The Meikai War

Hi B here. Sorry for the insane delay in production. Life has been crazy, as usual and b has felt rather uninspired lately.
B is trying to get back into writing and drawing, so cross your fingers for luck, ne?
B is also thinking about remaking her old site the "Makai Black Market". But, B has lost everthing except the fics for the most part and will have to redo everything else. Could take forever, but we'll see.
B thinks there will only one or two more chapters left for this fic, then this old monster can go back to sleep and B can go to work on something else she'd negelected for far too long.
Anyway I hope you enjoy.
ja ne
b-chan

P.S. Hiei08 I've looked over the chapters you said were cut off and can't see anything wrong with them. I went ahead and put TBC at the end so you know where they stop. They do kind of drop off, let me know if you don't see them for some reason.

Chapter 19
Meikai War

Inari rolled his shoulders in a tired manner, trying to work out kinks that had formed from his tense state of mind. He was far more tired then he should have been, even after a night of redirecting flows of power in the ningenkai. The elemental shield was going to be powerful, no mistaking it. He doubted there had ever been this much power harvested and put in storage in any of the four worlds. It was however, not without its drawbacks.

He winced at the feel of the ningenkai, his connection to it was weak at best; he could barely hear the prayers of his most devoted worshippers. He shuddered wondering over the long-term repercussions of this move. Given time magical beasts would start to migrate out of the ningenkai, starved for the magical flows that were their lifeblood. Next would be the spiritual senses of the humans which would grow less and less acute with each generation until it was likely whole families would be unable to commune or speak with their ancestors or any spirits for that matter. With their short life spans and memories how long would it take before they started to doubt the great beasts, magic, and even the gods themselves had ever existed in the first place?

Inari gave himself a shake. If this move wasn’t taken it was likely that he and his fellow gods would cease to exist. Sacrifices would have to be made, the devoted would stay so. Besides it was far too late to turn back now.

Inari’s silver gaze turned about the room till it landed on his armor arranged upon a stand in the corner. Slowly he moved towards it his hand reaching out to the symbol on its breast: a ten-tailed silver fox circled by a black fire dragon. His fingertips stop a breath away, trembling. He drew back as if afraid of seeing himself in such a state; perhaps he was.

A mortal, a mortal, my Suoh is mortal. It was a chat that had echoed in his head all day, ever since the stone holders were chosen. Why hadn’t he forbid it? Why hadn’t he locked Suoh up, hide him from everyone and thing, some place safe, some place only he knew about.

You cannot cage a black and keep him alive; no one ever has and likely no one ever will. To cage Suoh would put out that fire burning so brightly in his eyes, he had seen it nearly go out before, he could not bare to see it again.

Roughly he undid a tie from the armor and shoved it into place on his frame. He should have his servant help him tie it, but he did not want their company. Always before Suoh had helped him dress for combat, did not trust anyone’s hands but his own to make sure the metal plates fit properly. It had been a ritual of theirs, it felt wrong to do it by himself. He dressed in a hurry and stood before his mirror to check his progress, shifting from foot to foot slowly.

Some of the ties were too tight, digging into him. Suoh would have tied them properly, comfortable, then stood behind him while he admired himself in the mirror and commented on how vain he was.

He thought about trying to retie them, but reconsidered. Better too tie then too lose, they would due. He turned to head toward the balcony and frozen, hand fisting till it turned white.

Not the balcony; can’t fly, not without Suoh. Not without Suoh. The door slammed hard behind him causing the servant who’d been patiently waiting just outside to jump. He felt like sneering at the poor silver youko, but refrained. It was not Shiva’s fault he was in a fowl mood; he should not direct his anger at her.

She lowered her startlingly blue eyes before him, patient and waiting for any directions.
“Has my son come home yet?” he questioned her.

She bowed her head lower, shaking it in negative. Inari did sneer causing her to prostrate herself lower, nearly pressing herself to the floor. “No my Lord, Kogare-sama and Koaru-san have yet to return.”

“No doubt they are up to some kind of mischief as always. When they return tell them I forbid them to leave the premises, they will remain here till Suoh and I return!”

The fair young youko did press herself flat to the floor this time proclaiming that it would be done. He felt bad for yelling at her, she’d done nothing wrong, but he was beyond caring right now. Suoh and I will return together, we will. If I have to move the heavens and earth it will be so.

Determined he order for a horse to be saddled for him. Once ready he mounted and tore a rip in the fabric of space separating their worlds from each other. His horse danced skittish at the swirling void of colors that greeted them. He didn’t bother with soothing the animal, just booted it in the ribs till it danced forward into the void. He would be there, he would watch over his great serpent, see that no harm came to him and then when it was all over… his face softened a moment at the possibilities. Peace, they would have peace. Him and Suoh together that was the only true peace there was.
“We will have peace,” he breath upon the wind as he entered into the human world, gazing upon a world were the skies were fill with every color of ryu waiting conflict with the enemy. Off in the distance a black mass rolled, screaming and advancing toward the dragon army being herded into the proper place.

The Meikai forces had already assembled, their war horns sounded. Blasts of magic and stone were flung into the sky at the great serpents whom looped gracefully in the air, evading what they could. Some weren’t so lucky and broke under the assault their great bodies falling to earth, wings ripped, flesh seared. Inari’s stomached churned every time a ryu fell, he thought he might be sick if he watched too much longer, but he could not look away. This was the beginning of the end, the final battle, he must watch and remember. Remember and honor what the ryus did, how they fought and died. A great many scaled forms already dotted the land. How many more would it be before it was done? A thousand, ten thousand, a hundred thousand?! He did not even know if that many remained of the ryu clans.

His eyes scan the horizon, it was along time yet till dark, many hours still till the sunset and the moon rose. Everything would have to be perfect and in place when that happened. Then the Meikai and the Ningenkai would sync and fuse and the Neither world would be trapped and destroyed. But, if they failed… he bit his lip and kicked his horse foreword.

“We will have peace or oblivion, one way or the other.”

* * * * * * * * * * *

From his perch Suoh watched as the black mass of the Meikai’s army formed stepping through rips in the fabric of space to stand raging and screaming for blood. Not so surprised to see an army waiting for them. No doubt scouts had informed Yukumo of their presents long ago. It was a show of his arrogance that he’d still go ahead with his plans even knowing what awaited him and his troops.

He was glad Kaoru and Kogare had left hours ago with his sister Sunoo. She couldn’t fight in her condition, but should be able to keep an eye the pair. If nothing else she’d take them out of the ningenkai so they couldn’t get any stupid idea like playing in a war zone. Neither was talented enough to make a portable open were they wanted it to and with the web of power in the air it was unlikely they’d have much luck getting any where near this place.

Already ryus were roaring back their own battle cries, moving to advance and herd their enemy into position. They would have to have as many as possible inside the circle before the moons alignment was set. They’d left one side of the circle less populated to lure them in; Suoh just hoped they fell for it. And, what if they know what we’re doing?

The thought send a chill down his spine. NO! He must remain firm, unshaken. When the shield went up he would hold firm, he would hold till Yakumo and his horde had been mashed into jelly!

His battle lust sparked causing the power around him to spike and dance before he reluctantly smoothed it. It would not do to show off his position. As much as he hated the thought his job was to sit there and attract as little attention as possible. Most likely he’d do no fighting today.

“Do not look so sour, Suoh,” came Rouin’s merry voice to his side. “It is a fine day to fight and you’ll be doing the most killing in the end.”

True, but it would not be satisfying. He glanced at his tall companion and felt a moment of foreboding. “Rouin.”

“Hn?” hummed the black glancing down at him. “What Suoh, what’s with that look?” he smiled warmly, he’d been getting better of late. He was almost back to the way he use to be before Chi was killed, but at times Suoh would find him staring off into space eyes hunted and glassy like he wanted to cry. Today there was a sense of readiness to him that didn’t have anything to do with battle.

“Rouin… be careful… please.”

The great ryu threw back his head and laughed. “You’re turning into a worry wart Suoh, I’m not one of your hatchlings you know. I can take care of myself.”

Suoh snorted. “I’ll believe it when I see it, you might as well be a hatchling for all the seriousness you display. You could do with a stronger sense of caution.”

“This from the one with an energy sucking stone around his neck easily capable of destroying this mountain if mishandled?” Grinned Rouin.

Suoh growled at him. “I’m just worried about you, you stupid peanut brain!” fumed Suoh shaking his fists at him. “You could be hurt or worst today, what would I tell Koaru if you-if you were to-,” fingers on his lips stopped him from completing the sentence. He looked up into big brown eyes that now regarded him seriously, all playfulness gone.

“You worry too much Suoh. Do we not do this for our child, so that he might know a better future. Compared to that, what is my life? I would willingly give it up to see Koaru or you safe.”

Suoh was speechless at Rouin’s confession. His hand reached up to hold Rouin’s large one. They’d been together nearly all their lives. Had played as cubs, fought and killed as men, sired and raised a child together. He could not foresee a world without Rouin around. He pressed a kiss to that battle callused hand and held it to his cheek.

Rouin laughed and withdrew from Suoh’s grasp. “You must be fertile, you’re so emotional. What would Inari think if he saw you like this?” He flashed white teeth at the smaller black. “Say, if we do come out of this in one piece, how about another cub?” He leered at the smaller black wiggling his eyebrows in invite.

Suoh snorted and punched him in the leg causing the tall black to yelp and hop around on one foot. “Pervert,” he grumbled lifting his nose in the air. Rouin continued to hobble around the black a moment longer before sitting down to rub the hurt spot.

“Oww, Suoh go easy on me. I’ve got demons to kill today,” he grumbled inspecting the damage.

“We will talk about it later,” said Suoh softly causing Rouin to snap his head up and gap at him.

“Seriously?” asked Rouin in surprise. “You’d let me roll you again?”

Suoh blushed tomato red. “I said we’d talk about it later!” he shouted crossing his arms and turned his back to the other black, attempting to hide his embarrassment.

“Hot damn,” grinned Rouin jumping up to his feet. “Now I’ve got something to live for.” He leaned down to snatch up one of Suoh’s hand pressing a kiss to the back of it. “I would be my honor to knock you up again.”

Suoh hissed at him snatching his hand back.

Laughing Rouin danced out of Suoh reach before the little ryu could think to retaliate with violence. “Ah so much to do so little time,” teased Rouin spreading his impressive wind span. With a great coiling of his body he launched himself into the air. “I’ll see you later,” grinned Rouin winking at the other black before heading off to find a good fight.

“Rouin! You self absorbed, immature dung eater!” roared Suoh from his perch, seriously tempted to go after the arrogant black and teach him a lesson. Around him other ryu laughed nervously and steered clear of the fuming fire ryu sitting on a power keg of energy. It was not a good combination to be around.

The ryus all lifted their head and looked off into the distance as a great horn was sounded. Roaring they leap into the air to form ranks. This was it the beginning of the end.

* * * * * * * * * * *
“Did you hear that?” asked Koaru lifting his great reptilian head toward the noise and distant battlefield.

It had taken longer than they’d thought to lose Sunoo in the forests of the Reikai. They’d no more then a few moments ago stepped through a portal via Kogare’s illy-acquired sword. He was quit please to have the magic item on him. None of the power flows were working the way they should have. He would have had to enter the ningenkai on its western hemisphere instead of the eastern due to the unbalance. It would have taken all day to get to where the fighting was after that. Knowing his luck it’d all be over and done with by that time.

“No,” said Kogare tying another knot in the webbing of vines wrapped around Koaru’s middle. “What,” he said snapping his head into same direction. They both watched as many tiny dots soared into the air and a roar like thunder sounded over the land. “Ah no!” shouted Kogare scampering onto Koaru’s back. “We’re going to miss it. Hurry Koaru! Hurry!” He shouted thumping his heels into the ryu’s sides.

The young ryu glared at him for the heel thumping. He was no horse! Shaking his scaly head he crouched down and spread his wings. “Right!” shouted the young black springing into the air. Three great flaps took them above the treetops a dozen more caught them on an air current and pulled them up into the clouds.

It was not long before the land below them turned into chaos, everywhere they looked battles raged and demons and dragons alike died. Kogare watched as a black ryu battled a meikai-collared red ryu. Their fiery breath licked at each other, scorching wings and tails. The demon perched on the enchanted ryu’s back thrust his long lance at the black, piercing his wing and flank. The black ryu scream and swooped to ram his bewitched brother. They plummeted from the sky, grappling and were lost in the black horde below.

Watching the likely death of two ryus, Kogare started to wonder if it’d been wise to bring his little brother here.

“Onii-san!” boomed Koaru’s now deeper voice.

The golden fox turned his head from the carnage only to barely avoid getting run in by a winged meikai demon’s spear. The dark steel whipped by his face, slicing his cheek. The demon laughed in gee at first blood.

“Demon!” roared Koaru baring sharp teeth. “How dare you touch my brother!

Unforgivable!” He lounged for the demon with open maw.

“Koaru, no!” screamed Kogare, but the black paid him no heed. The golden fox watched with horrified eyes as his innocent brother snapped up the demon in his mouth and chewed, shaking his head like a dog would a rat he caught. Several agonized screams were heard before a particularly viscous snap of the jaws snuffed out the demon’s life. Kogare opened his bloody maws and let the now dead demon roll out and towards the fighting below. It hardly looked recognizable.

“K-Koaru,” uttered Kogare as the black snacked his head back to look at him.

“Are you hurt, Onii-san!” came Koaru’s concerned voice.

Kogare managed to tear his eyes away from the blood dripping down Koaru’s throat to look down at his person. “No… no I’m fine.”

Relief washed over Koaru’s features. “I’m sorry, I won’t let them touch you again. I will protect you brother,” vowed the ryu, turning his head back to roar warning to those around.

Bloodlust had taken him, Kogare realized; this was not his sweet little brother. This was a legendary black, he would die before he would admit defeat. He would die… The blood drained out of Kogare’s face.

His attention was snapped back when two winged demons rose from the cloud cover and charged them. Kogare’s heart beat madly in his chest. There was no way he could kill them both before they could get to his brother and if one of them should land a fatal hit!

With a scream the golden fox plucked a shoot of bamboo from his hair and commanded it to grow and grow and grow. One end impaled through the demon’s left shoulder, its weight dragged on the shoot, threatening to tear it from his grasp. With a scream the fox whipped the long pole aside smacking the other attacking demon across the head. Dazed it started to tumble from the sky before Koaru’s front paws snatched it up and dug long sharp claws into it. Effortlessly the black ripped the demon it held in two, shaking his paws to dialogue the bloody chucks stuck to his nails.

Kogare had no time to gap at his blood-crazed brother, his attention was taken up by the demon trashing on the end of his bamboo shoot. This demon had come to do harm to him and his brother, with a snarl Kogare drew three blades of grass from his golden mane. A twist of his wrist made them as hard as steel and he used them like throwing knife. One went threw the demon’s eye, the other lodged in his throat and the last took him in the heart. Kogare let go of the bamboo shoot and watched the dead demon plummet with a cold detached feeling.

He had to protect Koaru, this was no longer a game; it was about survival. This golden gaze searched for a way out of the fighting, but the battle seemed to have formed around them. Kogare didn’t know which way to go for safety. Perhaps there was nowhere safe in the Nengenkai now. They should never have come here.

Steeling himself Kogare leaned forward and touched Koaru on the shoulder, a silent command to turn right. The ryu twisted in mid air and followed his brother’s lead. He could see Mount Fuji in the distance, the mountain did not yet look like it crawled with demons. He would go to his mother ryu, Suoh would be mad, but he would take the punishment gladly if it helped insure his brother’s safety. He deserved to be punished.

In front of them a horde of demons and enchanted ryus stood between them and Suoh. It would be a bloody road indeed. Reaching into his hair he pulled out an assortment of his deadly arsenal. No one was going to lay a single scratch on his brother’s glossy scales.


* * * * * * * * * * *

Sunoo was near tears with fright. She’d lost Koaru and Kogare over an hour ago and had still yet to see hide nor hair of them.

In her growing panic she tripped over a tree root and went tumbling down a steep hill, white feathers being plucked from her wings as she went. When she finally settled on the bottom of the slope she was a tattered mess, feathers flowing lazy down around her, short hair now a riot that matched her twins. She sat at the bottom for a good long moment looking at the destruction her fall had done to the foliage. Her breath hitched in her throat and desperately she tried to struggle up and continue her search, but the hem of her long robe snagged on a dead tree stump and she nearly fell again. Her skirt tore and she stood there on weak legs, knees shaking. Staggering over to a tree she held on to it as tears of frustration finally won and started to trek down her face.

Tossing her head back she howled a mournful low note, purely animal in nature. If only she weren’t injured then she could take to the air and search, but her poor wings were in no condition to try and her body ached from both the fall and her old injuries.

Brush moving and twigs snapping under foot alerted her that she was not alone. Briefly her spirits lifted thinking perhaps her nephews had found her, but the ki signature she felt was not that of god nor dragon. In panic she hurried behind a tree just before a tall figure emerged from the brush.

“My lady?” called an all too familiar voice.

Shocked the white ryu leaned over to peer around the tree’s trunk at the human male. “Huma?”

The human’s face brightened. “Sunooooo!” His first step had him catching his ankle on a branch and much as the ryu had done mer moments before the human now copied. Sunoo winced as he tumbled head over heeds down the slight slop to slide into the crevice at the bottom.

“Are you okay?” she called hurrying to his side with a slight limp.

He sat up twigs and leaves logged in his hair and caught her as weakness and fatique caught up to the ryu dropping her to her knees.

“I should be asking you that, what are you doing out here in your condition?” he asked reaching up to free a few leaves from her own hair.

“I-I lost them!” she cried eyes tearing up again. Burying her face in his broad chest she bawled.

“Lost? Lost who?” questioned Huma alternating between stroking her hair and pulling twigs out.

“Little Koaru and Kogare, I lost them. I thought they were following me, but when I turned around they were gone!”

Huma’s brows shot up with the news. “Do not fret,” he said in a soothing voice before lifting a hand and blowing a low yet high-pitched whistle. The whistle echoed through the trees and was lost. Huma seemed to have his head cocked as if listening.

“What-?”

“Shhh,” spoke Huma softly touching finger to lips.

A pregnant pause filled the grove and then a bird’s cry sounded. Smiling Huma looked up to see a red tailed hawk circling above. Two more hawks of various species appeared and a pair of mated falcons. All flapped down to alight on either human or ryu and any perch near the two.

“These should do,” smiled Huma lift one bird that perched on his forearm up to eye level. He seemed to whisper to the bird, the other birds cocked their head from sides to side as if straining to hear. Sunoo could put neither words nor langue to what he said, only that when he finished the bird on his arms seemed to bob a bow and take flight. The other birds did like wise and soon they were flying out in all different directions crying as they went.

“What did you do?” asked Sunoo in awe watching the birds of prey become mer specks in the sky.

“I asked them to look for a young silver youko and baby black ryu. It will not take them long to search this forest, they are spreading word as they go.”

Sunoo leaned her head on his shoulder in relief, the energy sapped from her in her worry. “Thank you,” she breathed.

“No need to thank me,” he smiled enjoying the tattered tho still very beautiful creature pressed to his side. “I can not stand to see you cry so.”

She looked up at him and smiled, eyes moist, but she held them back for him. “You are very kind.”

The young human blushed at the compliment and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. Together they sat in silence and waited for news from the birds. An hour passed and them some and Sunoo started to worry. She brightened when one of the falcons returned to perched on Huma’s shoulder. It seemed to squeak and nibble at his ear. Slowly Huma’s cheerful express darkened.

“What? What does she say?” asked Sunoo clutching his arm.

“Your young ones are not in the forest. A deer told them she saw them disappear in a circle of light.”

“Light?” answered Sunoo struggling up to her feet. Huma beat her up and held on to her as she swayed on her feet.

“My lady?” cautioned Huma, holding tight to her arm as she tried to leave.

“A circle of light, they must have opened a portal, but how. The flows are all wrong and getting worst as the day progresses. There is no way they could have made a portal. I must go, I must find where they’ve gone. Can you show me, can you show me where they disappeared?” She turned big red eyes on to him and the human was incapable of refusing her. He was however not about to let her strain herself any more.

Sunoo gasped as she was swept up in to the human’s arms, her hand automatically went around his neck.

“I will take you there my lady, hold tight to me, you are in no condition to be trekking through these woods.”

Sunoo wanted to protest, but knew he spoke true. Instead she pillowed her head on his chest and listened to the beat of his heart.

It did not take long for them to find the clearing the pair had chosen, the deer who had informed them was not far off, chewing on a mouth full of grass and greens.

“I do not know the exact spot, but it was in this clearing that they disappeared.”

“Thanks you, this will due,” said Sunoo climbing out of his arms and kneeling down on the soil. Closing her eyes her fingertip touched the ground and she sat there long and just breathed.

Huma watched her, feeling strangely at peace seeing her sit there motionless. She was indeed a beautiful creature. Skin like silk, whiter then paper, hair like ink, like a starless night, and eyes like blood, like fire. She warmed him so with just a glance. Such an ancient magical creature would probably not take kindly to him admiring her so, but he couldn’t help himself.

Slowly Sunoo’s eyes opened and she stared blankly forward. “They are in the Ningenkai,” she breathed turning to look at him with their large liquid eyes. “They have gone to the battle field. I must go to them.”

“No!” shouted Huma, widening his stance as if to bar her way. “You are in no condition!”

“I know, but still I must go.”

“No,” shouted the human. “You will stay here, I will go. I will see them back to you!”

Sunoo’s large eyes some who manage to widened a bit more. “I can not ask that of you. There will be fighting, there will be killing, dying.”

“I am aware,” stated Huma. “And, I do not ask your permission to go. I have traveled the four worlds since I was an apprentice with my master, I have conversed with animals and beasts of all realms. I am no novice to danger, and no fool that would walk blindly into trouble, but for you my lady.” He paused and offered her and hand up. “For you I would die willingly.”

“Mage,” she breathed lot in his sincerity, she was caught off guard as he lowered his head and pressed a chaste kiss to her lips.

Stepping back from the dazed ryu, he quickly sketched a circle in the ground scratching ruins in the appropriate places. Soil was plentiful, water from a skin at his side, fire from lava rock, the air was all around them, and he was the will, the spirit to go on. A circle of light opened before him and he turned back to look at her before going. “I will be back, wait for me,” he said the words having so much more meaning after the kiss. Sunoo found herself blushing and watching as he bowed back from her entering and leaving her standing there.

“Huma…”

* * * * * * * * * * *

“Crap!!!” screamed the human as he stepped out into oblivion. He was falling, he was falling from hundreds of feet above the ground! The wind whipped past his face, making tears stream from his eyes.

He’d been so caught up with the beautiful ryu that he’d failed to notice just where the other sided of the portal had opened up.

The air was knocked out of him when he bounced off the spread wing of one purple ryu, the surprised dragon was sent spinning towards the ground, balance lost with the human’s unexpected brief landing with its person.

Huma flapped his arms and tried to ‘swim’ away from the long serpent heads and stabbing thrust of demon’s all around. Many pausing to look at the strange sight of a lone human falling from the heavens, others took him for foe and bit or swung at him on his descent.

“Don’t eat me!” screamed the human barely managing to twist away from a yellow ryu’s snapping maws. Really he didn’t know why they or he bothered. He wasn’t going to live through impact so why should it matter if he was killed before he hit?

He smacked into an ugly Meikai demon who’d managed to turn and catch him, with a pair of his multiple arms.

The demon growled at him and flashed sharp yellow teeth, aiming them down on his exposed neck.

“No you don’t!” shouted Huma reaching into his boot and pulling out a long handled knife. The blade sank into the roof of the demon’s mouth and drove up into its brain.

“Ha!” laughed Huma only to have the remaining blood drain out of his face when they started to plummet once more.

“No, no! Keep flapping!” he shouted at the dead creature grapping hold of one of its wings to tug it up and down.

The air was knocked out of him again, and he thought he’d hit bottom and was surely dead. The dead demon landing on top of him, crushing him with its bulk, black spots swam before his eyes. This was it, he was dying…

“Demon!” roared a booming voice not far from his current position and confused that he didn’t see the gates of judgment before him he lifted his head slightly to see who had spoken. A large wide opened maw with rows after rows of sharp teeth was all he could see. Screaming he shoved at the dead demon on top of him, lunching him forward into the black tunnel of teeth and death.

Those wickedly sharp teeth, each a sword’s length snapped shut on the dead demon, a mer foot from his person. Warm blood splashed out over him, a severed arm landed heavily on his chest.

He’d landed on a large black ryu’s back with his dead companion and feeling the impact the ryu had turned it long serpentine head around and snapped up the offending hitch hiker.

Huma watched with wide eyes as the dragon shook its great head, like a dog with a rat in his jaws. Once convinced its prey was dead the dragon spat out the corpse and turned an inquiring look on remaining free loader.

“Demon!” roared the ryu opening mouth to scoop up its next victim.

“It’s me, it’s me!” shouted Huma rolling over the ryu’s back and away from its gaping maw. “Huma, I helped Sunoo ryu. I’m still helping Sunoo ryu!” he screamed desperately crawling along the ryu’s back as the dragon chased after him with snapping jaws.

The dragon huffed as he ran out of neck to chase the human with, finding flying while trying to bite at your own butt difficult the ryu lifted his head and peered down at the little mouse scrambling across his hindquarters.

“Huma?” came the puzzled rely.

Huma breathed in a sigh of relief. “Yes, it’s me Huma. We’ve meet before haven’t we, you’re Rouin Ryu aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am. What are you doing here?” The dragon glanced up, “How did you manage to be falling out of the sky like this?”

“It’s a long story, one I don’t think we have time for right now,” said Huma lifting his right forearm to wipe at the blood on his face. “I’m here because Sunoo ryu asked me to look for her nephews-“

“What?!” roared the black ryu. “Koaru?! Are you looking for my Koaru?!” roared down the ryu.

Huma’s head rung like a bell and he had to blink away spots from his vision once more. When the fog did clear he saw a Meikai collar red ryu barreling down on them with a rider on its back.

“Look out!” shouted Huma pointing over the ryu’s shoulder.

Rouin turned just in time to meet the charging ryu. Their front claw interlocked, soon followed by their hind as both ryu’s turn so they were vertical, wings flapping franticly to keep them afloat in this position.

“We meet again Rouin Ryu,” laughed Raiko from the red’s back.

“You!” roared Rouin, snaking his long neck around to snap at the Meikai demon warlord.
The red ryu struck, teeth sinking into the black’s exposed neck, halting Rouin’s strike short.

“Ahh!” screamed the ryu. “Let go! I don’t have time for you right now!” The black thrashed as he tried to tug its front claws free so he could fight back.

Holding tight to Rouin’s black mane Huma drew his long sword blade and thrust it forward into the red ryu’s eye. It was jerked out of his hand when the red reared back.

The red let go, drew back its head and scream into the heavens with pain. Above them demon’s clutched their heads, while blood ran from their noses, ears, and eyes. Several dropped out of the sky, senses and consciousness lost to the ryu’s cry.

Huma was glad the ryu had thrown its head back or he too would have been joining the demon’s plummeting towards the earth.

“I am sorry,” said Rouin before lunging his head forward. His blade like teeth sawed into the softer flesh under the red’s head and clamped down. Blood fell like rain from the red’s mortal wound.

On the faltering red’s back Raiko laughed. Moving to place his hand on the dark metal collar around the red’s neck, it unhooked and reverted back to its smaller size.

“You are not the one I want, Rouin Ryu,” he laughed. “I will find the black fire serpent, I will collar him as my own, but for now,” smiled Raiko climbing over the red’s shoulder and jumping onto Rouin. “You will due!” he shouted with glee moving to press the collar to Rouin’s neck.

“I think not!” shouted Huma grabbing the hand that held the collar in one hand and drawing back the other.

“Huff!” grunted Raiko as Huma’s fist nailed him right in the face. “If you think I’m going to just sit here and let you do that then think again!” shouted Huma trying to wrestle the collar out of Raiko’s hand.

“Let go, puny human!” roared Raiko grappling with the mage.

The two traded blows, while the dragon’s rolled in circles in the air, losing miles of space between them and the ground in the process.

Huma tasted blood in his mouth, when Raiko managed to get several good jabs into his stomach and side, it hurt to breath too deep. He couldn’t compete with a demon’s strength he was only human. His hand slipped on Raiko and he lost his balance. Both hands went to finding a handhold while he slipped down the dragon’s glossy back. One hand caught a handful of black mane and he was jerked to a halt.

Raiko threw back his head and laughed. “Pathetic human, did you really think you had a chance against me?! I am Raiko, Lord Yakumo’s head general! You are nothing compared to me!”

Huma bared his teeth at the demon warlord and frantically reached into his pocket for something he could use. His hand closed over a hilt and whipping it out he didn’t even bother to take aim before throwing the short ritual dagger he’d always used for ceremonies at the demon before him.

Raiko’s laugh died in this throat as the small blade struck him in the left eyes. Screaming he clawed at the blade protruding from his destroyed eye.

Huma’s victorious smile was wiped away when Rouin released the red ryu’s throat, sensing the battle was over. The dieing red ryu took one look at its tormentor, one Meikai demon warlord and with the last of its strength snapped it up in its jaws before falling from the sky.

Huma held on tight and flattened himself against Rouin’s back as the two fell past just barely grazing his back as they went.

Raiko’s enraged scream was lost when the ryu’s tumbling form disappeared in the clouds.
“Do you think he’s dead?’ asked Huma once Rouin had leveled out and returned them to a descent altitude.

“I can’t image anyone living through that, “Sight Blinder.”

“Sight Blinder?” questioned Huma as the dragon turned a toothy smile to him.

“Well deserved if I don’t say so myself,” said the dragon all playfulness disappeared as suddenly as it had come.

“You said something, you said Sunoo sent you to look for her nephews, is this true?”

“Yes,” said Huma taking a moment to check his injuries. “Sunoo lost them in the woods, I found her, we found the spot were they’d teleported to this world. I’m afraid those two are out there somewhere right now.”

“Shit!” cursed the black swinging his great head around, searching for his only offspring. “How could this have happened, he is but a cub. He is not ready for this, not on this level! If anyone so much as scratches his scales they’ll know the wrath of a black ryu!” promised Rouin. “Human!” he barked back to Huma, making him jump.

“I have no time to take you too safety. I thank you for you message, and for my freedom, but I will not- can not stop before my little one is found.”

Huma nodded, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. “I understand. I will guard your back and aid you till they are found.”

“Thank you,” said the ryu swinging his head forward to begin his search. “They must have gone to Suoh. They know where he is, they would look for him when things got too much for them.”

“Where is Suoh located,” asked Huma straddling Rouin’s neck right before his shoulders, hands gripping fistfuls of black mane.

“Mt. Fuji,” said Rouin. “And, that is where we are going.”

“Right,” said Huma freeing his staff from his belt. “Lead the way ryu.”

* * * * * * * * * * *

Suoh’s head snapped up and he cried out as power recoiled along the elemental barrier. The strain of hold it increased tenfold, Suoh felt dizzy and sick from the after math as he sat slumped on his rock.

Many ryus near him exchanged worried and confused glances wondering if Suoh had failed.

“Suoh-sama,” questioned one brave blue ryu approaching him. “Is something wrong Suoh-sama? What has happened?”

Tears slid down Suoh’s pale face as he lifted it to look at the blue ryu. “He wanted children, now he will have none,” breathed the ryu, lowering his head once more.

“I don’t understand Suoh-sama,” said the blue now quite frightened.

Suoh spoke as if to no one, eyes fixed on the ground. “The elemental site of water has been sealed, Bakufu… is dead.”

“Dead,” said the blue in disbelief taking a step back. Around them other ryus exchanged worried whispers.

“His energy snapped back so suddenly… I do not think he was aware what was happening till he was dead. Someone… someone killed him, very quickly.”

The blue ryu turned to a fellow yellow. “Send a scout. Find out what happened at the water site. Suoh-sama-“ called the blue approaching him once more. “Will you be okay, holding the fire site and maintaining the shield without the water element?”

Suoh breathed deeply. “I am not alone in my efforts,” said Suoh. “The others still hold, but for how long I cannot say. Soon it will happen. The shield will clasp. We must hold, hold till the time is right. How goes our plan, are the Meikai’s forced in range yet?”

“Only half have entered so far, but more are pouring in as we wait. Already the elementals site of earth and wind is being siege by the enemy.”

“Ryuujin, what of he?” questioned Suoh propping himself up in a more dignified position.
“We know not how he fairs after the break, but last world said his site was relatively untouched.”

“Good,” said Suoh. “Let us hope that Yokokaze and Koudo are safe.” Suoh’s heart went to Koudo’s elemental site, not because the earth ryu was there, but because that was where Inari would be. He was there to help strengthen the site, another powerful warrior to keep the earth ryu from harm.

Suoh did not know if the shield would hold if they lost another site. Already a good portion of land had been fried due to the sudden reduction in size and support. From his vantage point Suoh could see the charred remains and smoke billowing up. How long before anything would grow there? How long before the Nengenkai would recover from the lose of so much of its spiritual energy? And, they were planning to do this to a much larger area of land, with a lot more energy behind it. He wondered briefly how many ryus the shield’s shrieking had caught. How many had been turned to ash by the backlash of energy. How many of his brethren would be caught in the final trap with the meikai’s troops. How many would be alive when all was said and done.

Suoh shivered and hugged an arm to his side; he could not afford to be weak now. He would grieve for the dead later, if he wasn’t counted among them.

“Inari…” breathed Suoh looking off to the east, were he knew his loved one was. “Be safe.”

* * * * * * * * * * *

Inari’s twin blades worked in a blur. One demon’s head was sent flying from its shoulders, another went down screaming, Inari’s sword having cleanly sliced its hamstring. He drew back for a breather and surveyed his surroundings. They were being overrun. Meikai demons were everywhere, forcing their way through the trees towards Koudo and the barrier of ryu’s protecting him.

A swarm of demons screaming got his attention and turning he saw a mass of close to a hundred charging toward the already buried ryu troops. Inari was tired but that did not stop him from reaching deep into his inner reserves and summoning a thick field of needle sharp brambles in their path. It wouldn’t stop them, but it would slow them down. The demon’s roars and screams increase as they rolled into the brush, becoming tangled and suffering minor wounds from the plants. The ryus looping in the air did not miss the opportunity and began breathing down their deadly blasts as the entangled troops.

He leaned on his swords for support having over exerted himself, he did not know if he had any power left to defend with. He glanced at Koudo, the purple Earth ryu, perched on top of the hill eyes closed and faces mournfully sad. Inari’s heart tried to leap out of his chest seeing that expression. Finding the strength to move he was soon running towards the purple ryu.

“What is wrong?” he questioned before skidding to a stop before the ryu. Koudo sat cross-legged on an ancient tree stump that had been cleared long ago by humans. It seemed like he was meditating, his expression while sad also seemed resolute and peaceful. It was a look of one embracing death.

“Koudo!” he barked at the ryu when he didn’t immediately answer.

The ryu slid open the greenest pair of eyes Inari had ever seen and his sorrow was easy to read. “The elemental site for water… is sealed.”

Inari breathed deeply not realizing he’d been holding his breath. “What do you mean, sealed? How could it have been sealed?” His mind wondered toward a certain black ryu, where the sites beginning targeted?

“Bakufu is dead. The energy he was storing has been cut off from us. I will soon not be able to bare the strain.”

As if to show his point energy sparked around the ryu, burning slashes in his flesh.
“Koudo!” shouted Inari in alarm, hands stopping shy of touching the ryu. He was the same element as Koudo, as was the stone, if he touched it… Shivering the fox withdrew.
“You should not be here,” said Koudo looking tired. “You should go.”

“Go?, but who will defend you. I can’t just leave you here-“

“Suoh needs you, darkness is coming his way,” spoke the purple ryu as if in a trance. Pain had most likely claimed his entire being or did Koudo possess a bit of foretelling like Ryuujin? The possibilities tore at Inari, to leave was to go against the plan, against his brethren. To stay… his eyes wondered to Koudo taking in the ryu’s ragged appearance.

“You’re dying aren’t you.”

The ryu smiled and nodded his head slowly. “I can not say if I will last long enough, but if it comes to that I will have another seal the site here. My sister fights on the hill, she will do this for me if I ask it.”

“No!” said Inari. “If you fall. If you fall the others will fall too!” he shouted at the ryu getting the attention of the others near. All bore that expression; all were prepared to lay down their lives.

“I am sorry, our plan must have been discovered and the Meikai has found a way to counter it. Kill the ryu holding the site and seal it and they become nothing more then storage tanks of spiritual energy. Perhaps three can hold, but you must go quickly one of my brothers will see you there.”

A red ryu stepped foreword and nodded to Inari, volunteering himself.

Inari locked eyes with the purple ryu’s green and felt the dread of defeat hover over his shoulder just waiting for the moment to strike.

Koudo smiled at him. “It was a pleasure to fight beside you Inari. You should go, my death will not be… quite.” The purple ryu’s eyes took on blood lust and Inari could feel him gathering some of the stored energy to himself.

“Stop you’ll be consumed!” shouted Inari even as he realized that was the ryu’s intent.
“Go Fox God, I will take as many as possible with me. The site shall be sealed once nothing remains of my consciousness. Till then, it will be most dangerous here,” the ryu flashed a toothy smile, even as his scales seemed to crack like clay left too long in the sun. He turned his head toward another purple ryu a female with the same hunting green eyes as she landed lightly next to them. Inari knew without having to ask that they were kin. The female nodded to her brother, showing she understood and was ready.
Inari stepped forward to stop them, but the red ryu grabbed him up and launched them into the air.

“Koudo!” he shouted over the roar of the wind as the red ryu changed forms and moved towards the large mountain to the east. “Stop, we have to go back. They’ll die! They’ll all die!” he shouted at the red’s head.

“That you value their lives so is a wonderful thing, Fox God,” said the red mournfully. “But, we are all prepare to pay that price. Once Koudo is consumed, his sister Shala, will see the Meikai can’t use the power we’ve worked so hard to harvest. The whiplash will char the land like it did when Bakufu fell, but at least it will not be useable to any for many years. Burning his soul to nothing is the only way to use this power before it is inaccessible, you should honor his commitment and sacrifice for our cause. Honor is all we can hope to achieve in his life.”

“Fool! If he lives, or dies in some other way, he’ll have the chance to be reborn! Dying like this destroys the soul, he’ll be worst then dead!” shouted Inari slamming his fist down on the red’s back. The blow was not enough to harm the red, but he flinched on contact. “A price the gods have set for themselves, some of us can match.”

Inari’s head snapped back in shock.

“Gods have immortal flesh and mortal souls. We have mortal flesh and immortal souls,” stated the red. “You all stand to loose everything with the conclusion of this battle. No death, no rebirth; to lose means nothingness for you. Do not thing we would pay any less, given the choice. And, some of us do choose.”

Inari’s heart froze in his chest. “Tell me ryu, can all the stone holders make this choice…”
The red turned his long neck back to stare him in the eyes. “They can choose, Fox God.”

“Then make hast, Red Ryu. I will not allow Suoh to disappear, no matter the price.”

* * * * * * * * * * *


Kaoru’s shoulder slammed into the pair of giant double doors leading to Enma’s thrown room. The twin doors went swinging in to slam into the walls cracking them like the strains of a spider’s web.

“Korin!” roared the ryu, red eyes locking on the white tiger demon lounging causally on the oversized thrown that Enma entertained guest on. At the demon’s feet sat Suoh, Ghost Slayer resting lightly on his shoulder. “Release my mother ryu, now!” The force of the ryu’s scream shook the wall, causing bits of plaster to fall from the ceiling.

The seated demon didn’t even flinch, seem overly amused at the sight of the powerful creature before him.

At the chair’s foot matching red eyes wide at the sight of his youngest fully grown and enraged.

“Kaoru?” utter Suoh, eyes snapping up to his master in fear at the tiger demon laughed.

“So Suoh, this is your baby, ne?” purred Korin moving to sit up more, his hand going up to hold his chin as he scanned his eyes up and down the taller black ryu’s shape. “I can see the resemblance; however, he lacks your more delicate frame, hm?” He hummed turning his purple eyes down to look at the worried ryu at his feet.

“Master,” began Suoh a pleading note in his voice.

“Suoh,” called another voice causing the ryu’s breath to catch in his throat, turning wide fearfully eyes back forward Suoh’s red gaze full upon a golden vision of beauty and power that had just entered the room to stand a pace behind Kaoru a small black clad form of a demon in his arms.

“Kogare…” The ryu’s hand wondered up toward his face, emotions warring across his feature. “You should not have come… Take your brother and go, leave now!” screamed the ryu. Fingers, clawing down the simple metal band around his throat.

Hurt briefly flashed over Inari’s face before they hardened upon the laughing tiger demon. Moving to the side, he gently lay his light burden down; thoughts of the young demon forgotten faced with the one who tormented his mother ryu. Hissing the golden fox god took a step forward, drawing his sword in one smooth motion.

“This is your only chance Korin, release Suoh or suffer the consequences.”

Korin threw back his head and laughed, eyes turn down to look at the cowering Suoh. “Sa, Suoh. Your brats do make such demands from one such as I. Don’t you think you should teach them the error of their ways, hm?” Purred Korin.

“Master… please,” breathed Suoh ready to beg for his young.

“Do not call him that!” scream Inair. “Never call anyone that! You are a black, you are an untamable fire ryu; he is not your master!”

Suoh looked truly sad as he turned his gaze back to his strong, beautiful son. But, he was no longer strong. He no longer had the will to surfer on. He was caged and a disgrace. His sons should turn away with disgust. They should turn away and flee…
“Suoh,” purred the smug tiger demon. “Kill the black ryu and chain the brat fox. I’ll deal with him later.”

The command made Suoh’s horror stricken face going slack. He seemed to stagger as if stabbed, swaying drunkenly on his feet.

“Mother ryu,” said Kaoru taking a step forward in concern.

Suoh’s back snapped straight and with a completely blank trance like look on his face, lunged forward; Ghost slayer flashing out toward Kaoru’s neck.

Inari’s sword flashing out to meet it was the only thing that saved the young ryu.
Kaoru’s leg buckled and he landed hard on his tailed, the two sword crossed inched before his face. “Mother… ryu…” breathed the ryu as if pained.

Inari turned golden eyes alight with rage upon the once again laughing tiger demon, but his attention was forced back to Suoh when the ryu pressed hard forcing him back, forcing their blades toward his paralyzed with shock little brother.

“Damn you!” raged Inari planting his feet and using strength gained from the blood of the ryu before him to push the short ryu back. Suoh skidded back and crouched, coiling to spring. Inari charged and meet the ryu half way. “Damn your soul to the abyss, Korin. I will see it so,” he vowed straining again Suoh’s blade with his own.

Yusuke ran skidding past the door with Kurama on his back. He would have fallen flat on his face if not for Kuwabara reaching out to steady him.

“Heaven help us,” breathed the carrot top taking in the scene before him. The emotions in the air tour at him, his six-sense raw with intense feelings.

“What in world-?” uttered Yusuke in shock, attention torn from the two battling before him to the red head over his shoulder. The red head who was suddenly alight with a silver glow.

“Kurama?” question the raven hair teen as the slim fox slide off his back without raising his head and stood on unsteady feet beside him.

“Suoh,” came an unearthly voice as the red head lifted his chin toward the small black ryu. “My ryu.” Once emerald green eye, now sterling silver, found and locked with ruddy red ones. Red hair bleed silver, the young frame seemed to mature and grow taller. Ordinary clothing melted away to reveal light robs and shining armor plates. The soft peach color of skin bleached a translucent white, as delicate feminine like hands lifted to have twin sword suddenly form out of nowhere in his grasp.

Suoh stopped deep, emotion bleeding back into his face as he looked at creature that now stood in the doorway.

“Inari.”

TBC