Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction / Yami No Matsuei Fan Fiction ❯ Red Shaman ❯ The Way of the Clans ( Chapter 57 )

**********************Author's Notes*****************************************

Soeur is sister in French. Ouai, sometimes spelled Ouais is what is commonly referred to as “dirty French” or mal Francais and is old Southern slang for very informal Yes or yeah. Usually only used toward family members. At least that's the way my Great, great aunts always said it. Far be it for me to argue with those two genteel southern belles.

If the dialogue sounds padded, I'm sorry. I tried REALLY hard not to do it, buuuuuut it just didn't make sense any other way.

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You can not forestall who you are, who you are meant to be.

 

Yohji frowned and felt his stomach tighten into harder knots. Aya's face had turned the color of his hair and it looked like there was something moving underneath his skin. It rippled and slid all of its own accord without Aya moving at all. He heard a cracking sound, like someone popping their knuckles. It looked like the bones were trying to shift places. Aya's jaws were locked and it seemed as though he was trying desperately, even in his sleep, to keep from screaming.

 

Skye!?!? Star?!?! Need some help up here!

 

Little busy at the moment, Yohji, Skye said. Are you okay?

 

I am, but Aya isn't. I don't think this is supposed to be happening. Yohji was trying to keep the rising panic out of his mind. He had to bite down on his hand to keep from screaming when Aya's back bowed and he folded almost completely in half backward then slammed back flat on the infirmary cot.

 

 

I'll go. Star said. You won't need me unless it's something we can physically fight.

 

Go see what it is. I'll call you if we need you, Skye said.

 

On my way, Yohji.

 

Hurry, he squeaked.

 

Star got up from her seat and waved Ken away as he made to follow her. She took the steps two at a time when she briefly touched Aya's mind. If she had thought going into Farf's mind was like walking into a tornado this was more akin to a firestorm. She found Yohji standing beside Aya's bed, holding on to his hand and looking thoroughly shell shocked.

 

“Yohji, are you okay?” she asked, skidding to a halt next to him.

 

“NO! Star, what . . .”

 

They both paused as a rumbling growl came from the man on the cot. Yohji blinked, startled by the sound. For Star it only confirmed a bit more of what she had just started to suspect. As both of them watched something seemed to race underneath Aya's skin making it seem like a living thing unto its self.

 

“Yohji, come away from him for a sec,” Star said, taking several steps backward away from the cot.

 

Yohji reluctantly let go of Aya's hand and stepped toward her only to have Aya's hand shoot out and grasp him by the wrist, pulling him back toward him.

 

“That's what I thought,” Star said, rubbing her temples.

 

“What? What is it, Star?”

 

“I'm not entirely sure yet but I have a very strong suspicion.”

 

“WHAT?!”

 

Aya growled again but didn't offer to wake.

 

“Yohji, you have got to calm down, chere,” Star said, slipping back into the dialect of her childhood.

 

Soeur?

 

Ouai?

 

When was the last time we dealt with a Clan other than Ben?

 

Never. Most of them were hunted to extinction over the last two hundred years. Either that or went into deep hiding in the rainforests or the far north. Why? Is that what might be coming up next?

 

Not in the way you think.

 

I don't understand.

 

Aya.

 

Skye felt her heart drop into her stomach and felt genuine fear for Aya trace up her spine. How far along is he?

 

Not very as near as I can tell. I think he's fighting it. But a good portion of the shift seems to be centered on Yohji.

 

Skye nodded. That makes sense. He'd see Yohji as his mate. You said he's fighting the shift?

 

Yeah.

 

Star, that could kill him.

 

I know that. All signs indicate this is the first attempt at a shift.

 

I wonder what triggered it.

 

Could have been my opening up the channels for him to communicate the way we do. Most Clan have a private path. Opening up those links might have triggered a shift.

 

Any idea what variety of Clan he might be?

 

Can't be one of the cats. They don't mate bond. Almost has to be one of the canine or drakken.

 

Probably, since Aya has serious loyalty bonds.

 

Aya's back bowed again and his body slammed back onto the cot with such force it rocked the tables and cabinets in the room. His breath was coming in short spasms his hands clenching and unclenching. The hand still holding on to Yohji's wrist gripped with bruising force. At Yohji's gasp of pain Aya relaxed his grip immediately whimpering what, for some insane reason, sounded to Yohji like an apology.

 

Star, is there any way you can force him to shift?

 

I don't know, sis. Why?

 

Because he's dying. His body has to accept at least a small part of the shift otherwise his nervous system will start to shut down.

 

Star paused for a moment. Looking at Yohji and Aya's still twisting form on the cot. She pushed her hands through her hair, causing half of it to tumble free from the pins. Yohji met her gaze and every muscle in his chest clenched. She looked both scared and ready to cry at the same time.

 

She pressed her fingertips to her lips for a moment and then took a deep breath.

 

Can you hold him from there?

 

Yes.

 

Good. I don't want to hurt him. Even with a partial shift he'd be as strong as I am.

 

Do what you have to, Star. I'll back you.

 

You haven't let me down in almost a hundred and fifty years. I don't expect it to happen now.

 

“Yohji, forgive me, babe. I don't know any other way to make this work,” she said, reaching around his waist and quickly pulling him away from Aya.

 

Aya snarled and rolled halfway to a sitting position supporting himself with his left hand. His eyes were wide open now and focused on Star. The normally violet hue seemed to have taken on a silver cast in the dim light of the room.

 

“What the . . .” Yohji began but stopped himself before getting any more than that out.

 

Still not enough, Star.

 

Shit. I really don't wanna do this next part. Shit, this is gonna hurt. Leave him alone unless I say to pull him back, Skye.

 

Understood.

 

Star took a step back and slapped Yohji across the chest. Not hard enough to make him do more than say “Ow!” but it was enough. She found herself on the floor being straddled by Aya. Or rather, the creature formerly known as Aya, at any rate. He had each knee planted on either of her wrists and one hand closed around her throat. Squeezing.

 

Ran. Come on, baby, I know you're in there.

 

He snarled and bore down harder on her neck, ignoring Yohji's attempts to pull him off. Yohji dropped to his knees just to the side of Star's head and put both hands over Aya's now clawed fingers. Aya's hold loosened and he looked up at Yohji.

 

“Sweetheart, you know she'd never hurt me,” Yohji said, moving one hand away from Aya's and stroking upward along his extended cheekbone. The bones of his face had shifted forward slightly but it was still Aya. “Come on, koi. You know her. Your scent is all over her and so is mine. She's our friend. She helped you the only way she knew how to.”

 

Aya moved his hand away from Star's throat and sat back on his heels for a moment. Star could almost see the war going on in his head between the primal nature of protecting his mate and the rational, logical part that was Aya. He leaned forward sticking his nose into Star's hair, then the curve of her neck, moving down her body and sniffing interestedly. Then making little growling noises of recognition. Star kept her hands palm down against the floor until Aya slid back up toward her face. He put his head beneath her chin, again making the whimpering apologetic noises.

 

“He won't be able to speak normally until he gets used to the shift,” Star explained to Yohji. She reached into Aya's hair and began stroking his ears. They had shifted near the top of his head and were pointed and fuzzy. “It's okay, baby. I understand. You were just protecting your mate,” she said soothingly while she continued to pet him.

 

Sis, he's canis lupus breed.

 

That makes perfect sense. Do you need me?

 

No. They'll need you more down there in about a minute. I'll be there as soon as I calm things down a little here. Make sure the living men are safely out of the way.

 

Oh, gods. Not that, Skye said, blinking back the sudden tears that threatened to fall. Will you be okay?

 

Yeah. I don't really have any other choice. Make sure Gran is warned as well.

 

Understood. Goddess . . .

 

I know, Blaze said. I wish to the gods I didn't, but I know.