InuYasha Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Cry of the Wolf ❯ Dances in the Dark ( Chapter 14 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: lance the flamesniper 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Hentai | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.07.2006 | Pages: 3 | Words: 2.7K | Visits: 313 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Hentai | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.07.2006 | Pages: 3 | Words: 2.7K | Visits: 313 | Status: Work In Progress
Cry of the Wolf
Part thirteen: Dances in the dark
By
Lance the Flamesniper
Kouga sighed as he stared at the sky. It was early evening now and the view from the roof of the Crystal palace, as people called it, was truly spectacular. The city used lighting that, unlike cities of the Twentieth and twenty-first centuries, did not deplete the true beauty of night time. He wasn't sure why or how it didn't nor did he truly care. The view of the sky from his lofty perch reminded of when he was a cub or even the young adult that he was when he met Kagome and her company. Back then, and sometimes even to this day, Kouga had held a secret facination with the sky, especially the evening and night skies. Perhaps that was part of being an ookami.
The evening for Kouga was a dance. The bright sun would drift langorously toward Sesshoumaru's realm painting the land and sky in imperious shades of violet, orange, gold and red and in some cases shades teal. To Kouga the cub and Kouga the warchief it was act so vainglorious that it was laughable. To the adult Kouga he knew the sun would likely laugh, if it could, at him once he was gone. Then again I also used to be boastful and overproud, so who am I to fault the lofty sun for such things?
But the true beauty was always yet to come, Kouga reflected as the last rays of sunlight surrendered to the night. Always then the night became spectacular. Just as the sun surrendered other stars would begin to appear. They'd twinkle seemingly dancing through the arm of the milkyway. A sky of endless diamonds in their gossamer veil. It was into this august ball that the Moon would come. Not haughty and arrogant, like the sun, but smoothly and elegantly like the lady she is. She who is the gently mistress of the evening would dance amoung the stars while her loyal children, the ookami, would sing to her in hopes of someday being allowed to touch her.
This evening was no different. The Moon swirled amoung her heavenly diamonds in their veil and far beyond the city the children of the moon, her loyal and noble ookami sang. Kouga waited for the first plaintive howls to die down, then echoed their song with his own long mournful howl. This night his song was one of confusion and loss. Loss of Ayame; loss of his cubs; loss of his packmates. Confusion over what he felt and what his future would be.
"You howl so sadly Kouga of the Northern Lands," A familiar voice chimed in. "You'd think it was still the warring states era to hear such a savage and sorrowful sound so close to the city.
"I was wondering when you'd show up Shippou," Kouga responded with a slight grin. While Kitsune and Ookami were usually not on civil terms, Kouga often found Shippou's light hearted nature to be a blessing in bad times and a source of humor, normally at Inu Yasha's expense, in good ones. Reguardless the young kitsune had through some luck became the Eastern Lord and had also grown into a tall red haired male with peicing green eyes and a lithe build.
"I was waiting for the right moment to approach. You've caused quite the stir," The Kitsune lord of the East replied chidingly as he sat down.
"Me? Cause a stir?" Kouga demurred coyly. "I don't know what you mean."
"The nightclub?" Shippou prompted.
"That was neither my fault nor my idea. You know as well as I do that ookami dislike loud music."
"Oh I know that. But that incident was just the tip of an iceberg. Eight fiancees Kouga?"
"Actually it's down to six now," Kouga responded. "Two dropped out. How did you know about that anyway?"
"Kagome told me."
"I see."
"Just so you know there's a betting pool amoung us as to who you'll end up with," the Kitsune Lord responded.
"Oh is there?" Kouga chuckled. "This I've got to hear."
"Well Miroku bet that you'll be snared by Rei. Something about a firey woman to tame a stormy man, not that he'd know anything about being tamed. Inu Yasha seems to think it'll be Ami who claims you. Kagome declared herself neutral and Sango seems to believe that you'll only choose a woman who can match you in intensity as well as combat skill."
"So she's betting on Makoto," Kouga responded.
"Pretty much."
"And you?"
"I'm thinking that you'll end up with Minako. But only because she'll wear you down."
"Hmph. Minako's a nice lass, but I think she'd be more your type."
"And in that you'd probably be right."
"Then why not make a move on her?"
"I might," Shippou allowed. "But only when you've chosen a mate. After all, even with my Kitsune charm and training in fighting from both you and Inu Yasha, I'm not about to fight an ookami warchief over a woman. I don't doubt that there were a few tricks you didn't teach me, just so you could use them later."
"I see..." Replied Kouga. "What was the real reason you came up here?"
"Why to invite you down into the main galleria of the palace. There's a ball about to begin."
"A ball? During a crisis?" Kouga asked in disbelief.
"It's royal policy. 'Celebration not suffering, fellowship instead of fear'. Put into simple wolf-speak, it's a morale thing."
"Ah! Well then permit me to put on my good furs and I shall be there post-haste."
-------
Kagura growled to her self as she summoned up the dance of blades. Seven more Shiamyosho fell to peices in the wake. Her "father" seemingly was up to something. Something that apparently had a lot to do with desecrating the valley of the fallen.
"Knowing that bastard as I do, he'll probably desecrate the tombs and send proof of it having been done to Kouga. It would put Kouga in a rage and make him not think clearly," Kagura sighed. "My lord never was good with his temper." Though if the Tsuki no Kami truly favors the ookami, and through them me, I could use a little help here...
There was a wavering in the air as seemingly three other spirits arrived as if summoned. The first was an elegant looking ookami woman dressed in a long flowing Kimono, but in her hands was an other worldly naginata that seemed to crackle with lightning. Her expression was cold but also familiar.
The second was massive ookami male in the furs of a leader and angry blue eyes. His element was clearly fire as that was what wreathed the ji-halberd* in hands. He like the woman seemed familiar.
The third spirit turned out to actually be three spirits, though they'd stood so close together that had appeared to be one at first. Three very familiar ones at that. In the Center of the trifecta was Ayame, her white furs almost glowing in the light of the afterlife. To her right was her son Saiyako carrying his monk's spade**, his long red hair ruffling in the breeze. To her left was her daughter Ayume, the dark haired beauty who like Kagura was a fan fighter.
Kagura looked at the five wolf demon spirits in wonder. she'd never expected her prayer to be answered. But it was just as well since the demon swarm was now on its way.
"Go lass!" The large male stated grimly as he cleaved a demon with his flaming halberd. "My slack off of a son will need ye help!"
"Your...son?" Kagura asked dumbly.
"He means Dad," Ayume replied as she dashed past at a fraction of her father's speed. "We'll stay here and take care of the valley. You. Go! Now!"
Kagura didn't need to be told twice.
--------
Naraku stared at his two newest children. As near as he could tell they were both male, though one clearly lacked any true form.
The first looked disturbingly like Hiten of the Thunder brothers, at least in physical shape. He had the elfin ears, slightly pointed fangs and arcane looking armor but his hair was deep sapphire-like blue. His skin likewise was blue, only three shades lighter. Unlike his fiery sister, this one generated a coldness far more biting than that which ruled outside the city. For this reason Naraku named this child Hyouzan, or iceberg.
The second one was almost cloudlike in it's formlessness. It possessed eyes like hot coals in a fireplace as well as eight spiderlike legs and scorpion-like tail. It had proven its power to be that of the mind, it could control a person to do just about anything by attaching itself to them, enveloping their mind in shadow. Thus he was Kagekokoro or shadow mind.
Naraku looked at the two and grinned. "I wonder Kouga, who do you trust, when you can't trust anyone?" With that Naraku laughed.
-------
Winona Wilks flinched as she heard Naratomoe's laughter. Deep down she wondered who was more disturbed, her new master or herself. She'd only been in his service a few hours and had already witnessed horrors so twisted that even she couldn't define them. With a sigh she turned back to her work. The DNA she'd gotten from the hairs was strange.
The white hair seemed to possess DNA from some kind of hybrid human. The human seemed to be spliced with a dog of all things. The mad scientist wondered what kind of deviant behavior triggered this creature. Was it something Naraku made then destroyed? Was it a leftover from some experiment from the distant past? In the end she tried not to think about it.
The other hair seemed to have come from a wolf of some sort. Given her recent interactions with such creatures and their multiply damned lord, her opinion of them was somewhat jaded. That such a creature would could be made to hunt down and slaughter Kouga granted the good doctor a manic grin. So pleased was she with that thought that she quickly pushed all other thoughts away, ignored the screams echoing through the house as well as the laughter of her master and resumed her labors.
-------
The ball was an elegant affair. So much so that the Senshi had gone as far as to don evening gowns as opposed to their usual uniforms. The fact that six of them were hoping to catch a certain wolf's eye was merely a coincidence. Really. The fact that Michiru was also in costume, irked Haruka to no end. Suffice to say all the courtiers and Senshi awaited with baited breath the arrival of the princely wolf.
When he finally arrived it was yet again in a different outfit than normal. His furs were golden and the chest plate bronzed. Once again he wore a cape but this time it was fastened with a gold clasp shaped like cherry cherry blossom. In a twist that surprised everyone, he also had decided to let his hair down allowing it to brush the nape of his neck as well as his fur covered shoulders. The impact was noticable as the entire ball stopped to look at the newest entrant.
"Impressive," purred Michiru causing Haruka to stiffen. "Very impressive."
In Haruka's mind there was a different thought process from the awed, impressed or in Minako's case lustful gazes. In her mind she saw a wolf on the prowl and a seemingly not unwilling prey in Michiru. The fact that said wolf also seemed to have locked on to Michiru and was moving her way only added to her fraying nerves. Something needed done.
Quickly Haruka looked around to find anything to put between the wolf and her Michi. Spotting a likely target for distraction she seized and slung.
-------
Rei Hino had, at least for a moment a slight sense of disorientation. One moment she's appraising the Wolf-prince during a pause in talking with Kagome-sama, the next she feels a pressure on her arm just above the elbow and the world proceeds to spin. Rei impacted with something firm and managed to look up into a pair of laughing blue eyes.
"Hello there," Kouga responded with a mischievious smile.
"Yes, hello." Rei said with a slight blush.
"That was sloppy," Commented Michiru quietly to Haruka.
"Ah-heh," Responded said racer while scratching at the back of her head.
"A least the couch cushions shall be warm for the next week... from you sleeping on them," Michiru supplied as she walked off.
"But Michi," Haruka whined as she followed.
The sight was humorous enough to break the tension with the startled Priestess and the wolven prince. "Would you care to dance miko?"
"S-sure I guess." Rei said. She certainly didn't feel she was dressed her best for attracting the wolf. Her dress was a simple one: not as flashy as Makoto's off the shoulder sleeveless one, though not as mousy as Ami's blue dress or as stylish as Setsuna's tight yet trendy dark green one. Still it was her, that the ookami had asked first and all because of a strange twist in fate.
The music of a slow waltz began to play as the two moved onto the floor. To Rei's surprise the rough and ready wolf-warrior seemed to be incredily graceful despite her beliefs on what a youkai lord should be. "You know I did some divining on you."
"Oh?" Kouga responded. He could see Setsuna's mysterious smirk, Ami looking a little dishartened and Makoto's steady gaze from where he stood.
"I was looking for a reason to distrust you," Rei replied sheepishly, a blush burning her cheeks as she looked away.
"And what did you find?" Kouga asked,
"You're a warrior. You can be relentless in battle. But you are also not dangerous to anyone who doesn't threaten you. I also saw images of you with your... family," Rei trailed off.
"Those were good times, I wish things had stayed as they were."
"You aren't what I expected. And I look forward to knowing you better," Rei finished.
Kouga merely smiled as the dance continued.
-----------
The shadow crawled over the wall and through the window. It's father sent it to deal with a problem. Kagekokoro knew what to do. Pick a target, use the target, kill the wolf and kill the target. Everything would be easy.
In a blink it picked the strongest looking target in the room and dove for it's goal. In an instant it bit into the target's neck all the while wrapping the victims limbs and body in its long spidery legs as its tail stabbed into the base of the spine. In a heartbeart its victim relaxed completely in Kagekokoro's control.
Now the games would truly begin.
TBC
* A Ji-halberd is a type of axe on a long pole that can be used as either an axe or a spear.
** A monk's Spade is a weapon six and a half feet long with a flat wedged blade on one end and crecent shaped blade on the other.
Part thirteen: Dances in the dark
By
Lance the Flamesniper
Kouga sighed as he stared at the sky. It was early evening now and the view from the roof of the Crystal palace, as people called it, was truly spectacular. The city used lighting that, unlike cities of the Twentieth and twenty-first centuries, did not deplete the true beauty of night time. He wasn't sure why or how it didn't nor did he truly care. The view of the sky from his lofty perch reminded of when he was a cub or even the young adult that he was when he met Kagome and her company. Back then, and sometimes even to this day, Kouga had held a secret facination with the sky, especially the evening and night skies. Perhaps that was part of being an ookami.
The evening for Kouga was a dance. The bright sun would drift langorously toward Sesshoumaru's realm painting the land and sky in imperious shades of violet, orange, gold and red and in some cases shades teal. To Kouga the cub and Kouga the warchief it was act so vainglorious that it was laughable. To the adult Kouga he knew the sun would likely laugh, if it could, at him once he was gone. Then again I also used to be boastful and overproud, so who am I to fault the lofty sun for such things?
But the true beauty was always yet to come, Kouga reflected as the last rays of sunlight surrendered to the night. Always then the night became spectacular. Just as the sun surrendered other stars would begin to appear. They'd twinkle seemingly dancing through the arm of the milkyway. A sky of endless diamonds in their gossamer veil. It was into this august ball that the Moon would come. Not haughty and arrogant, like the sun, but smoothly and elegantly like the lady she is. She who is the gently mistress of the evening would dance amoung the stars while her loyal children, the ookami, would sing to her in hopes of someday being allowed to touch her.
This evening was no different. The Moon swirled amoung her heavenly diamonds in their veil and far beyond the city the children of the moon, her loyal and noble ookami sang. Kouga waited for the first plaintive howls to die down, then echoed their song with his own long mournful howl. This night his song was one of confusion and loss. Loss of Ayame; loss of his cubs; loss of his packmates. Confusion over what he felt and what his future would be.
"You howl so sadly Kouga of the Northern Lands," A familiar voice chimed in. "You'd think it was still the warring states era to hear such a savage and sorrowful sound so close to the city.
"I was wondering when you'd show up Shippou," Kouga responded with a slight grin. While Kitsune and Ookami were usually not on civil terms, Kouga often found Shippou's light hearted nature to be a blessing in bad times and a source of humor, normally at Inu Yasha's expense, in good ones. Reguardless the young kitsune had through some luck became the Eastern Lord and had also grown into a tall red haired male with peicing green eyes and a lithe build.
"I was waiting for the right moment to approach. You've caused quite the stir," The Kitsune lord of the East replied chidingly as he sat down.
"Me? Cause a stir?" Kouga demurred coyly. "I don't know what you mean."
"The nightclub?" Shippou prompted.
"That was neither my fault nor my idea. You know as well as I do that ookami dislike loud music."
"Oh I know that. But that incident was just the tip of an iceberg. Eight fiancees Kouga?"
"Actually it's down to six now," Kouga responded. "Two dropped out. How did you know about that anyway?"
"Kagome told me."
"I see."
"Just so you know there's a betting pool amoung us as to who you'll end up with," the Kitsune Lord responded.
"Oh is there?" Kouga chuckled. "This I've got to hear."
"Well Miroku bet that you'll be snared by Rei. Something about a firey woman to tame a stormy man, not that he'd know anything about being tamed. Inu Yasha seems to think it'll be Ami who claims you. Kagome declared herself neutral and Sango seems to believe that you'll only choose a woman who can match you in intensity as well as combat skill."
"So she's betting on Makoto," Kouga responded.
"Pretty much."
"And you?"
"I'm thinking that you'll end up with Minako. But only because she'll wear you down."
"Hmph. Minako's a nice lass, but I think she'd be more your type."
"And in that you'd probably be right."
"Then why not make a move on her?"
"I might," Shippou allowed. "But only when you've chosen a mate. After all, even with my Kitsune charm and training in fighting from both you and Inu Yasha, I'm not about to fight an ookami warchief over a woman. I don't doubt that there were a few tricks you didn't teach me, just so you could use them later."
"I see..." Replied Kouga. "What was the real reason you came up here?"
"Why to invite you down into the main galleria of the palace. There's a ball about to begin."
"A ball? During a crisis?" Kouga asked in disbelief.
"It's royal policy. 'Celebration not suffering, fellowship instead of fear'. Put into simple wolf-speak, it's a morale thing."
"Ah! Well then permit me to put on my good furs and I shall be there post-haste."
-------
Kagura growled to her self as she summoned up the dance of blades. Seven more Shiamyosho fell to peices in the wake. Her "father" seemingly was up to something. Something that apparently had a lot to do with desecrating the valley of the fallen.
"Knowing that bastard as I do, he'll probably desecrate the tombs and send proof of it having been done to Kouga. It would put Kouga in a rage and make him not think clearly," Kagura sighed. "My lord never was good with his temper." Though if the Tsuki no Kami truly favors the ookami, and through them me, I could use a little help here...
There was a wavering in the air as seemingly three other spirits arrived as if summoned. The first was an elegant looking ookami woman dressed in a long flowing Kimono, but in her hands was an other worldly naginata that seemed to crackle with lightning. Her expression was cold but also familiar.
The second was massive ookami male in the furs of a leader and angry blue eyes. His element was clearly fire as that was what wreathed the ji-halberd* in hands. He like the woman seemed familiar.
The third spirit turned out to actually be three spirits, though they'd stood so close together that had appeared to be one at first. Three very familiar ones at that. In the Center of the trifecta was Ayame, her white furs almost glowing in the light of the afterlife. To her right was her son Saiyako carrying his monk's spade**, his long red hair ruffling in the breeze. To her left was her daughter Ayume, the dark haired beauty who like Kagura was a fan fighter.
Kagura looked at the five wolf demon spirits in wonder. she'd never expected her prayer to be answered. But it was just as well since the demon swarm was now on its way.
"Go lass!" The large male stated grimly as he cleaved a demon with his flaming halberd. "My slack off of a son will need ye help!"
"Your...son?" Kagura asked dumbly.
"He means Dad," Ayume replied as she dashed past at a fraction of her father's speed. "We'll stay here and take care of the valley. You. Go! Now!"
Kagura didn't need to be told twice.
--------
Naraku stared at his two newest children. As near as he could tell they were both male, though one clearly lacked any true form.
The first looked disturbingly like Hiten of the Thunder brothers, at least in physical shape. He had the elfin ears, slightly pointed fangs and arcane looking armor but his hair was deep sapphire-like blue. His skin likewise was blue, only three shades lighter. Unlike his fiery sister, this one generated a coldness far more biting than that which ruled outside the city. For this reason Naraku named this child Hyouzan, or iceberg.
The second one was almost cloudlike in it's formlessness. It possessed eyes like hot coals in a fireplace as well as eight spiderlike legs and scorpion-like tail. It had proven its power to be that of the mind, it could control a person to do just about anything by attaching itself to them, enveloping their mind in shadow. Thus he was Kagekokoro or shadow mind.
Naraku looked at the two and grinned. "I wonder Kouga, who do you trust, when you can't trust anyone?" With that Naraku laughed.
-------
Winona Wilks flinched as she heard Naratomoe's laughter. Deep down she wondered who was more disturbed, her new master or herself. She'd only been in his service a few hours and had already witnessed horrors so twisted that even she couldn't define them. With a sigh she turned back to her work. The DNA she'd gotten from the hairs was strange.
The white hair seemed to possess DNA from some kind of hybrid human. The human seemed to be spliced with a dog of all things. The mad scientist wondered what kind of deviant behavior triggered this creature. Was it something Naraku made then destroyed? Was it a leftover from some experiment from the distant past? In the end she tried not to think about it.
The other hair seemed to have come from a wolf of some sort. Given her recent interactions with such creatures and their multiply damned lord, her opinion of them was somewhat jaded. That such a creature would could be made to hunt down and slaughter Kouga granted the good doctor a manic grin. So pleased was she with that thought that she quickly pushed all other thoughts away, ignored the screams echoing through the house as well as the laughter of her master and resumed her labors.
-------
The ball was an elegant affair. So much so that the Senshi had gone as far as to don evening gowns as opposed to their usual uniforms. The fact that six of them were hoping to catch a certain wolf's eye was merely a coincidence. Really. The fact that Michiru was also in costume, irked Haruka to no end. Suffice to say all the courtiers and Senshi awaited with baited breath the arrival of the princely wolf.
When he finally arrived it was yet again in a different outfit than normal. His furs were golden and the chest plate bronzed. Once again he wore a cape but this time it was fastened with a gold clasp shaped like cherry cherry blossom. In a twist that surprised everyone, he also had decided to let his hair down allowing it to brush the nape of his neck as well as his fur covered shoulders. The impact was noticable as the entire ball stopped to look at the newest entrant.
"Impressive," purred Michiru causing Haruka to stiffen. "Very impressive."
In Haruka's mind there was a different thought process from the awed, impressed or in Minako's case lustful gazes. In her mind she saw a wolf on the prowl and a seemingly not unwilling prey in Michiru. The fact that said wolf also seemed to have locked on to Michiru and was moving her way only added to her fraying nerves. Something needed done.
Quickly Haruka looked around to find anything to put between the wolf and her Michi. Spotting a likely target for distraction she seized and slung.
-------
Rei Hino had, at least for a moment a slight sense of disorientation. One moment she's appraising the Wolf-prince during a pause in talking with Kagome-sama, the next she feels a pressure on her arm just above the elbow and the world proceeds to spin. Rei impacted with something firm and managed to look up into a pair of laughing blue eyes.
"Hello there," Kouga responded with a mischievious smile.
"Yes, hello." Rei said with a slight blush.
"That was sloppy," Commented Michiru quietly to Haruka.
"Ah-heh," Responded said racer while scratching at the back of her head.
"A least the couch cushions shall be warm for the next week... from you sleeping on them," Michiru supplied as she walked off.
"But Michi," Haruka whined as she followed.
The sight was humorous enough to break the tension with the startled Priestess and the wolven prince. "Would you care to dance miko?"
"S-sure I guess." Rei said. She certainly didn't feel she was dressed her best for attracting the wolf. Her dress was a simple one: not as flashy as Makoto's off the shoulder sleeveless one, though not as mousy as Ami's blue dress or as stylish as Setsuna's tight yet trendy dark green one. Still it was her, that the ookami had asked first and all because of a strange twist in fate.
The music of a slow waltz began to play as the two moved onto the floor. To Rei's surprise the rough and ready wolf-warrior seemed to be incredily graceful despite her beliefs on what a youkai lord should be. "You know I did some divining on you."
"Oh?" Kouga responded. He could see Setsuna's mysterious smirk, Ami looking a little dishartened and Makoto's steady gaze from where he stood.
"I was looking for a reason to distrust you," Rei replied sheepishly, a blush burning her cheeks as she looked away.
"And what did you find?" Kouga asked,
"You're a warrior. You can be relentless in battle. But you are also not dangerous to anyone who doesn't threaten you. I also saw images of you with your... family," Rei trailed off.
"Those were good times, I wish things had stayed as they were."
"You aren't what I expected. And I look forward to knowing you better," Rei finished.
Kouga merely smiled as the dance continued.
-----------
The shadow crawled over the wall and through the window. It's father sent it to deal with a problem. Kagekokoro knew what to do. Pick a target, use the target, kill the wolf and kill the target. Everything would be easy.
In a blink it picked the strongest looking target in the room and dove for it's goal. In an instant it bit into the target's neck all the while wrapping the victims limbs and body in its long spidery legs as its tail stabbed into the base of the spine. In a heartbeart its victim relaxed completely in Kagekokoro's control.
Now the games would truly begin.
TBC
* A Ji-halberd is a type of axe on a long pole that can be used as either an axe or a spear.
** A monk's Spade is a weapon six and a half feet long with a flat wedged blade on one end and crecent shaped blade on the other.