InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ On The Night Of A Blood Red Moon ❯ Chapter 13

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Title: On The Night Of A Blood Red Moon
Author: Ryukotsusei and Cyntinell
Disclaimer: We do not own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho. We do however own the plot. Steal it and you shall face our wrath.

Warnings: This is a dark fic. It does have graphically detailed rape in it, as well as lemons in future chapters. It's likely to have major character deaths as well. Reviews are always appreciated, flames not tolerated. You are forewarned.

Author's Note: This chapter has the introduction of an O/C named Aiko, she is Kouga's mate.

Chapter Thirteen

Kouga's spirit exited his mutilated body and stared over it for several long moments. He had never thought it would end this way, his association with Kagome. He watched with an almost detached interest as Masakazu carried his severed head over to the girl. Where was the anger that he was supposed to be feeling? He had just given his life for a girl, the first he ever claimed to love. She was the one that chose for him to die, so where was the rage that surely would be directed towards her?

He watched as they carried her out, she showed no signs of life aside from breathing. Worry filled him, he could no longer protect her. It would be up to the other demon, Hiei, to take care of her from here on out. He could do no more. His thoughts drifted to his mate, the one that he had left behind. Surely she had felt the destruction of the bond they shared, she would know that he was dead. The thought pained him, what kind of mate was he to leave her behind in such a fashion? He had no doubts the circumstances behind his death would somehow be revealed to her and the rest of his pack. Just as he knew that they would seek retribution. Many would die in the upcoming war he was certain. The pack would not rest until his murder was avenged. But who would lead the pack in the meantime?

Aiko was a strong woman, but would she be strong enough to defend their pack? The others would help her he knew but they would be vulnerable until another leader could be chosen. Never in his life had he felt as helpless as he did at the moment. The two women that he loved more than life itself were now out of his reach. He only hoped that once he reached the Reikai that a higher being would grant an audience. He would attempt to come back, he couldn't allow things to end like this.

With that idea in mind he allowed himself to withdraw from the scene of his murder. Restlessly he searched for an exit but each time he slammed hard against a barrier. It was the same barrier that he had passed on his way in here and he knew then that as long as Masakazu lived he would never be free. The Crow had done well, if a soul escaped to the Reikai then his entire operation would be in jeopardy. Sure King Enma would send in his special forces to eradicate the Crow. Repeatedly he threw himself against it, thwarted each time.

He snarled viciously, the cruelty of his fate seemed to mock his every movement. Even in death he would be denied, how was he to protect the ones he loved if he could not escape? 'How could I have been so fucking stupid, I should have brought help. Inuyasha would have gladly come but I had to try this alone. What the fuck was I thinking?' He slumped against a wall, not feeling the chill that would have permeated his body if he were still living. 'Kami what do I do now?'

It was then that he felt it, a tug on his soul. The feeling was not malevolent; on the contrary it seemed to calm him slightly. It had an urgent feel to it however, as if it was anxious for his response. He made his way towards it quickly, perhaps there was some way out of this hell hole. Perhaps he would be free after all. Silently he made his way through the compound, ignoring the occupants inside until he came to Masakazu. He would have continued past him as well had the Crow not turned towards him and smiled slowly.

Masakazu knew that Kouga was there, he had always been sensitive to the presence of ghosts and this time was no exception. "I trust you find your... accommodations agreeable Kouga. However if they are not, have no worries. On the next full moon all of this will change for you." The Crow spread his hand out in a sweeping gesture and then leaned against the wall. He continued on, knowing that the Wolf was curious as to what he meant. "I'm sure you've been wondering if you are the only one here, I assure you that you are. You see, there is a spell that will allow me to absorb you just the same as I've done to countless others. Your soul will be destroyed and I will become more powerful. You were a fool to come here, there is no escape."

Kouga's fists clenched as he watched the Crow walk away. It explained much to him, there was no way that Masakazu should have become so powerful. However if he were absorbing the spirit energy that a soul contained it would indeed give him a power boost. 'There's got to be a way out of here! There's no way in hell I'm going to help him become more powerful!' Again he felt the tug on his soul and he responded, moving further along he disappeared through a wall at the end of the corridor. His senses jerked as he realized there was a familiar scent, one that greatly reminded him of his pack. It was the smell of a wolf, a very powerful one at that.

A thought had crossed his mind, every wolf had a rank within their own pack. On the alternate plane, it was much the same. Every wolf would be judged by their actions in life and placed accordingly within the pack in the Spirit world. He had felt himself fall from the rankings of the pack on the living world which was something that was not supposed to occur until he had been embraced by the Kami who watched over them from the Reikai according to the legends. Perhaps they had heard his call and knew of what he had done. Would they choose to assist him in his time of need? How would they have known that he was in trouble? The thoughts raced through his mind as he followed the scent. It disappeared into a cave yet still he followed. Before long he stood before the being who had called him.

The Kami before him was beautiful, having an elegance about him that many only dreamed of. A long wolf skin hung from his shoulders, draping down his back. His green eyes stared straight through Kouga, measuring his soul against the standard that all wolves were required to live by. He knew of all that Kouga had done within his lifetime. Had he been judged by the first half of his life alone then surely he would have been banished, never gaining his place within the pack. Yet the actions he had done in the second half of his life were enough to make up for that. It was a pity, his life had been ended in such a fashion yet his journey was not done. He nodded as Kouga knelt before him.

Whoever Kouga had expected to encounter it certainly wasn't this particular Kami. Never had he entertained thoughts of meeting the one true alpha of all the wolf packs in this realm and beyond. He knew then that whatever the reason was for his Fate to have brought him to this point, it was important. "Elyias, my Lord." He bowed his head reverently to the Kami before him and waited what was to come.

Elyias looked at the prone figure before him. What he had endured was harsh, what he would be asked to do would be even more difficult. Yet he knew that Kouga would not refuse him. He would need to dissipate any thoughts of resentment or hatred he might harbor for the girl however. It was likely that Kouga was still in shock over what had happened. "Rise my brother, there is much to be done and little time to accomplish it in. I have come in answer to your request. You seek to further aid the girl? Know that it will not be easy but it is something that must be done if we are all to survive."

Kouga nodded and strengthen his resolve. He had once vowed he would protect Kagome, even in death if need be. He would fulfill that promise. He looked questioningly towards the Wolf Kami, wondering how he had known that he was here. "I would do anything to help her, my Lord. What do you need me to do?"

"Most of this was preordained Kouga, Kagome was meant to be brought here in order to fulfill a prophecy. In her time there is a great evil threatening to break free and destroy the three realms, as it has done with its own. Kagome is one of the chosen ones, as is Hiei. Everything they have been put through was necessary for them to be strong enough to defeat this evil. Even from the beginning with her passage through the well. It was all to prepare her for what is to come. The Scepter of Darkness has come into play, unless the girl manages to gain control of it all will be lost." Elyias beckoned him to walk with him. As they made there way back into the lair he continued. "With Kagome's guidance and influence over the Scepter, Hiei will have the ability to erase the scourge from existence. However if either of them fall, all of this will have been for nothing. Time runs short for her, the seeds of love have been planted within the two. Soon she will need to go back to her own time but as things currently sit she will be unable to. This is where you come in."

Kouga stopped outside of a doorway, he knew that it was to the cell. He could faintly smell Kagome though it was overpowered by the smell of her blood. Elyias stopped as well and stepped through the doorway. Kouga was left with no choice but to follow him. He wasn't entirely certain he was ready to see her just yet. He stopped, his eyes widening in horror as he looked at the two of them huddled on the floor. He wanted nothing more than to destroy something, anything to vent the rage he was feeling inside.

"Be at ease brother, she is not your enemy." Elyias stated calmly, knowing that he needed to hear the words even if he held no grudge for her at the moment. He knew that Midoriko had done what she could to ensure the girl's protection but it was limited. Even the spell the Seer had placed on her would not work under the most extreme circumstances. The girl could not heal fast enough on her own to be of any use for what was to come. Something more was needed, and that something was Kouga.

Kouga relaxed some. He knew she wasn't the enemy, though his heart ached that she had chosen him to be the one to die. He had never thought that she would make such a decision. Kagome was too kind hearted for him to have ever thought she would do such a thing. His heart went out to her and everyone else that he left behind. Yes he was bitter about the circumstances but he couldn't blame her. Not now, especially not after seeing her like this. Kagome was still in a catatonic state, he couldn't even see any movement from her to indicate she was still breathing. Only the fact that the small demon was laying beside her, holding the girl gently told him that she still lived. He watched as Hiei gently licked the blood away from her face in an attempt to clean and comfort her. Before when he had seen Hiei, he had thought him cold and heartless, jaded to the world around him. Yet now as Kouga watched the Apparition, the compassion in Hiei's eyes for the girl stunned him. He had known Kagome often had that effect on people, yet never had he seen someone so taken with her. Not even when she traveled with Inuyasha.

"You see that she could not have chosen you Kouga. Granted, your presence in this was unexpected. Your fate was one thing that had to be altered to ensure the worlds survival. Bear her no ill will for what she had to do." Elyias answered Kouga's silent question.

Kouga slowly turned from the sight before him and looked to the Kami uncertainly. Had he heard him right? He wasn't supposed to be here, like this? "What do you mean my Fate was altered?"

Elyias sighed heavily, he knew that Kouga would want answers. He only hoped that he would accept them. "Kouga you were chosen for your prior attachment to the girl and lured here to die. Kagome had no knowledge that you were even still alive, it crushed her to see you again and then be the method of your destruction. Your death shattered her yet she must recover. Originally you were meant to be a distraction, nothing more, however there was an additional problem which needed to be solved." He looked over to Kouga who had turned back to the girl. Tears streamed down her face as she slept, Hiei responding by holding her more closely even though he had drifted off to sleep. Even then he was doing everything in his power to comfort her. "Hiei almost died which could not have been allowed to happen. Kagome somehow managed to use the Jewel to save him, exhausting the last of it's power which would have trapped her here. It rests once more inside her body, but it's essentially dead. However there is one chance that it can awaken once more. If you were to contribute your own energy and combine it with her holy powers there is a chance that it can be restored."

Kouga looked at him in surprise before walking towards the pair on the floor. Neither moved as he knelt down beside them and he laid his hand on her cheek. Had she really given up her only way home for the boy? Somehow it wouldn't surprise him, she was known to worry about others before herself. "What do I have to do?"

Elyias laid a hand on Kouga's shoulder. What he was going to do was not going to be easy, not by any means. "You need to enter into Kagome's body. Your youkai will be what mixes with her holy powers to recharge the Jewel. At the same time, it will work to repair some of the damage that her body has sustained. Be warned though, too much and you will overload her body and injure her. You must learn the balance that she needs and maintain it. You'll know when the time comes to step away from her. I caution you to be wary, if Masakazu discovers what you are doing the damage will be irreparable. To this end I grant you a place to hide yourself when you must be away from her. Do you accept what you must do?"

Kouga thought about it, if he declined there was no telling what hell she would be put through. If he said yes then he could do his part to ensure that she got home. Really, there was no choice to be made. "I'll do it."

Elyias smiled and passed a blessing onto the Wolf through the contact they had. It would prevent her holy energy from destroying him as he did what was necessary. It was now up to Kouga to do what needed to be done. "Go to her and begin what must be done. She must not fail in this journey. Aid her in her quest and you shall be rewarded for your actions."

Kouga nodded, really no reward was needed. He just wanted her safe and he would do whatever was needed to make it so. He willed himself into her body, slipping into her and set to work, allowing his youki to repair the immense damage done to her body. It was going to be a very long night.

~*~

Aiko sat on the furs of her bed staring blankly ahead. Kouga was dead, there was no denying it. She had felt it the moment that he had died and since then she had been filled with an ache that refused to be filled. She didn't know how she was going to go on. She couldn't possibly take another mate, not after Kouga. Tears ran down her cheeks as her hand fell to rest upon her stomach. She had never had the chance to tell him, he was going to be a father once again. He would have found out soon when she was forced to take on her true form to accommodate her growing litter. Never would her children know their father who had been stolen from them.

'He was only supposed to be gone for a few hours, what could have happened to him?' Her mind shrieked with unanswered questions. She had known he had needed some time to himself. Things were always so hectic and things just kept piling up on him. He never asked for much, only some time alone which she was happy to give him. She knew that he needed his space as well. She knew where he had gone, it was the same as each time prior. He'd go and drink a few beers and then return, never deviating from the normal. Until this time.

She stood up and wiped all the traces of tears from her face. That was were the search for the truth would begin. Her resolve hardened, whoever had stolen her mate would pay dearly. There was a fierceness in her eyes as she stalked outside. The other wolves shied away from her as she made her appearance. News of their leader's death had already spread and none were certain of who to look to. A new leader would have to be chosen soon. Aiko looked toward her pack mates as a wolf howled off in the distance. "We leave now, Kouga's death will be avenged."

Time melted away as they ran. They had already been traveling for a few hours even though it seemed like they had just left the den. Her pack surrounded her, matching her stride for stride. She knew that they would be at the Tavern within the hour. Someone there had to have known what had happened to him if he had made it there. So far his scent, though faint, had not deviated from the trail they followed. This was not about seeking closure, this was about revenge, plain and simple. Her blood burned as she thought of having the perpetrator in her grasp. They would suffer horribly at the hands of the pack.

On the horizon, the Tavern has slowly come into view. Something did not seem right to her, cautiously they approached looking for any signs that the killer still lurked about. "Search the area, I will go inside." She didn't wait to see if her orders were acknowledged, they would follow without question. It was the way of the pack, she was still the alpha bitch even if she was mateless.

The room reeked of smoke and cheap wine as she opened the door, gracing the establishment with her presence. The men inside openly leered at her as she walked in but an icy stare was enough to quell any thoughts of them making an advance on her. Not even the serving women wanted to look at her, none were willing to meet her gaze, instead choosing to give sidelong glances. All in all it was very odd indeed. She made her way to a small table in the corner, coincidentally the same one that Kouga had chosen on the last day of his life. She sat down to observe the room, gauging who would be best for her to question. It was old but she felt a very faint trace of her beloved, he had been here. Someone would answer her questions or she would not hesitate to slaughter ever person in the building. After several long minutes a server finally approached asking if she needed anything. Giving the girl a hard stare she ordered water which earned her several raised eyebrows from the server and a few of the demons seated at the table next to hers. Nodding, the waitress went away, unwilling to spend much time in her presence.

After a few minutes another woman approached her with her glass, placing it on the table in front of Aiko. "You are from the wolf pack are you not?"

The smell of fear caught Aiko's sense of smell immediately. It was all too obvious that this woman had something to hide, she refused to make eye contact and continued to stare at the floor. She pressed a hand the glass noting how it seemed rather warm, no doubt laced with something. The bitch would pay! Aiko ignored the drink in front of her choosing to direct her attention to the woman. "You obviously know who I am, tell me how."

The woman nodded, never looking up. She appeared to be deeply ashamed of whatever she had been told to do. "I have a message for you but I cannot tell you here. If you would please follow me."

Aiko stood and followed the woman out back deep into the forest behind the Tavern. They approached a barrier that dispelled under the woman's touch. Abruptly she was assaulted with the smell of Kouga as the continued to walk. Aiko pushed the woman out of her way and moved a few branches that were in her way. She gasped, a hand flying up to her mouth as she looked in front on her. Sitting on a broken stump lay Kouga's head, his beautiful blue eyes glazed over in death. Aiko fought back tears, there would be time for grieving later. She spun quickly, a vicious growl filled the air. "What is the meaning of this?"

The girl trembled in fear in front of the irate demoness. She could sense that she was being surrounded and knew that her life may very well be forfeit for bringing the wolf demons here. Yet if she had refused to do as she had been told, she knew that she would have died anyway. "This is a warning. I was told that if any of the wolf tribe came to ask about the girl I was to bring them here and give them a message." She saw the glint of malice in the woman's eyes as she spoke. The next words came out in a rush as she prayed her blood would not be spilled. "The Priestess is mine and mine alone. This fate awaits all that seek her out."

"Who did this to my mate?" Her eyes narrowed dangerously on the woman, the message was delivered, all that remained was for her to find who was the one to spill his blood. She refused to believe the woman in front of her as she shook her head. Aiko had no doubts that she knew who was behind this. "Wrong answer, now you die."

Her pack mates moved silently through the trees launching themselves at their victim. Teeth and claws tore savagely into her soft flesh as her screams echoed through the forest. Within mere moments the woman was silent, brutally torn to pieces. Aiko contemplated what she knew. Kouga had told her long ago of a Priestess he had known. She ignored the obvious infatuation that he had over her, a human would not hold the interest of a youkai for long with their short life spans.

Kouga had told her of their past together, how she traveled through time. He had said that she was from the future and her mind wondered at the possibilities. Could it be that she had been from this time frame and Kouga had found her? Rage welled up inside of her. She had lived in the girl's shadow, knowing that some part of Kouga would always belong to the Priestess and now.. Now he had been stolen from her, and it was all Kagome's fault. If only she hadn't been in the picture, her children would not have to grow up without their father and she would still have her mate. It was unforgivable. The human bitch would pay, along with whoever it was who had her. They would both die by her hand.

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