Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Blood of the Gods: Part One- When the Sun Sets ❯ What a Storm Breaks ( Chapter 13 )

When A Storm Breaks

 

 

Kannashi watched another guard walk by from his hiding place on the roof, his blue eyes narrow. He had been chosen to wait outside the manor in the event that Moriko made it out before any of the others found her. Atama and Hikari had raced into the maze of corridors before either he or Aki could catch them. Aki had gone into the building as well, searching for both Moriko and the frantic children. None of them had the nose of a street dog, but the stench of Moriko's blood was still the only thing on the air that his brain seemed capable of noticing. Though there did seem to be something else there. He couldn't figure out what it was… Like the faint scent of foreboding. He growled softly to himself for the irrelevant thought, though his intense blue gaze wavered for just a moment. He refocused on the task at hand, missing the sudden charge in the air around him.

She slowly reached out and touched the blood sliding down the wood of the wall. A curved smirk crossed her face when she felt the warm liquid on the tips of her clawed fingers. The smell seasoned the air around her, the scent swimming in her head. It was delicious. Katsura turned to see who had attacked her and felt the long since missed burning of physical pain lick at her mind. Yes, she was wounded and bleeding, but it had been so long since she felt her own pain and not just Moriko's, that she was reveling in the scorching sensation. The sight of Youhei standing stiffly behind her with such a tense determination on his face almost made her want to laugh. He was such a pathetic human. It is almost sad. She turned to face him with a small smile pulling at her mouth, fangs gleaming evilly in the soft light. “You did not do it right Youhei.” The man blinked and that was enough time for her to have Kukushinbou out of its sheath and singing through the air. Their blades scraped against each other, filling the space between them with the dull angry sound of scraping metal and a small shower of sparks. She pushed him back with a very un- lady like grunt and, when he fell back, arms flailing slightly, she dashed forward, smashing the hilt of her sword into his gut. His eyes bulged a bit and he went flying out into the hall, his own sword hitting the floor with a loud clatter. She stood over him as he tried to breath, her foot on his neck so that she was sure he would stay where she put him. Katsura grinned like some vicious predator and he visibly paled, “You should have killed me when you had your chance Youhei. Now, I am going to-” She was cut off when a loud frightened scream echoed through the hall. She turned to see Hanna standing just a little ways from them, her eyes wide and scared, wet with frightened tears. Katsura stood up straight and the daze the little girl had been in snapped. She took a few shaky steps toward them before breaking into a run. She slid to a stop next to Katsura, her little hands on her arm, “Please! Do not hurt him! He is my father!” Katsura softened, remembering the innocent kindness this little girl showed Moriko before. “Alright, for you, but you have to make sure that he behaves himself Hanna.” The girl and her father looked at her strangely for a moment when she lifted her boot off the man and let her sword arm drop to her side. She stepped away, pausing to ruffle Hanna's hair, “Bye Hanna. Thank you for the kindness you showed me.” She turned to walk away. “Be good Youhei.” She tossed him one last meaningful look before trotting down the corridor. If I ever find him again, I will kill him. Her last glance back showed Hanna dropping to the floor and hugging her father. Katsura felt Moriko grin.

Aki ran through the halls of the manor, searching rooms and trying her best to dodge any guards. “Moriko!” She slid around another corner, “Sister, answer me! Moriko!” Her voice echoed back at her from somewhere further down the corridor. She paused for a moment to catch her breath, reminding herself that running and yelling at the same time was not the greatest idea. Damn. Where is she? “Moriko!” Aki's fur suddenly bristled and she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. She growled in warning but it was cut off when something slammed into the back of her head. Her vision became blurry and she choked back her snarl, falling foreword, her world bled black just as she hit the wall. Some small part of her felt something warm and sticky pooling around her head and the sharp pain of something piercing her back before she lost all consciousness.

Kannashi fell purposefully from the roof of the manor, an arrow flying past his head. A female archer had found his hiding place a short time ago and had been trying in vein to shoot him ever since. He blew a kiss at her just as she tried to hit him with her wooden bow, his sandy hair dancing in his face as he jumped backwards and out of her immediate swinging range. She swore at him, large brown eyes hard with the anger he'd been messing with since she found him. He began to hop back and forth, thumbs in the waistline of his foreign trousers. She slowly notched another arrow from the quickly depleting quiver strapped to her back. His blue eyes gleamed with his amusement as she tried to get a good shot. With the way she was glaring at him, he knew that it wasn't working. She huffed, “Be still!” He grinned, a fang almost peeking over his bottom lip, “Why? If I did as you asked, you would surely shoot me, thus wounding me and now is not the right time for any of that. One, my companions would become upset, two, I would no longer be useful, neither of which is acceptable. My sincerest apologies my lady, but you will have to wait till a later time.” She wanted to scream. This was, by far, the most infuriating man she had ever caught on the manor grounds. He abruptly stopped his little dance and shot forward before she had the chance to react, quickly getting onto the roof once more like some kind of street cat, eyes bright with his amused excitement. And it is there, on the roof, he sat with his legs hanging down and a smug bemused grin on his face. “Why is it that you do not call for the other guards my lady? They would surely come to your aid.” She pulled the bowstring taught again and aimed at his grinning face, “I do not need any of them to help me rid the grounds of you.” He shrugged, “Suit yourself. Though I feel that I should warn you that I am quiet hard to catch.” She fired her arrow only to see him flip up and out of the way just in time, smug as all hell grin still in place. It was times like this he was glad he had spent all those times stealing from the armed guards that patrolled the Lord's manor back at the Capital. Its things like that that will give a man the innate ability to dodge flying arrows. He dropped gracefully back onto the grass just as two familiar scents hit his nose. Blue eyes went wide with panic. Not a moment later, Atama and Hikari came running out of the manor, skidding to a stop but an arm's length from him. Without really looking at the new intruders, the archer notched another arrow and let it fly, intent on stopping the new threat. Just as the archer's eyes went wide as her arrow flew toward two small children, that man she'd been shooting at blurred to a stop in front of them, arms spread wide, violet eyes glowing with the desire to protect his charges. She watched as the metal head of the arrow ripped the side of his strange black shift, the garment tore, revealing the lean body hidden beneath it and letting the arrow take a large piece of cloth with it to be nailed into the wooden wall behind them. The archer watched as a thin trickle of blood spilled from the cut made by the arrow, but her attention was quickly drawn to the face of the intruder, once calm features now twisted with rage, thick fangs bared at her like an angry dog. Her attention wavered for a moment when one of the children whimpered as they clung to the legs of this snarling man, twin emerald eyes large and round as they stared at her. The boy hissed just as she jerked her head back up to see that man raise a clawed hand at his would be captor, a silent threat. “What in the hell is your fucking problem?” She almost flinched back. He didn't say something to her; he'd just growled something at her. It was nerve wracking. She scowled, “Who are you?” He hesitated, debating quietly weather or not to tell her. He visibly relaxed, claws falling down to his sides as the battle ready tension eased a little off his body. “I am Kannashi Fox, the Master of Thieves.” She almost dropped her bow in surprise. The Master of Thieves? Here? Why? What could possibly be here that would attract someone of his caliber to a place like this? What the hell is going on? She looked over him once more and realized that she'd seen a drawn picture of him on the side of a shop in the Capital market. He is a wanted man all over the country, but she had heard that he had vanished not to long ago… some time around the Midsummer Festival. There is a local legend that surrounds him. It is said that he could steal the very stars from the sky if given the chance. That he is some kind of god among men. Others even say that they saw what he really is. A demon. A great beast of hell hidden within our world. Could it all be true? She drew her weapon again, eyes bright with her new found determination. Kannashi growled low, his chest vibrating with the sound while Atama and Hikari sunk lower to the ground, still clinging to the legs of their protector. She glances sadly at the children, eyes almost soft. They looked up at her, scared for the man they clung to. “I'm sorry Kannashi Fox, but you will have to die here tonight. I am uncertain to the fate of your charges.” He stood straight, body ridged and tense, “You may try my lady, but it is a futile effort. I am the great Kannashi Fox, Master of Thieves, Stealer of the Night Stars and Demon of the Capital. I cannot be killed by the likes of you.” Her eyes got large as he deliberately stated all his rumor given titles. “Yes. I know what it is they call me. The man who steals the stars. The demon. The bandit god.” His face split out in a darkly malevolent smirk as his body shifted easily into a crouched stance, “Some even say that I can simply not be killed.” He held his claws up again and she could almost see the blood that already stained them. “Are you going to attempt the impossible my lady?” Her arrow whistled through the air, but he never moved. Never shifted or even blinked. He felt the arrow cut through his hair, a few discarded strands falling to the ground. She had missed. Atama and Hikari released their hold on him just as he rushed forward with a loud snarl. The archer went to scream, but only choked when Kannashi's claws ripped into her, sending her flying back. She hit the ground, body bouncing on impact with the cold earth and sliding in the blood that poured from her chest. Her silent scream rang in the air. She looked up and saw him standing over her, a steely look in his eyes as he stared down at the one who dared to threaten his family. Atama saw something different in his uncle right then. There was once only the friendly uncle that would give them treats when mother wasn't looking and would take them out to play beyond the caging Capital walls. No more. There was another side to Kannashi Fox. The violet eyed predator that rests beneath the surface. This man was dangerous. The man with deadly claws that begged for their next victim's blood. Atama saw how this man stood over the woman who had once threatened him and his sister, her blood dripping from his claws while she lay bleeding on the ground. He saw something in those violet eyes he'd only ever seen in his mother. That vicious predatory look that smears onto your face when you know you are going to kill this person. When you are going to do whatever it takes to protect someone. Kannashi Fox was the Demon of the Capital after all. Hikari whimpered, tears leaking out of her eyes, “We cannot find mamma.” At the sound of her small voice Kannashi's chilled protective stance broke, the violet fading from his eyes. He crouches down and pulled her closer to him, “Oh, honey. It is alright. We will find her. You trust me?” She nodded. “Well, I promise that we will find your mamma for you. Alright?” She nodded again, small arms clinging to him as he stood up, one arm holding the little girl to his hip. He reached out for Atama to take his hand, those blue eyes warm. The boy looked up at him for a moment before taking the offered hand. Kannashi pulled him up with a soft grunt so that the boy was on his other side. “Hold on.” As soon as he felt both pairs of hands tighten their holds on him, he gathered himself up and leapt back onto the roof, glad manor roofs were always so low. Atama and Hikari slid to their feet, releasing their hold on him so that he could pull what was left of that black shift off. He sat down, legs crossed under him, and held the dark cloth to the bleeding cut on his side. Hikari sat down next to him, leaning into him for comfort. He wrapped an arm around her small form, pulling her closer. Atama watched them for a little while, content with standing next to them like a guard. Kannashi looked over at him, a small smile on his face. Atama wasn't stupid. He knew that he may never see his mother again. But he also knew that Kannashi would take care of him and his sister until she was found or even if she was not. The sudden need for comfort flooded through him. He moved closer and gently slid into Kannashi's lap, arms hugging him around the middle as best he could. Kannashi didn't care. They needed comfort, and in all truth, he probably did too. This whole damn situation was stressing him out. And now here he was, a great thief who is known all over the country, sitting on the roof of a manor waiting on his lover and her sister to return with a little girl leaning on him and a boy in his lap. It was stupid. It was more then stupid. It was probably pathetic. He snorted at the idea of it all, but still didn't move.

Katsura ran franticly down the halls of the manor, eyes wide with panic, her breath coming out in forced pants, her foot falls loud on the wooden floors. The faint scent of her sister's blood had been swirling in her brain for a little while now, starting only moments after her fight with Youhei. “Sister!” Her voice echoed back at her, no answer from Aki. She slid around a corner and was met with another empty hall. She stopped, her legs burning and open mouth panting as she leaned heavily on the wall behind her. Her eyes clenched shut; sweat trailing down the side of her face, her hair sticking to her forehead. This place was just too big. Too many halls and rooms. To many places she could be. Moriko's voice screamed at her to get up off the damned was and search for their wounded sister. Katsura growled, the hot air around her filling with the frustrated sound. She pushed herself off the wall and began running again. She backtracked to what she assumed was the main hall and paused. The scent shifted, something else mixing with it. Her eyes widened, “Sister…” Fire pulsed through her veins and she bolted forward, more frantic then before. She turned into the north end of the manor, following the clear scent of death in the air. She ran faster, unhearing of the swirl of emotion in the back of her head screaming at her to go back the other way.

Hikari screamed as Kannashi leapt back with her and Atama in his arms, violet eyes glowing, thick fangs bared angrily as another guard swung his blade wildly. Kannashi snarled, still struggling to find a way to fight back or escape the onslaught of manor guards, but the protection of his charges came first. That ruled out anything to risky. Atama lashed out at a man who had come a little to close, his immature claws barely drawing blood. Kannashi continued to jump and dodge, slowly moving back towards the manor wall. “Get ready.” Twin pairs of eyes looked up at him, but he was watching the on coming guards. Kannashi paused and both children felt the strength in him wind tighter. “I hope you are both ready because I am doing this even if you are not.” All they could do was hold onto him tighter as he suddenly leapt up, twisting in the air to flip over the manor wall and land on his back in the grass on the other side. He grunted with pain, but held his charges to his chest, protecting him from the impact with the ground. He groaned, arms loosening and allowing Atama and Hikari to fall to the grass. He sighed, “Shit…” He stiffly sat up, “Do not ever let me do that again” He stumbled to his feet, “If I try, you may hit me.” He bent backwards until he heard the satisfying pops. Kannashi stood straight and shook himself, the children watching a fine dusting of dirt fall to the ground.

Katsura stared, eyes flashing between blank and shocked. Her body refused to move. She couldn't even blink. Moriko was silent, to stunned for either of them to make more then one coherent thought. By the gods… She stood there, her feet rooted to the floor as her mind refused to accept what lay not more then an arm's length away. Aki was slumped against the wall, her blood smeared like she had slid to the floor. Her skin was pale, her eyes this murky yellow that gazed blankly into nothing. Blood was spattered all over her and oozed down the walls as if they too were bleeding. She collapsed to her knees, her body gone limp from shock. Her little sister, the one who always stayed, who had always held her up, who kept her sane all these years and who never judged her. The one who forced her to see that she was more then just an animal, forced her to see that she was somebody, that she mattered. Her baby sister; the first person who cared… She thought Aki was dead. She reached out to touch her, terrified that her body would be cold. “Sister?” The moment stretched on much longer then she could have ever thought possible. Aki's head lifted just enough to where she could see, brows furrowed in a look of complete bewilderment, “Sister?” Her voice was weak and hoarse, as if she had never spoken before now. It didn't matter. To Moriko and Katsura, it might as well have been music. Breath left her in a soft whoosh as her sister's voice echoed softly in her ears. She lives. Katsura felt stronger with the knowledge that Aki was still with her. She slowly moved closer, blood soaking into her cloths.

Everything became a blur. She remembered Aki slumping onto her chest, Kannashi's name tumbling from her lips before losing consciousness. Katsura felt vaguely detached from it all. Like she was watching the horrible event from someplace far away. She remembered picking her sister up and standing, Aki tight against her chest. She ran. Ran through the manor, Aki's blood occasionally falling to the floor in tiny ruby droplets. She needed to find someone. A man. What was his name? The man with the odd hair… Kannashi Fox. Yes. That's who she needed to find. He was her sister's lover. He would know what to do. She rounded a corner, lashing out viciously at the armed guard there with a loud snarl. Something was changing again. Katsura faded back, but this time, Moriko did not take control. It was something else. Something that had never really been there before, and yet, it was some how familiar to the both of them. She remembered running out into the courtyard, unsure of how she made it out so quickly. She was smacked in the face with the heavy stench of blood and hearing some one yell her name. A man came running up to her, his bare chest covered in small spots of blood while what remained of his trousers was ragged and battle worn. Two things happened when he reached out to touch her. She snarled like the animal she was right then, pulling her sister closer and then a scream ripped through the air. She froze. She knew that scream. Yellow eyes cleared and Moriko snatched control again. Her head jerked away from Kannashi, panic like ice in her veins, “Hikari!” She turned back when Kannashi reached for Aki, “Let me-” Moriko crouched low and growled a warning before the sound of the voice registered in her mind. “Kannashi?” He looked at her, hands held up in peace, “Steady Moriko. I mean no harm.” He watched her for a moment and saw something he never wished to see again. Gone was the calm, level headed sister. In her place was the beast that had always been just beneath the surface. Her eyes were glazed and wild, body tense to fight, claws itching for blood, but she held back. She held it all in. He eyes her wearily, unsure of what she would do, but he had to get Aki from her. He had to do something. “Kannashi.” She was staring intently at him, “Take care of her.” He watched her lay Aki gently on the ground and stand, clawed hands clenched at her sides, eyes steely and hard. “Help her. Keep her safe.” He nodded, but she was already gone, running back the way he'd come. He looked back down at Aki, her blood slowly staining the grass. “Oh gods… Aki, what did they do to you?” He picked her up, careful not to jar her, and stood. He glanced around before running off into the courtyard to find the gate, not willing to jump the wall and risk causing her more damage. Just as her was running out of the gate, the air became thick with the scent of death. He paused to look to where he could hear Moriko, but still continued to run; hell bent on getting Aki someplace safe. As he disappeared into the village, an enraged roar filled the sky above him, shaking the sky.

Atama crouched over his sister, green eyes burning with different shades of anger. He growled furiously, focused on keeping the surrounding guards at bay. Kannashi had told them to hide just as he ran off not more then a few moments ago, saying that he would be right back and to wait. But the guards had found them. One of them had even dared to hit his sister. Atama growled louder. Hikari looked up at her brother, his claws dripping the blood of the man who had struck her, the man who lay half dead not even an arm's length away from them. Blood tickled down her face and she blinked to get it out of her eye, her body throbbing with the pain. She whimpered. Suddenly, someone tore around the corner of the manor wall. A roar split the air. Guards jumped and stumbled back to escape the threat without really running away. Hikari heard her brother's soft whisper, his voice filled with relief, “Mother…”