InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ High Voltage- Reviving the Thunder ❯ Dilemma ( Chapter 11 )

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

High Voltage: Reviving the Thunder- Chapter 11: "Dilemma"
By Matoko Shizaki

Disclaimer: Inu-Yasha is copyright Rumiko Takahashi and Sunrise Inc. All of the characters have been made up by me except Kaede, Inu-Yasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, Kiara, Myoga, Hiten, and Manten.

Notes: I finally finished the last chapter!!! YAY!!! THIS IS MY LONGEST RUNNING FIC EVER!!! WOOHOO!!! Thanks to people who have been reviewing one some of my fics such as:

Mayuka/May

DarkAngelRn

Cacat-angel

Chibi Washu

Animegirl3

Tikimoof

YamiBishounen

It's really appreciated! Peace out!

@~@~@~@~@

Morning came to the village and all were asleep… all but Aoi that is. The young woman sat out on the steps of the inn watching as two birds flew by together. She had volunteered to watch for any message from the wolf tribes. There was only silence though…

"Shouldn't someone be up yet?" Aoi groaned to herself. 'Then again, we were all up very late last night…' her mind told her. Just then, the sound of footsteps interrupted her thinking. "Speak of the devil. It is you Kagoyo." Aoi exclaimed standing up. Kagoyo took up Aoi's hand in a sweeping bow and kissed it. "You look especially beautiful this morning my lady." Kagoyo mused as a greeting. Aoi couldn't help but smile and choke back a giggle. 'Much more charming then Hiten…' she thought. "So, any news?" Kagoyo shook his head and put on a serious face. "Sadly, no. Our wolves need much more preparation. We must also choose a spy." Kagoyo replied.

With a change of subject, Kagoyo perked up. "It is almost noon Aoi. Would you like to accompany me on a walk? Maybe some lunch?" Aoi smiled. "That sounds great Kagoyo." Kagoyo held out an arm that Aoi immediately took. From the top of the roof, Manten frowned, using his dagger to skin the apple he was about to eat. "Hiten won't be happy about this…" the lizard like demon muttered cutting off a sliver of apple and flicking it into his gaping mouth.

Another acorn skipped across the ground as Shippo flicked it in his primitive form of marbles. Azaka joined in the game, knocking on of Shippo's acorns from the circle. "Another win for me." Azaka mused childishly. "Drat!" Shippo cursed in response. Kagome smiled as she watched the two of them. "Don't you two have anything better to do?" she asked kindly, trying not to sound offensive. "Nope." Shippo murmured while tossing another acorn. "We're still waiting to hear from the tribe." Kagome sighed. "I thought Aoi was waiting for them? Where could she be?" There was a grunt from behind Kagome that acknowledged Manten's presence. "She went out--" The younger Thunder brother was cut off before he could explain with whom and where Aoi had went. "I'll go find the little wench. We need to know what the plans are now." Hiten exclaimed. Before Kagome could thank him, he had jumped off the steps and was heading down the path, his hands clasped behind his head.

Food had never tasted so good, Aoi decided. The apple she bit into was rich and crisp, allowing her to savor every bite. Kagoyo sat at her side drinking from his flask of water. With the back of his hand, the wolf demon wiped his mouth and smiled. "Such a nice day, eh Aoi?" Aoi nodded in agreement. "It is. It's been a long time since I've been able to relax like this." Aoi replied cheerfully. There was a long but pleasant pause, not like the tense one's Aoi often experienced around Hiten. "Aoi, may I tell you something?" Kagoyo asked with a sigh. "Uh… sure Kagoyo." Aoi replied charily. Suddenly, the young woman was pulled into Kagoyo's tight embrace, her hands place between her chest and his. "Since I first saw you, I'll be deeply in love. It's like the gods themselves meant for us to meet." Kagoyo said soothingly. Aoi couldn't stop starring into his fuchsia eyes. "Kagoyo…" she whispered. Slowly, her head drooped onto Kagoyo's shoulder. His hand lifted her head back up to his gaze. "One kiss my lady… that's all I'd need to be happy for the rest of my life." Her eyes locked with his as their lips neared.

Anxiously, Hiten kicked another pebble up the path. "Where could she have gone to…?" he muttered. No one answered him, but that was expected. Then he spotted someone up ahead. One was unmistakably Aoi. The person with her suddenly pull her into their embrace. Words were exchanged between them making Hiten tense. Now Hiten, knew who was with Aoi. 'Kagoyo! But what is Aoi doing with him?!' Before Hiten could stop himself, he shouted out Aoi's name. Aoi looked up from nearly kissing Kagoyo and gasped. "Hiten…" The thunder demon backed up away from the couple. "It's not what you think!" Aoi pleaded breaking from Kagoyo's embrace. "Don't let me get between you two love birds." Hiten replied curtly. Without looking back, Hiten just began running. He didn't care anymore. The only thing that mattered was that he put as much distance as possible between him and the couple.

'Why should I care what she does? I don't care about her hits. She means nothing to me!' half of Hiten cried. Still, he felt helpless, like a child who had lost their way. 'You care about her. How could she do this to you?' the other half told him. 'No woman has ever been faithful to you before anyways. Why did you believe that this human wench would be any different?' Hiten skidded to a halt and leaned with his back against a tree, trying desperately to catch his breath. Anger rising in his soul, he slid down the tree until he was sitting up against it's mighty trunk. His heart was beating faster despite his efforts to calm down. "Aoi…!" Hiten cried slamming his fist into the trunk. When it hit, a huge dent was chipped through the bark. "Never… never again…" Hiten whispered as he heard a faint crackle of thunder.

"Kagoyo… I can't… I just can't!" Aoi stammered as she struggled to stand up. Kagoyo raised his hand to grasp hers but she pulled away. "I'm sorry…" Aoi muttered. "Aoi, wait!" Kagoyo cried as Aoi turned to run. He grabbed her wrist and yanked her back. "I should be sorry Aoi… I didn't realize you and Hiten had feelings towards each other." Kagoyo said with a heavy sigh. Aoi smiled. "Thank you for understanding Kagoyo. I know I love him but I'm not sure he returns the feeling." Aoi said sullenly. Kagoyo lifted her chin and smiled. "It's a dream worth chasing. Go to him now." Aoi clasped Kagoyo's hand affectionately. "Thank you." she muttered. As she ran off, Kagoyo sighed. 'All I want is your happiness Aoi…' he thought.

Rain, thunder, and lightening had driven the others back into their inn room for dinner. Manten watched his brother out of the corner of his eye in a apprehensive way. 'He found out.' Manten thought tensely. Hiten's face was dark and shadowed much like it had been a lot of the time before the two had fought Inu-Yasha. His mind was clouded with thoughts and his eyes a deep set red that spelled catastrophe for anyone who would cross him. Manten made up his mind not to approach his older brother just yet. Just then, the door opened letting in some of the driving rain and Aoi came in. "Have any of you seen--" She stopped in mid sentence noticing Hiten in the corner. "Hiten! I've been looking all over for you!" she exclaimed. "Hn. I'm surprised…" Hiten grunted in response. Aoi's eyes looked hurt but Hiten couldn't care less at this point in time. "You're just in time for dinner!" Sango mused, unaware to the hateful glances exchanged between the two. "Sit down and we'll start." Kagome exclaimed. Aoi nodded and did what she was told but made sure to sit as far away from Hiten as possible.

After dinner, Aoi explained to the others the news she had received from Kagoyo. "We need to find a spy." she finished. Miroku pondered the thought for some time. Before anyone could volunteer, Hiten spoke up. "I'll do it." he exclaimed. "Good thinking. You'll be able to get in and out of there without being discovered." Azaka said cheerfully. Aoi, meanwhile, had slunk behind all the others and tapped Hiten on the shoulder. "Hiten, may I speak to you in the other room?" Aoi whispered. Hiten shrugged. "Whatever." he replied in a hushed tone. "We should turn in for the night." Inu-Yasha said putting out the fire on the floor. Under the cover of darkness, Aoi and Hiten slipped into the back room.

"What is it woman?" Hiten asked crossing his arms. Aoi lit up the candle and sat it on the floor. "Hiten… about this afternoon…" Aoi started. Hiten silenced her. "I don't care Aoi. You can be with whoever you want." "You don't understand. I agreed to accompany Kagoyo for a picnic. I had no intentions of kissing Kagoyo or even being in his embrace." Aoi explained, her temper rising slightly. "Funny… still you end up in such a position. Why is that?" Hiten asked slyly. "Hiten, just listen to me!" Aoi cried. "Hey, it's not even like we cared about each other anyway!" Hiten replied, his eyes stinging with anger. Without hesitating, Aoi reached out and struck Hiten across the face.

Manten couldn't help himself… he had to know what words were being exchanged between his brother and the girl. Flattening himself as best he could against the window, he looked into the room. Every word echoed in his mind. "You don't understand. I agreed to accompany Kagoyo for a picnic. I had no intentions of kissing Kagoyo or even being in his embrace." "Funny… still you end up in such a position. Why is that?" "Hiten, just listen to me!" "Hey, it's not even like we cared about each other anyway!" Manten shuddered at the slap Hiten received for his harsh words. His head moved from the impact, but otherwise their seemed to be no effect. The demon's eyes were still cold and cruel. "Hiten… I didn't mean…" Aoi stammered, recoiling her hand in dismay of what she just did.
Using the back of his hand, Hiten set Aoi sprawling against the wall. She struggled to rise but grabbed her knee in pain. "Wench. How dare you! There is nothing between us and there never will be. Learn your place." Hiten pointed an accusing finger at Aoi. Then it hit Manten. Aoi had the power to send Hiten flying to the ground in a heap if she wanted to. Still, she didn't. "She doesn't want to hurt him!" Manten muttered in aghast. Hiten stomped from the room, not even noticing Manten who had flattened against the wall again in panic. Manten sighed in relief and turned back to watch Aoi. Her face was buried in her hands, tears falling to the floor. "How could I have ever loved that bastard?!" she cried in dismay. Manten turned to return to the room where all the others were but came face to face with Hiten.

"Elder brother…" Manten muttered. Hiten glared down at him. "What are you doing Manten?" The younger Thunder brother scrambled for a excuse. "I… well you see… I couldn't help but--" Hiten raised his hand for silence. "Quiet. Never… I mean never eavesdrop on me again. Do you understand?" Manten, not being able to speak he was so frightened, nodded. "Good." Hiten strolled across the room past the sleeping others and out into the cool night where it had just stopped raining.