InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Before the Fairytale ❯ Wolves ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 02: Wolves

It was just past sunset when Sukusokubou landed, Touga was close behind. It was around mid-day when the boy began flying on his own, and due to the harsh crash coarse training Sukusokubou put him through in the past three days, Touga was able to keep in pace easily.

Two wolf-youkai scouts on patrol quickly found them. The wolves told them that most of the pack was out hunting in the nearby mountains, but will return before midnight. The wolves agreed to take them to the dens to wait for the Alpha to return.

As they followed, Touga gripped a hold of Sukusokubou's fur-boa, a nervous look plastered across his little face. Myouga, on the other hand, had bounced off to one of the escorting youkai-wolves and was asking many questions: "How big is your pack?" "How well is the hunting around here?" "How wide is your territory?" and the like, which only got Myouga a dumb stare and a squashing.

The wolves' dens were dug out of the hard clay in a large hillside. Far at the base of this hill was a wide fast-moving river, its waters churned black in the dark red-moonlight. Touga remembered that the orange-red full moon was called a "Hunter's Moon," and when the moon shines red is when all the youkai are out feasting and oni's freely roam the land.

The wolf-youkai that remained came out of their lairs to catch a glimpse of the mighty dog youkai and young pup. The gawking only made Touga grasp tighter on his grandfather's boa and wish to hide beneath it. Sukusokubou nudged Touga out from behind him, making the boy stand at his side. They followed the wolves up the side of the hill to a den cut in the middle of the hill.

"Wait here," One of the wolves told them. Sukusokubou nodded to the two and entered. He reached back out to take hold of Touga's arm to persuade the pup to enter. The two scouts departed, most likely returning to their posts in the woods.

Sukusokubou sat down, crossing his legs and arms before him and closed his eyes. Touga knew the old youkai didn't go to sleep, but does this when he is trying to collect his thoughts. Touga sat down beside his grandfather and rocked nervously, taking in many of the lackluster sites to see in the den. The den itself only a handful of meters wide in diameter, and perhaps less then two high; it was lined with straw, and bone fragments were strewn about. Some spears and arrows were leaning against the wall furthest from where the pup and his grandfather sat. This place reeked; it stank of body soil, dead meat, and urine. Touga couldn't stop himself from pulling his kimono over his nose. Even his rancid, blood-covered kimono smelt better, and at least it was his own stink and not someone else's.

Myouga came bouncing into the den nearly a couple hours later. "Touga-sama! I thought I would never find you."

"It took you long enough, Myouga-kun," Touga's voice was muffled the kimono over his face.

Myouga crossed his arms, pacing the bottom pair on his hips. "Well there are nearly twenty burrows in this hill side, Touga-sama!" He turned his nose into the air, "This one is just the least noticeable."

"That is why it's the Alpha's," Sukusokubou spoke up. The two looked over to him, the old lord still had his eyes closed as he talked. "It can't be seen from the river or from the base. You'd have to be nearly on top of it before spotting it."

"Oooh!" Myouga tapped the top of his head. "That makes perfect sense, Inu no Daimyou."

Sukusokubou humph'ed, turning his head back away from the two of them. "It was only logics, Myouga-kun."

"Right, right," Myouga nodded admittedly.

The three sat in silence for nearly another couple of hours. The sudden howling outside broke the stillness. Sukusokubou didn't move from his spot, but Touga crawled over to the entrance and poked his head out over the ledge. Myouga bounced on top, to get a look as well.

Emerging from the woods like phantoms in the mist, wolves and youkai alike appeared, many of the youkai carrying their felled prey on their shoulders. The youkai surface from their cubbies and dens, and descended down the hillside to join the returning hunters. Some that passed shot glances towards the silver-haired youkai boy and his flea in the entrance of the den, but Touga and Myouga were preoccupied with the spectacle below to notice.

A large wolf youkai appeared near the back of the gathering troop. He had many scars on his arms and legs, including one going across his whole face, and dressed in well kept simple-armor and furs. Slung over one shoulder was a broad axe, its blade covered in fresh crimson blood.

"Comrades!" The large wolf's voice boomed through the woods. The chorus of activity stopped almost immediately, as all of them turned to face their leader. "Tonight has brought us much to feast upon! The Red Moon has brought us great fortune! Tonight we shall celebrate!"

The wolves, two-legged and four-legged, began to howl and cheer with delight to their leader's words. In a matter of moments several fires were lit, and the aroma of cooking flesh climbed to the sky.

A female came beside the Alpha wolf and took hold of his arm. The Alpha leaned over and whispered to the woman-wolf. "What's with the white-haired boy up there?"

"Inu no Daimyou waits for you up in the den, Tekkenha-sama" she responded. Her voice was silky and smooth, unlike her counterpart's. "That is his grandson."

"So they've finally showed themselves!" Tekkenha bellowed. He slammed his large axe into a nearby stump that looked as if it had taken many similar hits before. With his voice heavy with jest: "Come, Bihatsu, let's greet the exalted ones!"

A cocked frown came across her face, but she followed after the brute without question.

Touga peeped as the large wolf barreled up the hill towards them, and quickly ducked back down into the den, taking his place next to his grandfather.

"You old fart!" Tekkenha's large form engulfed the entrance of the den.

Sukusokubou's eyes opened and he turned his head to look at the wolf. He arched a thin eyebrow at the wolf. "Such impudence."

The wolf broke out into a loud laughter and charged into the room, scooping the old dog off the ground in a big bear hug. "Sukusokubou-sama! It's been too long!"

"Yes!" he grunted with what little breath he had left in his chest. "It has!"

Tekkenha placed him down to the ground and wrapped his arm over Sukosokubou's boa-ed shoulder. "Come, Comrade! Join the party!"

"Yes, I will. But!" Sukusokubou heavily stressed the last word.

Tekkenha gave the youkai-lord a perplexed glance.

"The boy, Touga-kun, needs someplace to sleep for the night, then we shall talk over the party."

Tekkenha turned about and looked down at Touga standing against the wall. "Oh, right!"

The wolf leader cusped one hand to the side of his mouth, "Bihatsu!"

Bihatsu appeared in the entrance. "Yes?"

"Take the boy to sleep with the rest of the pups." Tekkenha looked back at Sukusokubou, "Will that be okay?"

"That will due," he nodded in return.

Bihatsu bowed slightly to the two. She fully entered the doorway and held her hand out to the dog-pup. "Come with me, little one."

Touga reluctantly accepted the woman-wolf's hand. She guided the young-pup out of the den and along a well-worn path in the hillside. Myouga scrambled about on the boy's back and poked his head out of Touga's kimono.

"Touga-sama," Myouga whispered to the boy. "Where are we going?"

"To the cub den," Bihatsu answered. Myouga was startled that the woman wolf responded to his question. She gave the flea and boy a warm smile.

"It is where our young stay during the hunts," she pointed out. "There is a few the same age as you, Touga-chan. There shouldn't be much trouble."

Touga could only shrug in response. Bihatsu's smile lessened slightly, as she returned her attention to the path ahead of her. It was a brief journey to get to the den; it had a small entrance, perhaps only a couple feet wide, enough for someone to crawl through on their stomach and set up off the ground. Bihatsu knelt beside it and climbed partially through the whole.

"Tamou," Bihatsu's voice echoed from below. Touga leaned in further to look down into the hole.

"Tamou," she stressed. "Come here."

"Mama," came the moaning voice in return, it was the voice of a boy. "What do you want?"

"Come up here, we have a guest for you to meet," she responded.

"Can't it wait until morning?" the child groused.

"No," she hissed back, "now!"

Bihatsu pulled herself back out of the hole in the side of the hill, not bothering to stand, but sat back on her knees. A small hand surfaced from the hole, quickly fallowed by another, and then the spiked black hair of the youkai boy cub. The scrawny boy rolled out of the hole and climbed to his bare feet, his black tail wavering slowly behind him.

Tamou came over to Touga and looked the youkai pup over, skeptically. He placed his balled fists on his waist, a frown coming across his fanged lips. Touga stood up strait; the youkai pup was slightly shorter then Tamou, but was more corded then the wolf cub, mostly due to the regiment he was forced to go through in the past few months.

"What kind of youkai are you, White Hair?" Tamou curled his lip into a sly smile.

Touga frowned, giving the wolf cub a stern look.

"Tamou!" Bihatsu snipped, giving the wolf cub a swift smack across the back of his head. "Touga-chan is a dog youkai, and you shall call him by name."

Tamou rubbed his head, giving his mother a deep scowl. "Touga the Dog?"

"Tamou the Wolf," Touga continued to frown. Tamou stuck his tongue out at the dog-pup.

"Yes, great!" Bihatsu joyfully exclaimed and clasped her hands together. "Now that you two are introduced, Tamou take your new friend down below, he is going to sleep in the den during his stay."

"But Mo-o-o-om," Tamou wailed.

Bihatsu shot him a hard look. "What?"

"He smells!" the wolf cub whined.

Touga and Bihatsu both scowled at Tamou. Bihatsu was ready to strike the wolf cub for saying such a thing, but Myouga popped out from under Touga's kimono.

"I would have to agree with the wolf cub, Bihatsu-chi," Myouga waved his hand before his nose, Touga shifted his glair at the flea. "Touga-sama had spent the past few days in heavy training and is covered in blood and sweat. Perhaps a change in clothing is wise."

Bihatsu stood and sniffed over the youkai-pup. "Perhaps you are right, flea. But tonight it will have to due, I will see to his bath and a change in clothing in the morning."

"That will be most appreciated, Bihatsu-san," Myouga bowed towards the woman wolf.

"Might I have your name, flea?" She said with a chuckle.

"Oh, please forgive me for not introducing myself earlier," Myouga bounced from Touga onto her hand. "I am Myouga the Flea, vassal of Touga-sama."

"Vassal?" Touga and Tomou both questioned.

"Why yes!" Myouga laughed. "Inu no Daimyou said I was to be your vassal, Touga-sama."

Touga sighed, rolling his eyes. "If grandfather says so, I still rather you be a friend, you're not very good as a vassal."

Myouga humphed, bouncing off of Bihatsu's hand to the ground, "Fine, be that way Touga-sama; but it won't do you any good, I've already promised your grandfather that I will do it!"

"But I said you are my friend," Touga bit hold of his lower lip.

"Oh!" Myouga blushed. "Forgive me then! I've expected the worse."

"No harm done, Myouga-kun," Touga shrugged.

"Anyways!" Bihatsu spoke up. "I believe the two of you should be going to bed. Myouga-kun, you can join us above if you wish to."

"That will be fine," Myouga sniggered. "If you don't mind that is, Touga-sama."

Touga's mouth slid to one side of his face, "Do what ever you want, Myouga-kun."

"Wooo!" Myouga blissfully called, taking no hesitation in bounding off down the hillside.

Touga was left sulking as he watched the flea quickly vanish. Tomou took hold of Touga's shoulder, snapping him out of his brief daze.

"Come on, Pup," the wolf cub sighed, pointing to the hole in the ground. Touga eyed Tomou for several moments, before poking his head down the hole. With a foot in his ass, the youkai-pup fell screaming down the hole, somersaulting out of the lip of the tunnel and landed sprawled out on his back.

"Tomou!!!!!" Bihatsu's voice snarled shortly behind, as well as a "twap!" and the wolf cub being tossed down the shaft. Touga sat up quickly just as Tomou landed on the ground behind him, dazed moaning.

Touga grimaced at Tomou and jabbed his elbow the wolf cub's stomach. "You jerk!"

"You dumb dog," Tomou growled, holding his stomach where Touga had just hit him.

"I wasn't the one that kicked you down here, now was I?" Touga grumbled back.

"So?" Tomou stood and crossed his arms. "You were asking for it, you pussy pup!"

"Hey!" Touga barked. "Take that back!"

"No!" Tomou hollered.

The other cubs in the den had all awaken by now, and huddled on the far wall away from the two; asking among themselves who the brash newcomer was, and wondering when the fight would start.

"Now you're just being an ass!" Touga griped.

"What are you going to do about that, you mama's pup?" Tomou laughed with much gratification.

Touga stood, balling his fists tightly at his sides. "You better say you're sorry for that."

"Or what?" Tomou snickered. "You're going to beat me up? Please! I've had worse."

Touga's eyes glowed bright red, illuminating the dark crevice with a dull crimson light. The other cubs gasped, and some of the younger ones screamed. A source-less wind surrounded the youkai pup, tugging at his soiled kimono and tuffs of loose hair, followed by bright balls of light and wisps of clouds. A low grow came from Touga's throat as he slowly turned his head to face the stunned youkai wolf cub. The youkai-pup appeared nearly effortlessly before the wolf cub. Tomou yelped and flattened himself against the wall behind him.

"No," Touga's voice took on a deep sinister tone to it. "You've not `had worse.'"

"I'm sorry!" Tomou yelped. "I'm sorry! Get away from me!"

The wind died and Touga's eyes returned to their normal golden color. The cave was once again returned into darkness. Touga huffed at the shaking wolf cub, turned on his heel, and moved to an unoccupied corner of the den. He flopped down onto the straw littered ground, and rolled over onto his side, facing the wall.

*

"Go on, do it…." A whispered voice lisped in the dark of the den.

"But I don't want to, Hagata," the very young voice responded, whining. The child was too young to tell weather or not it was a boy or girl talking.

"Don't be such a baby, Genko," the previous voice, a girl's, responded back.

"Hagata," the cub cried. "I don't want him biting my hand off."

"He won't bite your hand off," Hagata hissed back.

"Then why won't you do it then?" Genko cried.

"Because I am older and bigger then you!"

"That's not fair!" the younger cub wailed.

Reluctant shuffling footsteps followed, coming closer to the youkai-pup. Touga was awake, and has been awake all night. This place and these youkai were too unfamiliar for him to get comfortable enough to sleep, and even Myouga hasn't returned to him yet.

A slight touch grazed his shoulder, but Touga didn't want to turn to whom ever it was. The feel of little fingers on his shoulder returned again, this time a little bit harder. Touga bit hold of his lower lip and scowled.

The pounding of bare feet on the ground came upon him, followed by a swift knock on the side of his head. "Get up!"

Touga turned and snarled at who had done it. In the dull light poring from the entrance, Touga could make out the silhouette of one of the cubs. Hugging their legs was the younger cub.

"You lazy dog, get up!" Hagata snarled.

"Can your kind not speak with their fists?" Touga grumbled, rubbing his head.

"If you quit acting like a brat!" she responded. "It's time to get up! Bihatsu-chi's been hollering for you."

"I'm not a brat," Touga grumbled. "You all are just cruel."

"Suck it up and complain to your mama!"

"Leave my mother out of it," Touga snarled.

Hagata turned her nose up at the pup and walked off to the exit. "Genko, come! Let's leave the mama's boy alone."

The littler youkai cub clambered to their feet and ran pass the elder, scrambling to get up the den hole.

Touga stood clinching his fists at his side. "You don't know anything!"

"And I could care less," Hagata responded as she pulled herself out of the den.

Touga kicked at the straw at his feet, swearing below his breath. He crossed the room and climbed out of the hole. Touga blinked several times, trying to ease the painful burning in his tired eyes. The numerous trees slightly dulled the morning sunlight, though by now many of the foliage were changing color and shedding their leaves. When his eyes finally focused, Touga spotted the two girls that were in the den only moments before standing before him. Hagata was a tall lanky girl, physically twice the age as Touga. She dressed in a leather dress, had a sash of fur about her waist, and arm guards. The hair on Hagata's head was black, though her tail was a brownish red, and was pulled up in four pigtails. Genko, who held onto Hagata's hand, was smaller then Touga, perhaps only five or six years in age, and dawned a two-piece fur outfit that left her pudgy tummy exposed. Her hair was brown, the same as her curly-tail. But what stood out the most, were her wide-expressive blue eyes that looked up at Touga with trepidation and animosity.

Hagata let out an amused cackle. Touga turned to look at her sharply.

"For such a little pup, you sure like to talk big!" she laughed.

Touga crossed his arms, "For such a whiny female, you really like to boast a lot."

Hagata stopped laughing and snapped her dark eyes at the dog-pup. "I was not frightened by your little show of power like my little brother Tomou was, Pup. Don't think you can just show up and get your way by bluffing."

"I do not bluff," Touga growled. "I didn't want to waste my time fighting that ass."

"You can just keep believing in that, Pup," Hagata jeered and turned about, walking away with Genko in hand. "You're only going to be lying to yourself."

"I do not fight girls," Touga grumbled as he followed behind the both of them. "I was taught better then to pick a fight with one. But if you are persistent to start shit, of which I didn't ask of you to start, then I would gladly make an exception."

Hagata stopped and turned about, "Are you threatening me, Pup? You are only a baby!"

"I'm fourteen!" he barked back.

Hagata frowned, narrowing her eyes. "Yeah right, I'm thirteen, you must be only eight!"

"My kind ages slower, that's all," the tone in his voice lowered and calmed considerably. "It is because I am a dog youkai, my body has began to age slower ever since I was five. I may still look this young, but I am fourteen."

Hagata paused and looked the dog-pup over closely. "Let's say that I don't believe you…. What can you do to prove it?"

"Nothing, I guess," Touga shrugged. "You'll just have to trust my word."

"Well can't you do any tricks or any fancy powers, other then what you've done last night?" she questioned.

"I can fly," Touga shrugged, "and turn into a dog."

"Can you… Turn into a dog and fly us down to the river side?" Hagata was trying to keep a smile from creeping on her face.

"Easily," Touga replied. "But I won't, it will only be showing off."

"Modesty never got anybody anywhere," She sneered.

"You just want a ride," he flatly responded. "I am not a horse."

Hagata used all her might to stop herself from shrewdly commenting back to the youkai-pup. "Of coarse you're not a horse! But Bihatsu-chi is pissed about no one waking you, and the faster you get down there the happier she'll be!"

"Why'd she bring you two instead of coming herself?" Touga questioned.

"Are you stupid?" Hagata huffed. "She is a mile up the river and forgotten you here until your flea asked where you were."

"Myouga-kun?" Touga perked up a bit, but it quickly subsided to disappointment. "How come he didn't come here and went to Bihatsu-chan instead?"

"How the hell am I supposed to know? He's your flea!" She growled back. "Now hurry up and transform so you can take us there!"

Touga could feel the hairs stand up on his back at the command. "I'm still walking."

"You don't know the way, Pup," Hagata mischievously pointed out.

"I will be following you," Touga pointed back with just as much vulgar. "That is unless you want to get in trouble with your mother for me getting lost."

Hagata scowled deeply at the smug pup. "Mother Fucker!"

"Whoring bitch," he casually responded while brushing past her.

Hagata held her breath, trying to keep herself from screaming. She snatched up Genko's hand and pulled the little wolf cub along while she stormed down the hill after the haughty pup.

*

It took quite awhile to catch up with Bihatsu and the other cubs. She had moved further up the river while they were making their way to her, causing them to tremendously speed up their pace to even rendezvous with the woman-wolf. Touga still refused to fly them, even after they loudly argued at the empty grounds where the two girls said Bihatsu promised she would be.

"What took you so long?" Bihatsu had her hands on her waist and her face in the older two of the three young youkai's. She stood in stance that resembles a pecking chicken more then a wolf; a very unflattering image from the beautiful Bihatsu Touga had first seen when he first arrived.

"The dog boy didn't want to fly us here!" Hagata fretted, leaning back away from Bihatsu.

Bihatsu pushed Hagata to the side and towered over Touga. "Why didn't you want to fly over here?"

Touga swallowed hard, holding his hands up near his chest in surrender. "She was trying to force me to!" he pointed over to Hagata, "So I didn't!"

Bihatsu turned her face to look back at Hagata.

Hagata stomped her foot and pointed back at Touga. "He's lying! I tried to nicely convince him that he should help us, but he threw a fit about it!"

"I did not!" Touga retorted. "In only one of the vulgar sentences that spewed from your vial mouth, you've dishonored my kind, insulted my mother, and even called me a `fart-sniffer ass-scratcher;' what ever the hell that is!"

"SO-OOH!" She hollered. "You called me a `Whoring Bitch!'"

"That's after you called me a `Mother Fucker!'" Touga growled back.

"The BOTH of you! SHUT UP!" Bihatsu roared over the two teenaged children. Hagata and Touga obediently silenced themselves and turned wide-eyed to Bihatsu. Bihatsu grasped hold of Hagata's shoulder and pulled her across the clearing making the girl sit down on a rock. "You stay here and shut up!"

Hagata crossed her arms and brooded as Bihatsu snapped her head about to look back at Touga. "Touga-kun!" She then pointed back behind her at the calm river waters, "Get in the river! NOW!"

Touga reflexively glided (the rapid shift where his image becomes blurred and his movements quicken greatly) the first several feet; a fight-or-flight behavior his father and grandfather had instilled on the boy through his training. Bihatsu, Hagata, and any of the other cubs that were watching in, all stood with a surprised look on their face. Touga blushed and swiftly jogged the rest of the way to the river.

The waters were cold, really cold. Touga began to shiver before he was knee deep in the water. Several of the teen-wolves were in the waters, horse playing mostly, but some chatting and laughing with each other. Tomou and three other younger boys were among the waters also (the other three boys were unaccounted for). Tomou pointed them in Touga's direction once he noticed the pup.

Touga ignored them, mostly, heading out into the deeper waters until it lapped at his chest. He knew by now his lips were most likely the same shade of blue as the markings on his face. He untied his kimono and tossed it on his shoulder while he wrapped the black sash securely about his waist. Once wrapped, he removed the kimono from over shoulder and soaked it in the water. The water in the immediate area of the robe turned a brownish red as most of the boar's blood washed away. He knew that his kimono was going to be stained, but all he was concerned with was getting most of the stink out of it. He rubbed vigorously at the stain, frequently dipping it in water.

Touga opened the robe up and snapped it in the air; most of the gunk was still there. He glanced about for a large smooth rock near the water's edge, remembering back at how his Aunt Kuromeinu done the laundry at the manner. He spotted a suitable rock, but it was further down stream, pass where the larger boys were playing. Touga really didn't want to start a confrontation or be stopped by the surly teenagers, but knew he had few other options outside of drawing more attention to himself.

Touga placed the kimono partially back on, not bothering to wrap it back up about his body. He moved down stream, partially letting his body be moved forward by the slow but steady current.

"Hey Dog-Breath!" Tomou's voice rang out over the jeer of the other's play.

Touga turned towards the rowdy wolf cub, a deep frown across his face.

"Where do you think you're going, Doggy?" Tomou continued to taunt. "You haven't introduced yourself to the rest of the clan yet!"

"Tomou, I really am not in the mood for your ploys," Touga warned in return.

"You don't want to be RUDE do you, Dog?" Tomou responded.

"Why can't you just leave me be, Tomou?" Touga slowly rubbed his face over.

A two of the teenagers approached, curious at what was happening, and of whom the new comer was. The others stayed behind to look on at what was occurring, and talking to each other trying to see if anyone has any idea as to what is really going on. It was common knowledge around the group that the Inu no Daimyou had left the boy here, but many missed the Daimyou's brief visit and to have the little dog-youkai in there presence excites them. The two older teens came and stood between Tomou's group and Touga.

"What's going on here now?" one of them said, crossing their arms. "You guy's ain't trying to start some shit, now are you?"

"Tomou tried to pick a fight with me last night and I scared him away," Touga told the two. He then tugged at the sides of his wet dressings, "Now I just want to clean my kimono."

"I was not scared!" Tomou huffed in return. He folded his arms and turned his head away from the youkai-pup. "I was too tired to fight."

"Your trembling suggested otherwise," Touga shrewdly responded.

Tomou puffed up his cheeks, ready to tell off the pup, but was stopped when one of the teens spoke up. "Woah! Woah! The both of you shut up!"

"Yeah!" The second one approved, "If you two are going to continue bickering with each other, you might as well fight and get it over with!"

"Yeah, Ronge is right!" The first nodded in agreement. "And the looser will have to be the other's slave for the rest of the day!"

The two teens hardily laughed together at the plot.

"But I don't want a servant," Touga looked strait at the two boys, and pointed towards Tomou. "And especially not him! Bihatsu-chan and Hagata will become even more cross with me."

The two stopped laughing and gave the youkai-pup cross-looks. The one addressed as Ronge headed towards Tomou, while the other remained before Touga, a wily grin quickly spreading across his once sullen face. Ronge took Tomou by the arm and pulled him forward through the water, the wolf cub cried and struggled to break free but couldn't.

"Hey!" Touga yelled. "Leave him alone! Nobody asked for you to get involved anyways!"

"Oh, no?" the wolf-teen continued to grin wickedly at the youkai-pup. "The two of you are going to resolve this, even if we are going to have to make you."

Touga narrowed his eyes at the wolf-teen, clutching his fists at his side. "You can't make me do anything."

The teen-wolf laughed once more, "Did you hear that, Ronge? I believe our little pup here had just threatened us!"

"What do you suppose we do with him, Kobushi?" Ronge jeered, and then tossed the unwilling wolf cub into the water. Tomou came up to the surface gasping for air and crying, the water hiding his tears.

"That old dog is no longer here for him to go crying back to," Kobushi sneered as he cracked each individual knuckle on his hand. "So let's show this runt his place in our wolf pack."

Ronge snickered with enjoyment as he pounded his fist into his hand. "The little brat's going to regret threatening us!"

"Little?" Touga's voice had once more taken on that wicked tone as back at the den. Ronge and Kobushi turned about quickly to face the youkai-pup. Touga's eyes were glossed over red, and his fang-filled smile widened from ear to ear as his face got longer. The water around Touga shot up in to the air along with a bright white light. The light fell back to the water and where it crashed was the large white dog.

The teenagers only came up to Touga's chest, the dog-pup growled menacingly, lowering his head to look Kobushi and Ronge square in the eyes. The two teenagers had a terrified look on their faces; the rest of the wolves had run ashore during the transformation.

Ronge quickly turned and ran, leaving Kobushi by himself. Kobushi swallowed hard and looked for the other wolf, but once he saw Ronge running, he soon followed after.

Touga watched as the two ran off, not bothering to head after them. The dog-pup turned his attention to Tomou, who was curled up in the water with his hands over his head. He nudged the wolf cub with his nose, Tomou peeped and continued crying. Touga gently took hold of the boy's wet fur clothing with his teeth and plucked the boy out of the water.

Touga carried the boy back to sore and sat him down on the beach before Bihatsu and Hagata, who had came to see what all the screaming was about. Hagata was beside herself as she looked up at the large white dog; she couldn't say a word to him, especially after all the turmoil she had put him through this morning. Bihatsu took Tomou into her arms and held him tightly.

Touga's body turned back into light and shrank into a small orb. The orb lowered to the ground, reforming into the little youkai-boy. Touga brushed passed them, not bothering to stop when Bihatsu called after him, and headed into the woods.

Touga ran as fast as he could for quite some time before stopping in a small clearing. He sat down beside a large tree; curling his legs up against his chest, he buried his face in his knees and began to cry.

He was alone in the woods, alone with the sounds of the river in the distance, the singing of birds, and the calls of many other animals. It was quite sometime before Touga began to hear the familiar spring-like sound of his flea friend as he hopped closer. Myouga called out Touga's name, several times, but Touga wished not to answer. The youkai-boy listened as his flea friend's calls became nearer and further from him. It has been over a half hour since Touga had left the riverside when Myouga finally found the boy.

"Touga-sama!" Myouga cried in relief. "There you are!"

"Leave me alone, Myouga-kun," Touga's voice was muffled, his face still hidden in his knees.

"Please, Touga-sama, we must go back," Myouga pleaded. "Bihatsu is deeply worried about you."

Touga raised his head, his face wet from tears, and looked directly to the flea. "Where's Grandfather, Myouga-kun?"

Myouga squealed nervously at the question. The flea bounced about mumbling incoherently many beginnings of sentences, but never one completed.

"Myouga-kun!" Touga finally yelled. "Tell me!"

"I knew I would have to eventually," Myouga sighed and bounced up onto the boy's knees. Once more the flea stalled, trying to come up with what to say. Touga harshly glared at the flea. Myouga screamed.

"You're grandfather left!" Myouga blurted out.

"I know that!" Touga growled in response. "Why?"

Myouga nervously tapped at his tiny fingers together: "For…. Training? Yes! Training!"

"I don't believe that, Myouga-kun," Touga retorted.

"Ooooh I just wish I wasn't the one left here to explain this to you!" Myouga grumbled to himself. He gave out another sigh and reluctantly sat down. "Inu no Daimyou and your father thought it was best for you to spend this winter here with the wolf youkai."

"WHAT?" Touga roared. "I have to spend the next four months with these barbarians?! Why?"

"Because if you were left home your father would have eventually killed you!" Myouga blurted out and quickly covered his mouth. Touga sat there in shock for several silent moments, trying to let what the flea had said sink in. He could only give the flea a confused look.

Myouga swallowed hard and bounced up onto Touga's shoulder. "Your Grandfather sees much potential in you, Touga-sama. You have the power to become greater then him, and he fears that your own father will push you so hard, that you will either get really hurt or even die."

"Why would father even do such a thing?" He whispered. Touga's body was trembling at the mere thought.

"That, I don't understand either, Touga-sama," Myouga patted the boy on the side of his face, which was the best he could do for being so small. At times he wishes he was a hundred times his size, even now where he could comfort his young friend's pain. "Your grandfather would have to tell you why, Touga-sama, and in due time. But, we just have to believe that he knows what is best for you right now. Perhaps this time away would prove more useful then harm, that is the best we can hope for."

Touga kept quiet, trying to mull several things in his head over. Is this his entire fault? Was his friendship with the late human boy Kusaba what sparked all this trouble for him, or was it something that was always there, just unseen before now? He knew his father, Hakkouga, was becoming more unruly during the training exercises, but even his grandfather, Sukusokubou, said that he wouldn't learn anything if he wasn't pushed. But of all things, why come out here: to be left with these strangers, with these wolves that are afraid of him and of what he is, and live so far away from his home? Was it truly too dangerous for him to stay at the manner, to remain at home under his grandfather's protection, or to even be taken back to his mother?

*

It took over three hours before Bihatsu found the stray boy. It was mid-day now, but a roll of clouds that just came down from the mountains was blocking the sun. Touga was pail and cold, having sat on the chilled ground in wet clothes for so long. Bihatsu carried him back to the pack's den and placed him near a fire to warm him up. He never said a word to her the whole time back, only occasionally moaned as if he were trying to cry but couldn't. He was stuck a half-conscious daze, lost in thought (or stunned stupid), still able to comprehend what was going on around him, but not functional enough to properly react to what is happening.

Hagata and Tomou followed them back to the dens, while the rest of the cubs and teens remained back at the river or scattered across the woods. After Touga was properly placed near the fire and covered with a fur blanket, Bihatsu pulled her two children off to the side. Myouga remained with Touga, to look after him incase he began to talk again.

"I thought I could trust the both of you to be on your best behavior!" Bihatsu was sitting on the floor of one of the nearby dens, crossed legged. Tomou and Hagata were on their knees before her. "But instead you both hit on him, taunt him, and try to provoke him. You two are very lucky he didn't snap on either of you, and that he knew better not too. I wish you two had just shown as much restraint that that boy had shown today, he wouldn't be the wreck he is now!"

"We're sorry mother," the both of the children hung their heads low and responded.

"I am not the one you need to apologize to!" Bihatsu growled back. "I wasn't asking for either of you to like him or be friends with him, but to only try and help him learn our ways, to make him feel welcomed.

Touga-chan has been left here without his knowledge by the Inu no Daimyou, and will be left here until the spring," Bihatsu continued. "That alone would make anyone feel bad, make them feel alone. You two only made it worse for him. No wonder he's in la-la-land!"

"We promise that we won't do that again, Mother," Hagata pleaded. "We will promptly apologize to him and try to make him feel more comfortable."

"Don't try to weasel your way out of punishment, Hagata!" Bihatsu warned. "You were going to do that anyways, even if forced! The both of you are still going to be punished once Tekkenga returns."

Both Hagata and Tomou held in their breaths, Tomou trying to hold back tears, while Hagata tried not to scream. Bihatsu stood up and moved out of the cave, but still faced inward at the two.

"As for now," Bihatsu said. "The both of you are not to go near him, but remain here until your father returns."

"Yes, Mother," the two were able to respond before Bihatsu had vanished out of the entryway.

Bihatsu returned to the fireside where Touga was sitting. Beside Touga three wolves (of the four-legged variety) had curled up next to the boy. Touga slowly stroked the head of one of them, as he stared blankly into the fire. Myouga was on top of Touga's head; he too was quiet.

"Touga-chan?" Bihatsu's voice was calm and soft as she spoke. Touga slightly turned his head in her direction.

Bihatsu sat down beside the boy, the wolf on his lap moved off to his side. "Are you feeling any better?"

"A little," Touga slowly replied.

"He's had quite a shock to his system," Myouga spoke up. "I'm sure rest will cure his physical ailments, but it would take some time for the emotional ones to sink in."

Touga only frowned at the flea's words. Bihatsu moved over and placed her arm around the boy's shoulders.

"Tekkenga and I was told of why you were left here last night from your grandfather, Touga-chan," Bihatsu began. "I do think that later on you will see that it was for the better, though right now you might not think it is fair to you."

"Myouga-kun said the same thing," Touga murmured.

"That must mean it is true then!" Bihatsu said on a high note. Touga only gave her a dull stare before turning to look back the fire once more. The smile quickly dropped off of the woman-wolf's face, opting for the solemn look as well. Bihatsu gave a sigh and rested her chin in her hand.

"You know I really would like to understand you, Touga-chan," Bihatsu said after awhile. "Perhaps then I can help you more."

"There is nothing to say," Touga didn't take his eyes off of the fire before him.

"Well…." Bihatsu tapped her chin with her finger, before snapping and pointing to the boy. "What about your family?"

Touga looked over shoulder at her. "What about them?"

"Well…. How do you get along with them, perhaps?" Bihatsu gave a slight shrug.

"Pretty okay, I guess," Touga said with a sigh.

"Now I don't think that is all true," Bihatsu responded rather lightheartedly, "or you wouldn't be here right now."

Touga chewed on his lower lip; he knew what she had just said was true, but had no idea as to how he was to respond to it.

"Why won't you tell me of your father?" Bihatsu asked. "From what little your grandfather mentioned he doesn't sound like a very friendly person."

"I always thought he was nice to me," Touga said with a shrug. "Only when I am not getting into trouble or slacking off on my training, though. Father teaches me stuff, too. Tells me of our ways and how I am to act towards others. Grandfather helps also, but never done anything like this before."

"What do you think of your Grandfather?" Bihatsu cocked her head to the side. "At least how you did before he has brought you to us."

Touga got an uneasy look on his face, and shrugged. "He was just always there. Coming in behind my father to nudge me along some more. Grandfather agreed many times with what my father says, but in some way always goes back and corrects him, makes what he said sound nicer. He always said that father was full of hot air or was an ass."

"What it sounds like is that it is Inu no Daimyou that has a problem with Hakkouga-sama, then with the way he was raising you, Touga-sama," Myouga spoke up.

"Hum?" Touga shifted his eyes upward, even though he couldn't really see the flea.

"I don't think this is wholly about you being in danger," Myouga clarified, "but about how your grandfather sees your father, and of how similar you are to him then you are to Hakkouga-sama."

"I kind of get it, Myouga-kun," Touga replied with a shrug.

"Don't you have any aunt and uncles around to help with what has been going on?" Bihatsu asked.

Touga shook his head `no.' "My father is an only child, like I am. My great-aunt Kuromeinu is the only other person living with us. She takes care of the castle work, though most of the chores are normally divided up among all of us, reducing the need for servants or vassals living with us."

"What of your mother?" Bihatsu then inquired.

Touga's face saddened just a little bit. "The women of our kind remain in the families they are born into, she does not live with us. I stayed with her until I was five, when I was then given to my father and grandfather for training."

"That's so sad," Bihatsu honestly sounded concerned when she spoke. "Don't you miss her?"

"It's not so bad," Touga warily looked back into the fire, "and yes I miss her very much. But, after I have completed my training I can always go back to see her when ever I please."

"Yeah, but it really is not the same, you know," Bihatsu said. "My kind is a more social kind, having many generations and families living together in one large coherent pack."

"There aren't very many dog youkai, Bihatsu-san," Myouga said. "There is perhaps more wolves in this one pack alone then there are dog youkai in this land. And, a dog youkai like Touga-sama is a rare sight."

"Most of us live in small family groups that are scattered widely across all of Japan and parts of the main land," Touga added. "Rarely do any of the families get together, normally it is only for a pairing set far in advance to happen. Even my mate has already been chosen for me."

"Doesn't that bother you that you can't choose who you want to spend your life with, Touga-chan?" Bihatsu was leaned forward in fascination, giving a look of almost child-like wonderment.

"Not really," Touga said. "I have been raised by both my mother and my family that it was to be so. If I don't care for her, it is not like we will be together everyday, and it may be centuries between seeing one another."

"A century is an awfully long time, Touga-chan," Bihatsu didn't sound worried; she had learned many new things in just the past few minuets and was still hung up in her amazement to convey much else.

"My grandfather is nearing nine thousand years old, and my father is about three thousand," Touga sighed. "Only one hundred years is of little concern."

"Forgive me, most of my kind don't make it past a hundred and fifty," Bihatsu replied. "A hundred years is hard to fathom sitting through."

Bihatsu gnawed on one of her fingernails nervously. "Might I ask why your people wait so long to have children, and only to have so few? I mean, if you live so long, wouldn't you have more children and there will be more of your people?"

Touga shrugged; even he didn't know the answer to that question, being still to young to understand such feelings.

"I would assume it has something to do with their longevity, Bihatsu-san," Myouga said. "That because they live so long, their drive to reproduce is dulled greatly, as to the point of where their birth rate doesn't exceed their death rate by too much. That is generally the way of nature. The shorter the life of the creature the more it reproduces in chances that their offspring will survive long enough to reproduce themselves; while the longer lived don't need to reproduce as frequently because they merely exist longer."

"That makes since," Bihatsu nodded in agreement.

"And that would also explain why the dog youkai can live in small isolated family groups," Myouga continued. "With little drive to reproduce, they can isolate themselves in one location for so long without the need to leave as long as the food is in good supplies."

"I…guess so," Touga scratched his head, giving the flea a perplexed and lost look.

"Oh! Forgive me, Touga-sama!" Myouga blushed. "I guess I get a little carried away with myself some times!"

"Uh…It's ok, Myouga-kun," the confused look still on his face.

"Well now!" Bihatsu spoke up rather joyously. "It seams that you are feeling much better, Touga-chan!"

Touga turned to look at her. "I suppose…. I still feel kind of miserable."

"Are you well enough to travel?"

"Perhaps," Touga shrugged "Where are we going?"

"Not far." Bihatsu stood and pointed off over her shoulder. "Just back to the river to supervise the others."

"Well, I really don't…."

"Awh, come on!" She nudged the boy on the shoulder. "I won't let them do anything to you, not like they will try anything after what happened this morning!"

"I think it would be a great idea for you to follow Bihatsu-san around," Myouga chimed. "At least observe her, you might learn something useful!"

"Yeah!" Bihatsu nodded in agreement. "What the flea said! It would be better then just sitting around here, getting bored"

Touga looked at the two suspiciously, "Well alright…. I'll go."

Bihatsu bent over and gave the youkai-pup a hug. Touga moaned in embarrassment as she ruffled his hair.

"You know," she said on a side note, poking at the small knot of hair on the top of his head. "How'd you feel about wearing your hair down?"

"Why'd you ask?" Touga said putting his hand over the small tail on his head.

"Well, you have very pretty hair," she cooed. "It's not always good for it to be tied up all the time, you know?"

Touga fingered at the tuff of hair and looked up at her bright expectant eyes. He pinched the tie and slipped it off his hair, letting the silvery strands fall down to his chin. She ran her fingers through his hair to straiten it out.

"There you go!" She said once satisfied with the way his hair sat. "I think you look much better! Now, we just need to do something with your dirty kimono…."

Touga groaned, but reluctantly followed close behind the cheery wolf-woman as she optimistically laid out her plans for the youkai-pup-boy's future for the next five months…

Chapter 02: Wolves

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

Date: Wednesday October 20, 2004