. “My thanks Lady Michiru. For a moment I was sure I would have to remove my arm to get free.”

 

“Minako does tend to come on a little…strong,” Michiru conceded with an elegant giggle.

 

“That's one word for it. I just didn't have the heart to tell her that I don't like this place. It hurts my ears.”

 

“I would imagine so. Still I'd be curious then, to know what kind of music a wolf likes.”

 

“Wolves enjoy music they can dance to and that isn't too loud. I can play a guitar as well as a violin. You see, wolf youkai enjoy festivals and actually have four major ones a year.”

 

“Only four?” Minako asked as she returned.

 

“Four main ones. One celebration on each Equinox, one for the longest day of the year and one for the longest night that's not counting the harvest festival though.”

 

“And what were those festivals like?” Michiru asked as she was drawn deeper into the conversation.

 

“There was singing and dance. Feasting and fellowship normally at least three mate proposals were accepted as well normally a couple of celebratory declarations for mates who had pups during the year.”

 

“Sounds like wolves enjoy partying,” Minako stated having missed the comment about not liking the club.

 

“To an extent there was singing, music playing and dancing every night,” Kouga said as his features turned sad. “And no one danced better or sang prettier than my Ayame.”

 

“Makoto's a good dancer,” Haruka chimed in having finally found Michiru amid the throng. However she didn't like the fact that she was with Kouga.

 

Minako frowned at Haruka. “I'm a decent dancer too! And I can sing.”

 

Haruka merely nodded at that. I need to get the wolf away from MY Michi. And keep him away.

 

 

Naraku looked at his newly made children critically. There were only three at the moment, but added to their elder sister and his plaything, they'd make for decent threat or distraction to the Senshi, Inu Yasha and Kouga. Distractions and threats were exactly what he would need to claim the ginzuisho.

 

His first newly crafted child was massive with thick plates of granite over his skin. It possessed otherworldly crimson eyes and teeth made of diamond. As with all his children this one was also marked with a spider on it's back. This one was made of stone and was named as such. His name was Ishi.

 

His other two `children' surprised him as they were born as twin girls. Both were lithe and somewhat alluring in their own ways and both also had a spider on their backs. But there was where their likenesses ended.

 

The first of these twins wore a black kimono, had midnight blue eyes and waist length pure black hair. Her skin was dusky in tone and smile was wicked. Naraku instinctively knew her power was that of darkness and named her Anei or shadow.

 

Anei's sister was an opposite. Her kimono was blazing red and her hair was the color of fire: Red-gold. Her eyes were a deep amethyst color and her skin was pale. From the way her feet seemingly charred the floorboards of Naraku's home he determined her to be a fire youkai. As such he named her Kasai, which means fire.

 

“You will do as I say from this time on,” Naraku instructed them. He would not make the mistake he made with the errant Kagura. “You will only retreat from a situation when you feel your life is endangered. You will only think for your self as the need arises.”

 

All three nodded.

 

“Now go forth! Find Kouga, and kill him!”

 

The Three nodded again as they vanished.

 

They would try their best to do their task Naraku knew that. But he also knew that they were just the start. Once he'd absorbed more of the demons the Great Freeze's suffering had spawned he'd make more. Still one thought was allowed to trouble him.

 

Where is Kagura? The thought of his most rebellious `daughter' not coming when he summoned her was irritating him in the extreme. She'd not been imprisoned with him as Kohaku had or waited in his tomb as Kanna had. But it really didn't matter. Kanna would find her and then….

 

“Then her suffering shall begin!” Naraku finished aloud as he chuckled cruelly.

 

 

Makoto was enjoying her talk with Sango. She was warm, and witty and had had so many adventures in her life. She'd spoken of Kouga and the fighting styles, his battles with an Inu Hanyou they both knew (Though Sango never gave out his name), about wolf demons in general and about demon slaying.

 

Unfortunately, while they were talking neither of them noticed the person coming up behind them. The figure walked up behind them as quietly as he could, keeping his shakajou from clinking as he walked. He instinctively knew he'd be punished for this… but in his mind it was worth the pain.

 

The first hint that Makoto had of his presence was a hand on her rear doing something similar to what Elsa Grey had done to her once a long time ago. She reacted pretty much the same way too.

 

“Eeek!” Makoto shrieked as she jumped from her seat, her hands covering her rear and her face blushing in embarrassment. Makoto then stopped and blinked at the visage before her.

 

Standing behind where she and Sango had been sitting was a Dark haired man dressed in black and purple monk robes. On the ground near his feet was his shakajou and upon his head was Sango's Hiraikosu.

 

Mi-ro-ku!” Sango growled.

 

“Yes dear?” Miroku asked.

 

“What the HELL do you think you were doing?” Sango asked.

 

“I-it wasn't me, it's my hand! My hand!”

 

“More like your personality,” Sango growled. “Aside from the fact that you are my husband, cursed hand and wind tunnel returned not withstanding, you really shouldn't do that to her.”

 

“Oh?” Miroku asked eying Makoto.

 

“Yes. She's Kouga's.”

 

Makoto blushed at that.

 

“I wasn't aware that Kouga had a daughter as lovely as this,” Miroku responded with a charming smile.

 

“Uhm I'm not his daughter,” Makoto responded uncertainly.

 

“Oh? His sister then?” Miroku asked.

 

“Moron,” Sango muttered. “This is Makoto Kino. You know her as Sailor Jupiter?”

 

“Ah yes! The enchanting senshi of lighting!”

 

Makoto didn't know it was possible but she blushed deeper at the praise.

 

“However, if she's a Sailor Senshi how can she be Kouga's?” Miroku asked.

 

“Stretch out with you mystic abilities houshi-sama. Surely you can tell what's changed,” Sango chided.

 

“Hmm,” Miroku responded thoughtfully. “There's a demon in the city. Wolf demon at that, I think. Fairly powerful… oh no.”

 

“Oh yes,” Sango replied. “Kouga's here. Ayame's dead and at the moment Makoto is one of eight potential replacement mates for him.”

 

“First Naraku comes back now this…”

 

“Naraku?” Makoto asked. “That guy from that book that Kagome wrote?”

 

“Indeed. Long ago he cursed my family to have a hole in our hand,” Began Miroku as he gestured to the prayer beads twined around his hand. “The hole can pull anything into it and gets bigger every year until it will swallow me up. Naraku was sealed long ago and the hole vanished. Though with the end of the Black Moon wars the wind tunnel has returned. Which means he's back as well.”

 

“I see,” Makoto stated direly. “This is very bad news.”

 

 

If Kanna was cold she did not show it. Nor did show when she was happy, sad, frustrated or annoyed. She possessed a perfectly flat affect, though the term apathetic would have fit as well. She didn't speak often and didn't question orders; she was not temper mental like her windy minded sibling. She was a void.

 

As such, she searched the city with motions that were quieter than the whisper of snow. Having found her quarry to have not entered the city she turned her searches to the areas outside the city. Kanna's first instinct would have been to travel west. The Eastern Lord, she was sure, would not have permitted Kagura to tarry in his lands. However, the wind sorceress had also wronged the Western Lord. No one knew enough about the Southern Lady, save that she was a hanyou and fairly reclusive. Which left the Northern Lands.

 

By all rights if Kagura had gone north, she was likely to have died or been on the run. It was common knowledge that Kagura had slain members of the Great Pack, that she'd also tried to kill Kouga many times was not withstanding. Still Kanna's instincts, atrophied by her lack of emotion told her that the Northern Lands held the secret to Kagura's rebellion.

 

So, lacking further leads she too went north. It was now that she let her mirror lead her. Had I Kagura's feathers, I could travel faster. Kanna thought as she walks. As a void Demon though she could still move quickly especially since she didn't need to eat or sleep regularly.

 

All too soon Kanna came upon the first of the battlefields between the `Black moon' and the youkai. The crystal ship had been shattered by something that tore large rends into it. Kanna was not sure why but she suspected that the rents were Kagura's doing: either to bring the ship down, or keep it from taking off. However, there were also signs that there'd been wolves here. “Most curious.”

 

As the second day of her search was starting to wane she felt the `birth,' of her new siblings. The distraction of the event caused her to miss a step and slide down into a large ravine she'd been skirting. When Kanna got to her feet she looked around at the strangeness of the ravine's bottom. All around her, in nice, neat rows were plinths of black obsidian all reaching skyward like hands outstretched to Kami-sama for rescue. It took Kanna a moment to recognize it as a cemetery. Cemeteries were not places she minded, but they also weren't places she particularly liked.

 

As Kanna wandered the Necropolis, she idly wondered whom the tombs were for and who buried them. Her musings came to an end when she came to the Mausoleum in the center of the cemetery. The building was made of black-and-red stone arranged to look as if the building where on fire. Instinctively the void demon knew that this was the crypt of someone who deemed themselves important. With that decided she walked into the tomb.

 

Inside were seven Statues, each having been intricately carved out of white granite. Each statue stood in front of a stone sarcophagus that was sealed. Five of the statues were of wolf youkai whom she'd never seen before with two of these being female and three being male. The next one was of a female wolf who Kanna did know of: Ayame. The fact she was in a sealed sarcophagus here explained why Kouga was in Naraku's city. However, when Kanna looked to the last statue she found herself feeling something: disbelief.

 

Standing before her, carved of white granite and looking elegant to the point of near angelic, was a statue of Kagura. What is a statue of Kagura doing among a crypt for Wolf Youkai nobles? Unless…

 

Before Kanna could explore further however she heard a voice behind her.

 

“Hello sister.”

 

TBC