InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Future Heart, Future Pain, Future Hope ❯ Chapter 26 ( Chapter 27 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

I am glad you like it folks....

I still don't own didly Squat....

Hunter's Moon part 3

People, places, forests, change....all have a scent of its own. Sifting through them as he runs towards the western lands. Kouga, Prince and leader of the Wolf demons investigates what each tells him.

Upon the wind, the breeze of villagers working teases his nose. In the past, he would have been incensed at the presence of humans upon his lands. But having seen Miroku, as well as Sango in action alongside Inuyasha, the wolf admittedly has been....

Well he has been giving it some serious thought to the benefits of their presence.

Therefore instead of attacking and killing all that trespass, Kouga has sent some of the wolves to watch and report to him what goes on in the village. Looking for any kind of excuse to attack, to destroy them for any given reason. Ironically he has found none, and on one of his return trips from seeing Kagome, he made himself known along with some of his best fighters.

The villagers were afraid at first as the wolf demons had come out of nowhere. But Kouga, against his better judgment had asked for their headman, so that they may talk about their presence. And it turned out to be a deal that proved advantageous to human and demon a like.

It seems most of the people in the village were simple farmers, and their families. But they did have something that made Kouga curious, they had weavers.

Silk weavers to be precise...

Much to the surprise of the Wolf Prince, Kouga learned that his land was a prime place for Mulberry bushes. This particular plant could foster silk worms and even he knew that it was a steadily growing business among humans and demons alike. But wanting to make sure that it was good silk, he had the headman show him some of the fine material that they had made.

And it was indeed beautiful...

Fabrics of red, gold, and vibrant purple shine brighter than the next with each bolt shown to him. He along with his most trusted men can't help but admire the workmanship, the delicacy of the fabric as well as its exquisite colors.

So he and the headman sat down and talked.

After a couple of hours of negotiations it was decided. In exchange for living on his land, and the protection that their presence could provide the village. The humans every year would give to the Wolf demons, three bolts of silk.

It would be more, but Kouga had taken into account that the village was small. And contrary to the belief of a certain hanyou, by no means was the Wolf Prince ignorant. So as he ran by the mulberry bush farms as the workers were picking, he listened and heard the friendly smiles and voices of those working.

Normally he would stop and greet them, even see if he can do it himself, but other scents teased at his nose via the wind.

Scents of a new power rising, one the made his fur hackle and his tail swish with a habitual wariness. Just a few days ago he had come across the bodies of three demons. One of which, he was not sorry to see there.... Takeuchi...

This particular demon had been a thorn in his side for many years. A wanna be ruler of his lands, the demon had pressed on the wolves for nearly 200 years before Kouga had taken the reigns of his people. Stealing land and valuable resources from the tribe, for his own benefit.

Needless to say once Kouga had taken over, the Wolf Prince, had made sure that this was never going to happen again. He had increased the amount of patrols, as well as encouraged their wolf brethren to run with them. To fight and to protect what is theirs, and also to maybe take back...what was stolen.

And he succeeded...

Although, they have managed to take back what Takeuchi had stolen, keeping it admittedly was the tenuous part. The foul creature, had more than once sent raiding parties deep into his lands and fought the wolves in fierce battle.

Luckily, since Kouga took control of the tribe, the wolves have gotten only stronger, and the patrol that his men were fighting, were beaten back and killed. It didn't stop the raids though... Takeuchi was stubborn...

Maybe now that he was dead, the raids would stop. His people in disarray because according to what he heard. Not only was Takeuchi killed, but so were two of his most trusted men. His second and third in command for lack of a better term. This definitely proved to be a damper for what was left of his fighters.

Still he had stuck around, his lands doing a routine patrol for a few days. To see if there would be any last ditch effort to regain some glory in his name.

Nothing came....

Wanting to make sure, that the wolves did not find another Takeuchi trying to take what wasn't his. It was by pure coincidence that Ayame had come down, to once again persuade him to take her as his mate. Knowing full well that despite her obsession with him, that Ayame was more then capable of delegating his orders. This morning, the Wolf Prince had left her with instructions and how to keep look out for the remnants of Takeuchi's band.

Now with the safety and comfort of his tribe well and truly taken care of via the Wolf Princess, Kouga took off to find Inuyasha and Kagome. Something tells him, that whatever this new power is in the west. That wherever they are...

Is thick in the center of it....

Castle in the mists....

Preparing for the journey along with her servant, Mimori studies those items which she needs to maintain her sanity. Her power was indeed a mixture of a blessing and a curse. Strong and more than enough to qualify her as any demon's mate, she could only mate with one whose power could surpass hers.

It was vital...

Her power could run unchecked, for periods of time despite the lack of people around her. Giving her nightmares, making her scream insensibly, it could literally destroy her mind if it was allowed to run a muck. It was a price to pay for the gift of sight and understanding time and fate...

The necklace she wore, helped her to function around her servants when they gathered, who could shield themselves for bits of time were given a slight boost by the necklace's power. That way she could be herself for it allowed her to retain some semblance of normalcy, in what could be a lonely life. The necklace aided her for those brief periods of companionship....for friends.

But for the length of time she will be away from her home, she needed more than just the necklace. Picking it up now, Mimori held a staff in her hands. It was of wood, but pure white wood that held warmth as she picked it up in her hand.

At one end of the staff was a single jewel encircled by a white dragon, and as her hand caressed its body instinctively, the dragon opened a single ruby eye...

Letting the wings stretch out from its back for a moment, Mimori felt the energy it released caress her body and then enter her mind. For within that energy she could hear the little dragon's soul that was entombed within the staff, speak to her in a tired and yet childlike voice.

....As long as we share this bond, my power will protect your dreams and your mind. Hmmmm....It will be nice to talk again to someone.... The little spirit yawns. ...Going to sleep now. I was in the middle of a nice dream about fish when you woke me up. I wanna get back to it..... It mumbles allowing the young demoness to smile as its soul quiets down its presence all but gone.

A little space at the back of her mind is where it sleeps curled up and contented. And as she walks, out of the room and towards her servants, she can feel a pulsating wave of peace enveloping her demonic senses. Its warmth calming her power and her soul covering it in a blanket of silence...

Such is the power of the White Dragon Staff...

Allowing peace to one whose mind is open, by closing some of the channels without turning them off....

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Okay this is it for these chapters...I know some of you are wondering about the title for these three chapters, and why its called Hunter's Moon....

Sometimes to hunt means to search for information or background.... This was to help fill in some blanks that all of you have asked me about.....

till next time enjoy....