InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Before the Fairytale ❯ The Fate of the Young ( Chapter 1 )

Before the Fairytale

Prolog

Millenniums ago, back when this land was pure and monsters roamed freely, magic ruled this earth. The human race was barely existent in this harsh land and has been ignored by its leaders, the creatures born of magic and nature. These creatures go by many names depending on where you find them: Faye, spiritual guides, apparitions, goblins, and at times devils, but in this land they are called Youkai. This land was Japan; long before the battles between feudal lords and thousands of years before the birth of the Miko (Shrine Maiden) Midoriko and her Shikon no Tama. Youkai lived, fought, and died in these wooded hills and mud flats of Japan for millions of years before the young frail race called humans encroached on this land.

Chapter 01: The Fate of the Young.

Today wasn't any unordinary day for the young youkai pup. He had awakened early to the call of his father and grandfather for morning training, and was expected to answer the same call later on in the day for evening training. As for now, he followed closely behind his great-aunt, Kumomeinu, holding a basket full wet-stones. Kumomeinu demanded that he come along to help her gather these stones for her rock and sand garden. She stood knee deep in the stream, bent over with her kimono tied about her waste and her sleeves pulled back.

"Touga-chan!" she snipped at the boy. "Look alive and bring that basket over here!"

Touga sighed loudly and hoisted the basket effortlessly with both arms and crossed the beach. He was a thinly built child, in this form anyways, with silvery-white hair pulled tightly back into a small tail at the top of his head, wide expressive golden eyes, and blue markings on his face that ran from his elf-like ears to his cheeks. He dressed in a simple blue and black kimono, wore no shoes but had wraps around his shins, and carried a wooden sword on his left side. His great-aunt Kumomeinu though being over ten thousand years old didn't look any older then a human would in their mid fifties. She didn't have white hair, but pail blond hair, which was also pulled up, but in a bun and covered in a green and gold wrap. Her eyes were also gold, but she had several red markings on her face.

"Aunty," Touga spoke up. "How long is this going to be?"

Kumomeinu shot him a hard glance. "Don't question your elders…. Now bring that basket closer, boy." She then pointed to a spot in the water. "Over there would be fine."

Touga bit his lower lip, his short fangs leaving impressions on his chin, and waded into the water with the basket in hand. He then sat the basket down with a clack. "Is this fine?"

His aunt turned her head up to see. "A little more to the left," she said while waving her hand.

Toga quickly picked the bag up and moved it over a couple paces. "Here?"

"Yes," she then sighed. "That will be fine."

"Can I go now, Aunty?" Touga now asked eagerly.

Kumomeinu straitened up and stretched her arms back with a moan. "Where are you wanting to go in such a hurry?"

"Well I…" he rubbed his cheek with his finger, a blush on his face. "Well I really wanted to go play for a little while before my training session this evening."

"But you have another four hours before then," she slyly remarked. "This would only take another hour, at most. Not like you cannot fool around tomorrow, Touga-chan."

"Yeah, I guess your right," his words hung heavy with disappointment, as did the saddened expression on his face that followed. He turned away and started to head back to the basket he just moved moments before.

Kumomeinu crossed her arms and slowly shook her head. "I hate it when you do that to me, Touga-chan."

He looked over his shoulder at her.

"Go ahead, go on, Touga-chan," she said with a sigh and waved him off.

"Really?!" he shouted joyously, a broad smile spreading on his face.

"Yes, really," Kumomeinu shrugged. "Now be gone!"

"Thank you, Aunty!" He laughed as he ran to her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"You can stop buttering me up, Touga-chan," she said with a laugh.

Touga left her arms and ran off through the waters, hooting and howling. The waters fell away as a bright light came over him. His form grew to that of one three times his size, molding and shifting into a more primitive animalistic figure. Silvery white hair shown through the light as it faded away. Now standing before the youkai woman was a big white dog with round red eyes. Touga bounded happy through the waters and took to the air in a single leap.

Kumomeinu only shook her head and took up the basket the boy once held, heading back to the shore with it. "That boy's going to be the end of us…."

*

The sky was clear and amazingly blue today. The smell of spring flowers and salty spray from the sea only a mile to the west hung in the wind. The young pup bounced though the white puffy clouds one by one, howling in delight each time the mist fell away beneath him. He followed the smell of the flowers to a field in the mountains; where he rolled in the grass and bathed his belly in the sun.

Partway through his afternoon nap, a scent reached Touga's keen nose, stirring him. He gave a big yawn and rolled back over to stretch. With is nose in the air he followed the smell until it lead him to the woods. He shrank back down into his smaller form figuring that it would be easier to hide among the bushes and shrubs as he sniffed out the source of the scent. It wasn't an uncommon aroma, it was of fish and boar roasting in a pit, but as he got closer he started to smell horses and live chickens. There was something else also, something he hasn't sensed before, something or someone new….

The scent becoming very strong now, he slowed his pace and walked closer to the ground. He pulled back a limb of the bush he hidden behind, and was struck with awe. He was standing at the edge of a small village, but it wasn't a youkai village. He was the only youkai around that he could detect. A handful of shacks made up the town and directly front of him was garden for growing herbs, which was planted near a shelter for the horses, a couple cows, and several chickens.

Someone existed one of the miniature houses and turned in his direction. Touga quickly ducked back down into the bush, but kept the limb lowered enough to look out. This person looked much like he does in his current state, but that was all the similarity there was. This creature was female; at least that is what he thought it was. She dressed in ragged clothing and had warned features. Her ears were rounded, not pointed like most of the other youkai he has known. She had bent over to lift a couple of baskets over shoulder and made her way to the stable. He knew he had to get closer to one of them to really get a good feel for them.

Touga stooped back from the shrubbery and crawled quickly along the ground around the perimeter. The homes he found himself near were quiet, most likely their residents were out tending the flat or gathering food elsewhere. Presuming it was safe, Touga crept out of the trees and approached the houses. He flattened himself against the rough, wooden back-wall of the hut and slowly edged along its face. No sooner did he scuttle a couple feet one of the creatures turn the corner. It was a boy! They both let out a yelp. Touga fell backwards onto his ass; while the little boy had flattened against the wall of the neighboring shack, his eyes wide open. Touga scrambled back into the bush and hid himself behind one of the nearby trees.

The boy, being no older then six or seven, slowly moved into the woods after the youkai-child. Though Touga may look the same age of the boy, he is really twice that in years. The boy looked about the bushes, his movements shaking as he done so.

"He-hello?" the child called, his belated words falling from his quivering lips. "W-w-w-where'd-d you go?"

Touga hung closely to the tree; his heart feeling like it is going to pop out of his chest at any moment. He bit onto his lower lip, his fangs once again showing.

"I don't want to be alone," the boy then said. "Don't leave me here by myself. There is no one else to play with."

The sound of the boy's sniffling reached the youkai boy's sensitive ears. Touga slowly looked back around the tree and seen the boy sitting on the ground with his head buried in his knees. Touga approached the boy and crouched down before him, sitting much like a dog would with his hands on the ground before him. Unable to withstand the temptation, Touga sniffed over the boy. These people defiantly were not youkai; this boy had no youki and was very vulnerable compared to even the weakest of youkai.

The boy's head moved up and faced Touga now. The boy jumped backwards, but caught himself with his hands.

"Who-who-who are you?" the boy squeaked, his finger pointing rapidly at Touga.

Touga's golden eyes blinked several times and he stood back up, resting his hands on his waist. "I am Inu no Touga of the West!" he stated boldly pointing to himself with his thumb. "Who may you be?"

The boy sat stunned in silence for several moments before swallowing hard and croaking an answer. "Kusaba."

"What would you like to do today, Kusaba-kun?" Touga said with a broad toothy smile and a bow.

*

The sun had set several hours ago. Summer has arrived since Touga has started seeing the boy Kusaba. Touga visited the human boy's home nearly everyday while Kusaba's parents were out tending to the flats. Kusaba wanted him to meet his parents, but Touga told him that it was probably best that he didn't. Kusaba later told Toga that his parents think Touga was some wild mountain dog he befriended; Touga thought that was funny.

Touga slowly made his way through the yard of the manner. He was late for his training, which he should have started a couple hours ago. He knew his father would be waiting in the dojo for him and would be mad at him again for being late. Cautiously, Touga reached out for the screen door and pushed it slowly to the side.

Across the room was a massive lump of armor and gray hair sitting on his knees with his hands resting on them. Hakkouga's, Touga's father, lower form in itself was large, perhaps eight feet tall and five wide in the chest, without the armor. Hakkouga also had more of his dog-like traits visible in this form then what Touga does, like a longer face, extra dark markings, and additional fur over all.

"Touga!" the deep voice bellowed.

Touga slowly made his way across the bamboo floor and got to his knees before his father.

"Where have you been, boy?" The armored lord looked down upon his son on the floor. "This is the fifth time this month that you have came in late for evening training. Explain yourself!"

"I was with m…."

"SILENCE!" Hakkouga growled and pulled the boy from the floor. "Don't speak such lies to your own father, Touga! I checked with your friends, they've hadn't seen you, and you always come home smelling like some animal!"

"It's the truth, Father!" Touga fretted, holding tight to his father's strong arm. "I met a boy, Kusaba-kun, in the woods to the north."

The lord let go of Touga, the small youkai boy falling hard to the flooring. "A boy? One of those humans?"

"Yes, father. He is my friend. He is nice to me! He has no one else to be his friend!" Touga shouted.

"That is no excuse! IT is just a weak human, a pet at best!" Hakkouga growled. "You need to learn responsibility, Touga! Neglecting your duties for a pathetic human child is reckless. Those humans are weak and will only use you to try to solve their own problems."

Touga pulled himself to his feet. "But Kusaba-kun won't do that to me, Father! He is a good person!"

"That doesn't matter, Touga!" he barked. "I forbid you from even leaving the grounds, and especially never to see those human pests ever again!"

"Father, please don't do this!" Touga fretted.

In a blur, the lord's hand swooped down and backhanded the young youkai boy. "Stop sniveling, Touga, and accept your punishment! From this day on until I say different, you cannot leave these grounds unattended!"

Touga watched as his father's massive-armored-body move across the dojo floor and out the screen door, slamming it shut behind with a loud CRACK! Touga forced himself into a sitting position and rubbed his sore face, trying to keep himself from crying…. but he couldn't help himself.

*

The season come and went, and fall was upon them. Touga slowly raked the leaves into a small pile, mulling over his thoughts. His body was constantly sore due to the training exercises becoming more strenuous and from all the constant work he has been forced to do. He wasn't aloud to visit his youkai friends, and he also really misses seeing Kusaba.

His grandfather, Sukosokubou, sat near the doorway watching him persistently, making sure he doesn't run away. Sukosokubou, like Touga, didn't carry many noticeable dog-like traits in his lesser form. He was a graceful fighter more then a brutish one; unlike Touga's father Hakkouga. He always favored strategizing over going head long into situations, which makes him someone tough to fool.

At Sukusokubou's sides were two blades, the Mugoi-kyouran and the Monosugoi-desu. The Mugoi-kyouran was a small sword, unusual in design to any sword known in the land, it was a strait double blade that came to a point, much like a dagger but longer. In combat Sukosokubou used it to knock the opponent's blade back while his right hand goes in with the Monosugoi-desu to make the final blow. The Monosugoi-desu looks much like the standard katana, and only been seen used like one. Touga's father once told him that the blades were made with magical properties out of the bones of his great-great-grandfather, Hikarimono-inu, after his passing in a terrible ancient battle fought across the western sea, and that the swords are heirlooms to be passed down to the first born of each generation once they prove worthy or the current owner passes (generally the later).

"Touga-kun!" His grandfather's smooth voice broke into his thoughts. "Come over here for a while."

Touga nodded tossing the rake across his right shoulder and stepped forward. "Yes, grandfather?"

"Set the rake down for a while and take a seat next to me," he said it more like a request then an order, but Touga nodded and leaned the rake against the wall as he stepped up onto the porch. Once settled Touga looked up at his grandfather rather expectantly. Sukosokubou reached over and placed a hand over Touga's shoulder.

"Touga-kun!" He said in a conduct as if he were ready to give a well-versed speech. "I know your father has been a complete ass to you lately, he's always been a complete ass, so you shouldn't expect any different out of him. But though you may think the punishment was a bit harsh, you've got to know what he's talking about, and it isn't just because you were late to training.

Touga-kun, you're father, though brash about it, was on the right track about those humans. They are nothing more then wild animals. To get emotionally attached to them would only bring pain. You understand what I'm telling you right?"

Touga reluctantly shook his head `no.'

"Well, Touga-kun…" Sukusokubou sighed and patted Touga on the back of the head. "Those humans don't live very long compared to us and other youkai. You are still young and cannot really grasp the concept of living through long periods of time. Your human friend may look the same age as you do now, but you are much older then him and you will still look much younger then him even after your friend has grown old and died. Thousands of generations of humans will grow old and pass on in the first half of your life alone."

"Why are you telling me such a horrible thing, Grandfather?" Touga was shaking in the elder youkai's hand.

"Because you've got to know this now or you'll only get hurt many times, Touga-kun." Sukosokubou looked him square in the face. "It is hard to loose someone you care about, if you become attached to these humans, you will only set yourself up for heartbreak. You must stop your friendship with the child now, or you will only get hurt. You understand me now, Touga-kun?"

"No! I don't want to understand, Grandfather!" Touga fretted pulling the old lord's hand from his shoulder and running into the castle. The boy youkai's words fading as he moved further and further away: "Don't talk anymore, it's all wrong!"

*

Touga paced angrily in his room; his grandfather and father's words haunt his every thought. He knew they were wrong, he just knew they were wrong. But no mater how many times he'd try to fort their arguments, they would always win, but Touga didn't care. He knew that Kusaba was a nice person, no mater if he was frail or won't live as long as he would.

Outside it was the dead of night, the whole castle slept, even is father and his grandfather. He knew this had to be the time to make his escape if he were to ever see his friend again. Touga slowly opened the screen door and poked his head into the vacant hall. Stepping out the door, he didn't bother to close it, in fear of making too much noise. Concentrating hard, the wind near his feet began to gather and fog, slowly he inched off the ground. Holding this singular thought, he pushed himself forward. He knew he had to keep his concentration or he would fall and cause more noise then what he wanted. This would be only the second time in his life he had tried this trick out, it is vastly easier to fly in youkai form then it is in current state; but, with the doors and the lack of space, it was best to risk clumsily fling in little form.

Slowly he made it down the hall, only slipping once, but was able to catch himself before he hit the wood floor. He gradually opened the door; this door too he didn't close. Now in the safety of the garden he was able to run feely with out worry of being spotted. He leapt up into a tree near the wall and bolted over. He held his breath as he quickly caught himself in the air by forming the cloud beneath him and landing on it. After making sure that no one spotted him, he lowered himself to the ground. He started sprinting through the woods knowing that he cannot stop now, that he must make it to his friend.

*

It was very early in the morning by the time Touga made it to the village. Few of the villagers were awake, those that were, were already hard at work feeding the live stalk or taking posts around the village. Touga knew something was different with the town today; he could smell worm-youkai, fresh blood, and death everywhere, most of the sentries had cuts and bruises on them, showing they were recently in a battle, as well as there isn't as many horses anymore. Touga was leery as he approached the village, knowing that he could not show himself to the sentries. He sprinted over to the edge nearest to where Kusaba's house was, which was thankfully unguarded and unnoticed. He climbed up into the tree and waited there for his friend, like he has done so many times before.

Hours had passed and the sun cleared the tree line, by now most of the villagers have awakened, and Touga can see the real damage. Over half of them were wounded and several others were unaccounted for, most likely been eaten. Kusaba's mother was the only one to exit the house this morning and head out into the forests to work.

Touga slowly made his way down the tree and along side of the shack. He glanced up and down the streets, making sure no one was about before he moved to the front door and peeked in. The inside of the shack was about as small as he pictured, but it was bare. Not even Kusaba was there. Touga quickly moved inside, if only to avoid being noticed lingering in the path. The whole place smelled like blood, mostly Kusaba's father's blood, but even the small boy's could be smelled. Touga suddenly felt sick, he didn't know what he wanted to do, whether he wanted to cry or to be angry.

A loud scream cut through his delirium. "YOUKAI!"

Touga quickly turned around to see Kusaba's mom in the doorway holding up a piece of wood in her shaking hands. "Get away you foul murderous beast!"

Touga gnawed on his lower lip, the tears were swelling up in his eyes. "Where's Kusaba," the words were pushed out of the young youkai's lips. "Where's my friend?"

"He's dead! You're kind killed him! Like we are going to kill you, You Beast!" The woman screamed and swiped the board towards him. Touga quickly moved to the side to avoid the board. The woman soon swung back to her right, making another missed swipe at the youkai-pup. The sounds of more villagers approaching the small shack were heard outside. Touga rushed forward, pushing the woman aside, and ran out of the door. In the streets the angered cries of the village women berated the youkai-pup. Rocks and sticks came flying over the gathering mob at him. Touga covered his head with his arms, as he ran back into the cover of the forest.

With tears in his golden eyes, Touga escaped. He ran through the woods and into the open field. He didn't care where he was heading; he only wanted to get away from everything. Nothing made since anymore to the young pup. He knew his father and grandfather weren't right about what they say about the humans, even as he ran from the horrors of having lost his young friend to a youkai attack. He knew he wasn't the one to blame, but those humans cannot see that not all youkai are alike. If only they gave him a chance. If only he wasn't forbidden to come here, Kusaba may still be alive.

Touga's steps slowed to a walk. Then he stopped moving all together. He looked around and found himself in the rocky mountainside, no trees to sit by, or grass to sit on, all gray hard rock. He didn't know how long he had ran, or how far he was into the mountains. He forced himself to take another step, and another, and another. His feet feel weighted; he didn't know where he was and he didn't want to fly in fear that he could be spotted by the villagers or even his family. Touga slowly made his way through the rough rock, until he spotted a small alcove, an over hanging of rock to sit beneath, a safe place to gather his thoughts. The youkai-pup crawled under the rock, curling his legs against his chest, and drifted asleep among his terrible lingering memories.

*

Something sharp pricked him in the side of his neck. Unconsciously he reached up and slapped whatever it was. Now fully awake he gave a big yawn and sat up. He opened his right hand to see what it was that bit him. In his palm was a very tiny man, a youkai of some sort, curled up with his four hands over his brown hair. Touga poked at the little youkai with his index finger. "Hey, bug, are you alive?"

The tiny youkai peeked over shoulder(s) at the young pup. This little man had big round eyes, a beaked nose, and a mustache the same color as his hair. And in his tiny voice: "You're not going to squash me?"

"Why would I?" The boy asked, perplexed at the question.

"Well I…." The little man then crossed his arms and scratched his head with the other pair. "Well I wouldn't know why. I only assumed you would, it's always happened before when I was caught getting a meal."

"A meal? What do I have that you want to eat?" The dog-boy turned his head to one side, curiosity shining in his eyes. "I have nothing to eat for myself, not even a crumb."

"Can't you tell, child?!" The little man exclaimed, hopping angrily in Touga's hand. "I'm a flea! A flea, I say! I feed on blood!"

"I have fleas!!!" The look of panic came to the boy's face. He started to scratch his silvery hair vigorously. "Ewh! Now I have to take a herb bath!"

"You don't have fleas!" the bug was on the ground before the child leaping in the air. "You are the first person I've seen in these hills all day. I was hungry!"

Touga had stopped scratching his head then and looked down at the flea. The flea crossed his arms and turned his beak in the air. "And might I add, that you have a delectable taste, a real treat. It is not everyday one as myself comes across a youkai-dog, especially one of your taste!"

"Thank you, I think…." Touga scratched his nose. He balled his fists and placed them on his knees. "Do you happen to have a name, Flea?"

The flea bounced up onto the boy's hand and bowed. "Myouga the Flea: always a pest, never a burden. And might I ask who you are my delectable delicacy?"

"Ewh…." Touga once again commented. He cleared his throat and loudly stated. "I am Touga no Inu, son of Hakkouga-sama of the West."

"Ooooooh-oooh!" Myouga bounced happily in joy. "So you're the Inu no Daimyou's young grandson! It is an honor to meat you Touga-sama!"

Touga was taken back his eyes going wide in awe. "No one has ever addressed me so highly before, Myouga-kun."

"Well they should!" The flea huffed back. "You have a strong youki for one such as yourself, I see you doing great things!"

"That's if my father and grandfather would let me," the boy looked away and gnawed on his lower lip.

"Oh?" The flea jumped up onto the boy's nose. "What seams to be the problem? Maybe Myouga can help you out, Touga-sama?"

"What can you do? You are but a flea!"

Myouga crossed his arms. "I may be a humble flea, but I still have a voice and several years under my belt! If you'd let me know what's happening, I would be grateful to give you advice… for a free meal that is!" The flea wily chuckled.

*

The sun was retreating back below the distant sea, being chased way by the moon and stars. Myouga told Touga of a way out of the mountains, and had also agreed to go with him back home. Touga warned the flea that his father wouldn't be in a very good mood about him running away last night. Myouga only shrugged in response, but still decided on staying with him anyways.

Touga knew he liked this flea called Myouga. Myouga, though older and more knowledgeable then he was, didn't see him like many of the other elders who insist on wanting him to do what they want with out question. Myouga seamed to work for himself, doing what he wanted, given that he doesn't get physically involved or harmed; but Touga liked that about the flea. Everybody else he knows would rather not back down from a fight and even tell him do to the same. Later on in life, Myouga the Flea would one day tell Touga, "It is fool hearted to try and fight everybody's battles. They are the ones that started it; you cannot be the one to finish it. Let them do it themselves, regardless of failure or success." Touga's response that day was a hearty laugh as he soon done the exact opposite of what the flea told him.

They were found near the river that passed by the base of the castle grounds by Kumomeinu. She reprimanded the boy and told him of how angry Hakkouga was that he ran away. Touga only could nod, because he already knew. Touga instead introduced Myouga to her, that being after she crushed the flea after trying to drink her blood. Kumomeinu was actually rather pleased that Touga had made a new friend and one that wasn't his own age or a human at that, which lessened the later verbal scolding from her. Touga's father, on the other hand, wouldn't hold back the punishments regardless of the flea's presence. Touga was given a swift smacking, and told that for the next five days from morning to noon he had to spend training, the rest of the day he would be by his side, and finally he was to sleep in the cubby in the dojo wall for those nights.

Myouga stayed out of site while Touga was away with his father and grandfather, knowing that he couldn't do anything to sway the Dog Lords. The flea crawled into the cubby that night and stayed with Touga. The youkai-pup was glad that Myouga was so small, and was grateful for the company of his tiny new friend.

*

A hard pounding on the dojo wall aroused Touga early in the morning; it was his father. Myouga squeaked and hidden himself away beneath the youkai-boy's kimono. Hakkouga opened the door and pulled the boy out by the neck of his kimono, dropping him to his feet. "Touga! Come with me."

Hakkouga moved across the room to the door. Touga gave a big yawn and rubbed his eyes, following close behind.

Myouga popped his head up from the boy's ruffled dressings. "Where is he heading?"

"I don't know," the boy murmured below his breath, making sure to make very little sound so his father wouldn't hear.

"Ooooh," was the flea's only response.

It was cold outside; a thick mist covered the entire ground and the sun was long from coming up to lift the fog away. Standing amiss of the clouds was his grandfather in his mighty youkai form, his true form. Sukusokubou was nearly forty-five meters tall at the shoulder, white with specks of gray and red markings about his body.

Hakkouga turned to face Touga. "Today you will be going with your grandfather to the lands in the far south. If you cooperate, you will be relieved of the rest of your punishment. You are to be on your best behavior. Do you understand?"

Touga quickly nodded. "Yes, Father."

Touga transformed and came to Sukusokubou's side. Compared to the impressive lord, Touga was minute not even reaching his knees, even if he were to stand on his hindquarters. Sukusokubou lifted up with very little movement on his part, while Touga had to get a running leap to catch the air.

They traveled for quite sometime before the blinding morning sun came up over the horizon. It was going to be a clear day today, very few big clouds were about and but there were many high wispy cirrus clouds. The trees below were many vibrant colors of yellows, oranges, reds, and greens signs that fall had officially arrived. Sukusokubou made sure to slow his pace to so he didn't get out of eyesight of the young pup. Myouga was bouncing about from nose to tail on Touga, trying to get the best view of the stunning landscape.

"I have never been so high up before, Touga-sama!" The flea exclaimed in delight and laugher. "I had no idea how big this land really is!"

But everything's big to you, Myouga-kun! The youkai-pup mused.

"I know that! But that's besides the point, Touga-sama," Myouga huffed. "The point being, that though you may be gifted with the ability to fly and seen all this stuff a thousand times over, I have not, and I would like to revel in the spectacular view while I can."

Touga had shifted his head about to look at the flea. But, Myouga-kun, we will be coming right back through here in a few days.

Myouga bounced to the youkai-pup's nose and sat down, crossing his arms. "Where you even listening to me, Touga-sama?"

Yeah, I heard what you said. He sighed and faced forward again; his grandfather was far off in the distance. Touga stepped up his pace, partially closing in the gap between them; but Sukusokubou was still way ahead of him.

Sukusokubou had stopped, perching on one of the larger clouds in the sky, giving Touga a chance to rejoin him. Touga was short of breath, and had no time to catch it; because no sooner had he reached Sukusokubou, his grandfather had taken off from the cloud and descended towards the ground. Touga whimpered and followed in pursuit.

Sukusokubou had vanished beneath the tree line, a bright flash shown from below as he converted back to his lesser form; Touga done the same as he fell from the sky. He caught himself in a self-made cloud before he reached the tops of the branches. Sukusokubou darted out from below, knocking Touga from the cloud. Myouga let out a panicky scream as he fell off of the youkai-pup. Touga tumbled down through several limbs of a tree before hitting a branch solid enough to stop his painful descent. Touga scrambled to catch his footing on the dew-covered bark. He barely gotten a foot up over the branch, when Sukusokubou lowered down alongside the boy.

"Grandfather!" Touga cried. "Why'd you…"

The boy's words caught in his throat. Sukusokubou had his right hand on the handle of the Monosugoi-desu. The old youkai had drawn the sword, arcing it low along side of the tree, and re-sheathed it all in a single fast, fluid motion.

The tree hung motionless where it stood. Touga grappled with its limb for another couple seconds before the whole tree he clung to slid from its base, taking the screaming child along with it.

The tree hit the ground hard. The sound of breaking limbs and timber sinew echoed throughout the forest, birds scattered and animals screamed far and wide. The old youkai lord slowly lowered himself to the ground beside the fallen tree. Touga laid sprawled out on the ground, mumbling incoherently to himself, beaten but not out.

"You will learn to fly today, Touga-kun," Sukusokubou informed the boy. "And learn to fly properly, for we shall not leave this place until you do!"

Touga forced himself upright and pushed a heavy limb, the very same one that broke his fall only moments before, off of him. He wearily got to his feet, brushed himself off, and straitened his kimono.

"Myouga-kun!" Touga yelled, noticing that his flea friend is no longer with him.

"What?" Sukusokubou gave a questioning stare at the boy.

Touga vigorously patted himself down looking for the missing flea. "Myouga-kun! I hope he's alive!"

"Touga-kun!" Sukusokubou barked. He moved over and took hold of the boy's shoulders, shaking the boy until he looked at him. "Who is this Myouga?"

"A flea!" Touga cried.

Sukusokubou jerked back, letting the boy go. "You have fleas?"

"Noooo!" Touga stomped his little feet on the ground. "Myouga-kun is a youkai flea! He's my friend! He was with me before you knocked me down, Grandfather!"

"Oh," Sukusokubou composed himself, but a guilty-look came over his face. "Ooh…."

Touga cusped his hands around his mouth and called after the flea, "Myouga-kun!"

"He shouldn't have fallen far," Sukusokubou commented, trying to ease the boy's unease. "Being so small, he perhaps landed higher up in one of the trees?"

Touga bit his lower lip. "I guess you're right…."

"Well then!" he clasped his hands together and rubbed them. In a blur, Sukusokubou appeared behind Touga and took hold of his arms, "Maybe you should go look!"

"Meep?" The youkai boy was able to squeak out before his grandfather bounded up into the air with him in tow.

*

The flea moaned; he felt like he had just woke up the morning after nearly drowning in sake. His arms wouldn't move and his head seamed like it was going to pound open at any moment. Myouga slowly opened his big eyes; above him were blurry splotches of orange and green. His vision came into focus and now could tell they were leaves.

"Ug," the flea moaned again. "What happened?"

Myouga tried to move his arms once again, but still couldn't. He turned his head to the side and saw that his arms were stuck to thick white string: a spider's web! Myouga let out a loud scream and squirmed trying to get free of the web. "He-eee-lp Meeeee!"

"Now why would you waste your breath, My Supper?" a gargled voice spoke up.

"Huuhn?" The flea swallowed hard and inched his head in the direction of the voice, his face was blue with fright. Several black spiny lings clicked and clacked as they moved into view. The bloated body of the youkai spider, perhaps the size of a house-cat, but a monster for the little flea, soon came into view.

"EEEEEEEK! Touga-sama! Heeeeeeelp!" The flea frantically fought with the webbing to get loose, but to no avail. The spider crept ever the more closer.

"Please! You don't want to eat me! I am too small! I won't make a good meal for one of your magnitude!" Myouga pleaded.

"You will be the appetizer, my little flea," the spider cackled. "I have several birds waiting safely in my lair for hibernation. And besides, I leave you in my web something larger would come by and ruin it trying to eat you." The spider blissfully clicked its mandibles together.

Myouga screamed in terror as the spider reached back with its venom filled mouth ready to strike.

"Me-yooooooooo-gaaaahhhh!" came the familiar howl of Touga coming rapidly towards them. The youkai pup crashed down on top of the spider from above. Myouga was knocked from the web, still crying in terror. The spider, though dazed, shot out a web and caught hold of the nearest three and vanished. The boy, on the other hand, had once again broken his fall on a nearby limb. Touga scrambled to get his footing on the limb and leaped off towards the shrieking flea. Touga ran and jumped through the branches to catch up with his flea friend. He dived suddenly and caught Myouga in his cusped hands, and freefalls into a bush, landing with a loud "Oof!"

Touga rolled out of the bush and was stopped when he hit his grandfather's legs. The old youkai looked down at the boy, then to the dazed flea on his stomach, and back at Touga again. "That was still more falling then flying, but it was a little better, Touga-kun."

Touga groaned, his eyes rolling back into his skull, and passed out.

*

The orange-yellow light of the fire illuminated the small area. There was plenty of firewood to go about tonight, and perhaps for the next lunar cycle as well for the boy's training felled many of trees today. Touga has earned his rest tonight by the fire, learning quick many of the hard lessons his grandfather had taught him today. Touga slept, almost dead to the world as his grandfather and flea-friend watch on. They sat in silence for many moments watching the fire in a passive still, the old lord being the first to break this quietness. "Myouga-kun, come this way."

"Right away," The flea hopped from the boy's shoulder to the old lord's knee. "May I be inclined to ask what for, Inu no Daimyou?"

Sukusokubou gave an amused chuckle. "Tell me, why have you decided to stay with Touga, Myouga-kun?"

Myouga crossed his lower arms and scratched his head with one of his others. "Well, at first it was a promise of a free meal for exchange of some friendly advice."

"Seams reasonable," The old dog nodded. "What about now?"

"Now…" the flea shrugged. "I guess it was because I have been taken back about how spirited the lad is. He has strong blood, and I see him doing many impressive things."

The old lord sighed, looking pass the fire at the sleeping child. "The child has the power to be even greater then me, that I know for sure. But, I doubt Hakkouga sees what is obvious to me.

My son has a short fuse and a deeply wounded pride, always preferring the here and now then to the future. He was forced to admit, long ago, that he would never achieve the same class of youkai that most in my blood had reached. He is still a powerful foe, but I dread the day he sees that Touga-kun will be better then him, and even me."

"What do you plan on doing once that day comes?" Myouga inquired.

"I plan on delaying it as far as possible," Sukusokubou admitted. "That is the real reason Touga-kun is out here right now. Not to train, but to send him away from the castle…"

Myouga gasped, "You are sending Touga-kun away from his home? He is but a child!"

The old lord hushed the flea. "No, not for good. He is going to spend the winter with one of the wolf youkai tribes in the south. I told his father that it would be better for him, that the wolves would teach him survival techniques and would break him of some of his sympathies. But in reality, I am hoping that the time apart would let Hakkouga's anger simmer down."

"Ooooh!" Myouga said in comprehension. "That is actually quite a good idea."

"It is what is best for the boy without further risk on his own sanity," he said. "He has too many telling him what is right and wrong, and his father speaks with a fist along with it."

Sukusokubou stood, stretching his arms behind his back. "We have become fortunate that you had arrived when you did, Myouga-kun."

"Why do you say that, my lord?" the bounced up onto the old dog's left shoulder.

"Because Touga-kun will need someone to look after him during this winter," a strange smirk came across Sukusokubou's face. "And seeing that you have developed a shinning to the boy, that person is you."

"Me?" Myouga peeped in shock.

"But of coarse!" Sukusokubou laughed, but caught himself and lowered his voice. "Of coarse. We have been looking for a vassal for the boy for quite sometime."

"A vassal?" the flea squeaked again.

"It isn't that bad," Sukusokubou fanned his hand to the flea. "Given your size, all you have to do is advise Touga-kun, and make sure he stays in line. No problem."

The flea blinked several hard times. "No problems, right…."

"Yep," the old lord clasped his hands behind his back and started walking off, "No problems at all."

"Hey!" The flea huffed. "Where are you going, My Lord?"

"The boy is your Lord now, Myouga-kun," Sukusokubou turned to face the flea. "Now leave this old dog in peace, I am going to take sentry point in one of the nearby trees. Good-night."

The flea swallowed hard and bounced off of the old lord's pelt. He rejoined Touga's side and gave a deep loud sigh. "I have a feeling you'll bring the death of me, Touga-sama."

Touga yawned and rolled over on top of the small flea. Myouga cried out, but Touga was soon fast a sleep.

*

Sukusokubou vaulted from the trees, and away from the cover of the forest behind. He landed delicately and quickly glided smoothly across the grass and meadow, stirring a cloud of dead leaves and dust behind him. Touga was close behind him, landing harder then his grandfather, but he too began to skim across the plain in a similar manner, trying to keep up with the elder youkai. Myouga held on tightly to the boy's short ponytail, sniveling in fright.

Sukusokubou soared into the air, clearing many feet in a single bound, before touching down and leaping again and again. Touga lowered to the land and sprinted before clearing the ground. Once in the air he flew for several feet, but when he reached his apex he stalled, getting hung up by a stray wind and slowly drifted back to the ground.

Sukusokubou appeared before the boy, his arms crossed in dismay. "There was no need to fall out of your stride before making this jump, Touga-kun."

"I'm sorry," the youkai boy huffed trying to catch is breath.

"No excuses," the old lord groused. "We'll make another run after breakfast."

"Yes, Grandfather," Touga replied.

Sukusokubou turned away from the boy, walking back towards the forest. Touga swallowed his breath, composing himself, before following after his grandfather.

"I think you've done rather well, Touga-sama," Myouga bounced down to Touga's shoulder and patted him on the side of his face.

"You do?" Touga looked over to the flea then motioned to Sukusokubou ahead. "Grandfather doesn't seam to notice, or care."

"You don't believe that, now do you?" Myouga queried.

"I don't know, Myouga-kun," Touga gave a shrug.

Myouga crossed his arms and faced forward towards the old lord, remembering back to the conversation he had with the old lord a couple days ago. "I think he notices you more then you'd think, Touga-sama, and has your best interests in mind."

"My interests?" Touga humph'ed. "What would he know about what I want?"

"I wouldn't know, Touga-kun," Myouga rubbed his chin. "But I do know that he is thinking about your well being and your safety, and we wouldn't be out there if he didn't, you'd have spent the past two nights in a little cubby-hole in a wall."

Touga sighed, "Yeah, I guess you're right, Myouga-kun."

They traipsed trough the forest for nearly an hour. Sukusokubou kept his nose to the air, picking up a distant smell several minutes ago. Touga began to notice the smell of cattle and horses as they moved further in, and several moments later, he could now smell humans. Touga bit onto his lower lip in agitation, and stopped.

"Grandfather," Touga spoke up.

Sukosokubou paused, turning back to face the boy.

"Why are we moving in towards the humans?" Touga pointed off past the old youkai.

Sukusokubou turned back about, looking towards where Touga pointed, and sniffed the air. He crossed his arms, "We're not going to confront them, Touga-kun. We're just going to snag a cow and be off."

"But that will be their cow, Grandfather," Touga huffed. "I don't think we should be…"

"Touga-kun!" The old lord turned back to the boy and gave him a hard glare. Touga flinched backwards, biting his lower lip. "Touga-kun," Sukusokubou said in a lower tone, "it will be alright. They can survive with one or two cattle less; and besides if they have too many cattle and horses, they will cut and burn down the forests to make room for them and the food that needs to be grown to feed the cattle."

"I still don't think it would be fair to them, Grandfather," Touga murmured.

"What is there to be fair about, Touga-kun?" Sukusokubou retorted, scrunching his nose up at the boy. "Our kind has had domain over this land long before these humans had came here. We are the rightful rulers here, and it is among our good will that we've let them stay. Many youkai will only slaughter the humans and leave their corpses to rot where they felled. And you dare speak that it is wrong to pick off a stray cow or horse, Touga-kun?"

"Please forgive me, Grandfather," Touga whimpered, "but I think we should just leave them alone."

"Nonsense!" he barked. "To do so will only bring further spreading and trespassing among the land. Entire forests will be leveled, rivers will be dammed up, and whole mountainsides will be felled to make way for their towns. They will breed like insects and leech this small land."

"Hey!" Myouga croaked. "I resemble that remark!"

"Quiet, Myouga-kun," he snipped at the flea. Myouga crawled down from Touga's shoulder and hid in his kimono.

"But Grandfather!" Touga howled.

"I'm still going, Touga-kun," The grimace on Sukusokubou's face deepened. "If you don't like it, you can just get your own food."

Touga tightened his shoulders, clinching his fists, watching his grandfather leave him behind.

"FINE!" The youkai-boy screamed and swiftly stormed off in an alternative path. Myouga popped back out from Touga's kimono and climbed to the top of the boy-youkai's head.

"You were a little brash back there, Touga-sama," the flea commented.

"Do you see me caring?" Touga grumbled.

"I think you should try just a little more at doing so," Myouga crossed his arms and turned his nose up. Touga stopped and picked the flea off of his head, holding Myouga in between his index and thumb.

"I'd wish you'd stop trying to take his side on things."

"I was not!" Myouga huffed. "I was merely expressing my concern."

Touga gave a low growl and promptly squashed the flea in his fingers. Touga dropped the flea and continued through the bush, grumbling about how everybody is suddenly working against him.

"Touga-sama! How could you?" Myouga squeaked as he floated away in the wind.

*

Sukusokubou had returned long ago with his catch in his large jaws. Returning to his smaller form he had prepared several chunks of its flesh and feasted quite leisurely on it. Touga could only dream of eating as the smell of the cow's blood and cooking sinew lofted through the woods. If ever he were to wonder close to where his grandfather was preparing the meal, Sukusokubou will only growl at him, letting the boy know that he was unwelcome.

Touga listened to his own stomach growl. Myouga hadn't bothered to follow after him after Touga had smashed him. Touga was now wondering where the flea had gone, hoping that his outburst earlier didn't cause Myouga to run away for good.

Touga shook his head, trying to wash away the persistent thoughts. He returned his attention to his nose and the fresh sent of a boar he had picked up only a while ago. He crouched low against the ground and progressed through the trees, he knew all he had to do was get in close enough to pounce it.

Touga pushed a brush limb out of his sight and spotted the hog rooting and digging at the dirt. The boy crouched low to the ground, preparing himself to spring out of the bush and tackle the boar to the ground. He licked his lips and then held his bottom lip in his teeth.

A loud yell came from Touga's far right. The boar raised its head in alarm. Several arrows shot from the right, striking the boar in its side, but not killing it. The boar ran off to the left. Touga stood from his position, his quivering mouth agate. Two human men came running out of the bushes, their bows in hand.

"That was my breakfast!" Touga cried.

The two men turned sharply towards the boy. Their faces sunk with fear when they realized that Touga was youkai. One of the men quickly knocked their bow.

Touga shrieked, but his reflexes became the better of him. The youkai child darted forward, striking the bow from the man's hand, and quickly disarming the other along with it.

The two men didn't bother to recover their weapons and ran back from the way they came, crying out "Youkai!" repeatedly.

Touga flopped down to the ground and gave a loud sigh. His tummy growled at him, reminding the youkai-child why he was out here in the first place. He pointed his nose to the air and smelled around for the boar. The boar's scent was easily picked up due to the bleeding it was doing from the two arrows in its side. Touga promptly stood back up and took chase after the injured prey.

Touga caught up with the boar in no time. The boar was on its side, breathing shallowly, it had ran itself as far as it could, and was tired from pain and lack of blood. Touga swiped at the boar with his claws with all his might, cutting its head clear off. Touga moved along side of the beast and removed the arrows from its side. He placed the boar over shoulder, not minding that it was bleeding all down the front of his kimono, and headed back to where his grandfather was staying.

Sukusokubou gave his growl when Touga approached, but ceased once the boy came into view with his meal. He stood and came to Touga's side, looking over the boar on his shoulder.

"It has arrow holes in it, Touga-kun," he remarked.

Touga tensed his shoulder and dropped it to the ground. "I would have gotten it on my own. I would have been the one with the arrow holes if I had jumped out only a couple seconds before those archers fired."

"They've could have been tracking that creature for days now, Touga-kun," Sukusokoubou crossed his arms, nudging at the boar with the tip of his toe. "What makes you more worthy for this beast then them?"

"Because…" Touga bit onto his lip. "Because it is a wild animal! Not one of their domestics, so who ever gets to it first, gets to keep it!"

Sukusokubou shook his head and sighed; "Fine, you've made your point, Touga-kun. You can keep it."

A broad smile beamed on Touga's face. He plopped down on the ground beside his boar and started cutting off pieces of it with his claws.

*

Myouga returned later that day. The flea said that he took the opportunity to scout out the village on the other side of the valley. He said that it was quite a large village nestled on the side of a grassy mountain face, perhaps a population in the hundreds, and had a castle as well. The news of the two youkai's breakfast-antics earlier had reached the village, and Myouga spoke of a band of hunters being assembled to fort further attempts on the cattle. Sukusokubou said that it was of little concern to them, because he was planning on finishing the last leg of the journey tomorrow morning, and he won't stop here on the way back.

Nighttime came and went with nothing more then a slight fall shower and cold. In the morning the forest was covered in a thick fog. Sukusokubou woke early, taking the child to arms, so not to wake Touga from his sleep. Myouga yawned and said his good mornings to the old lord, but remained quiet during the travel, even taking a brief nap. Touga stirred in his grandfather's arms, mumbling and moaning in his sleep.

The sky was covered in thick gray clouds, blocking the sun from touching the land below. They weren't rain clouds, but merely overcast left over from the cold drizzle last night. A chilled breeze was in the air, nipping at them as they glided along in the air.

Sukusokubou climbed higher in the sky, clearing the clouds and greeted the morning sun above. Touga yawned, being aroused by the bright sun hitting his face. He sat up in Sukusokubou's arms and looked out across the floor of clouds below them.

"Grandfather, how long have we been moving?" Touga said with a yawn.

"Perhaps an hour or two," He replied. "We will reach our destination before sunset today."

"Oh," the pup yawned once more and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

"Touga-kun," Sukusokubou spoke up after a moment of silence, the tone in his voice serious but calm.

Touga looked up at him. "Hum?"

Sukusokubou sighed, his eyes forward along the horizon. "I want you to know that no matter what is to happen in these next few months, that though you may not see it now, but one day you will see that it is for the better."

Touga gave him a questioning look. "What do you mean by that, Grandfather?"

"I cannot say, Touga-kun," He turned to look down at the child in his arms; though the look on his face flat, concern was in his eyes. "All that I can promise to you is that what is to come, is how things are going to be from now on. You must learn to survive through it, Touga-kun."

"If you say so, Grandfather," Touga gave a shrug.

"No!" Sukusokubou raised his voice momentarily. "Not because I say so, Touga-kun, but because you want to."

"Yes, Grandfather," Touga looked away from the old lord, out to the distance, pass the blue sky, and the sun, and the clouds below. "I will do so, I promise."

Chapter 01: The Fate of the Young.

Author: L. D. Pickerill a.k.a. Myu2k2

Date: Wednesday October 13, 2004