Part 26: Rose Tinted Glass
Narrator's Point of View
Akki's head flew up at the sound of the small pups cry.
The Detectives are here? He processed the situation quickly, forcing himself to remain calm – it was not wise to show his alarm in front of his followers.
He addressed the small child as she stood, half stooped, regaining her breathe. From the looks of it, she had run a great distance.
"Where, how far away?" He braked caustically, making the child tremble.
"Two days walk from here; I used my speed to get here faster, my Lord." She gushed breathlessly, her eyes set fixedly upon the stone throne room floor. No child dare look Akki in the face for fear of being disciplined. "They are on the far side of our territory, near to the river."
"The river?" Akki repeated absentmindedly as he flicked through his mind, shaping their territory visually. "Hm, they plan to ambush us through the back of the cave, our hidden escape exit. Clever bastards." He mused. He began to pace as the pack grew and grew in the cold, spacious room around him. Faces of alarm and concern reflected ever where his mismatched eyes roamed.
If what the child – Seska, he thought her name was – is correct, then in two days time the detectives would be on top of them.
But in two days time the moon is full, Akki's lips curled back into a malicious smirk, the fools have spared me the trouble of having to collect Brianey myself.
"Let them come. It is convenient, the plan will still hold strong." He informed the tribe.
"Are you sure, my Lord?" Toebe spoke, his head still bandaged from his audience with the demon lord.
"Do not question me!" Akki reeled, making the tribe members quiver and quack in fear. "I am certain. In two days time our Goddess, Luna, shall be full faced – and when she is Brianey shall die, it has been set into motion nothing shall stop my ascent!" He raised his arms openly toward the pack.
"Our time is now! Makai is ours!"
The tribe jeered in false triumph at their leaders promises.
Soon they would be the most feared people in Makai. Leaders one and all.
Soon I shall rule all three worlds –alone.
Akki grinned at the naïve fools in front of him.
Brianey's/ Your Point of View
You woke with a start at the feel of someone shaking you roughly. Instantly a large spirit orb formed in your hand, its energy glowing blue-black.
"Whoa – only me Bri!" Yusuke fell away from you in surprise. "Jeez, are you always this cheery in the morning'?" He teased rubbing his behind gently from his fall. You relaxed sighing as you absorbed the energy and sat up, rubbing your eyes of sleep.
"We're in the middle of a mad man's wood, surrounded by God knows what: you do the math." You gripped back, throwing him a wry grin to inform him you were simply joking.
"He can't do math, he's a delinquent, remember?" Hiei's comment was dry in the slightly damp morning mist. Looking over Yusuke's shoulder you noted the fire Koorime was already training. Kurama was also up and about, seeming to be observing a map and looking around him often – you guessed to map the way from the surroundings to keep you out of harm. Kazuma was off somewhere, and you remembered from last night, when you they were talking about the past, that he said he liked to walk around and explore.
"Whatever three-eyes!" Yusuke shot back, chaffed. He smiled at you rubbing his head, frowning. You noted he was probably annoyed he had no way to slick his hair back in that normal fashion of his. "Shad told me to wake you, she needed help making food, and we have to set off early to make good time." He gestured behind him to your best friend, and only other girl in the group.
Shadow was situated by the fire, which was half covered by the blue material that fastened your tent closed. You could hear the fire crackling, and some orange-red waves of flame flickered into view every so often, concluding that it had been rekindled quite a while ago. She smiled at you from where she was, mouthing a morning and pointing to a large pile of vegetables. Kazuma's sack was near them. Obviously he didn't realise vegetables didn't keep too long.
Groaning you rose from the comforts of your sleeping sack and stumbled your way over to her, sitting down and picking up a knife and a carrot.
"What’s on the menu?" You grumbled, mid yawn.
"Vegetable broth, and bread since all Kazuma brought was things that won't keep." She sighed, smiling. "At least he tried to make an effort though, all Yusuke brought was granola bars and Hiei's just kitted with weapons..." She trailed off eyeing Hiei's pack.
"I can go a lot longer without food than those fools, Shadow. I thought if I were to fight a pack of wolves it would be best to be prepared for it." Hiei looked at her mid swing of his Katana. She raised a brow.
"How do you plan to fight effectively if all you're running on is an empty stomach? You need strength too; Koenma said we need to be at our fittest." She commented. You smiled at her, knowing not to argue with Shadow, even over small travails – she always won.
"Hn... you sound like Kurama." Hiei turned away grumbling, obviously chaffed at her logic. You laughed along with Yusuke and Shadow, feeling apart of a unit at last.
*
By mid afternoon you were deeper into the seclusion of the
You had, for the last three hours been chatting with the others, asking them the questions that you hadn't had time for last night. Ever since this morning, quite alarmingly you had felt a strong connection to all the people in your group. Stronger than before. It was as if a light had just been turned on inside you, or something just falling into place – this is where you belonged: With them.
You felt elated at the feeling and more relaxed with yourself around them. You had felt it around Hiei, first months back; because you had to spend almost every waking moment with him. But now the feeling stretched out in waves to each and every one of them.
"Yukina is the only girl for me – we saved her from this evil madman!" Kazuma smiled at you, he was walking by you telling you of 'his love'. You had been curious as to where she was from, although knowing of her being an Ice maiden, it did not make up for the large amount of mystery behind the girl. In fact you wondered as to the ties for all of the girls and Kazuma seemed more then delighted to talk of her and the others. The rest of the group seemed obliged to listen to the conversation, Yusuke and Kurama even joined in from time to time to give you more details if Kazuma became lost or confused.
"So Yukina was held hostage, and then you all rescued her from...?" You left it hanging, Hiei answered softly.
"From Tarukane. He was a foolish, leech. He tried to use my sister as means to get riches. Her tears form gems when she cries. Tarukane wanted to sell them for money." He sounded bitter at even the mention of such a thing. You frowned. "I took care of him." He finished, smugly. You looked at him, surprised.
"Sister?" He nodded to you, as you both walked, he had been at your other side. "Does she know?" Was your next question.
Hiei continued to pace by you, the others all reamined quiet allowing Hiei to answer – obviously they were not going to answer for him.
"She did not know properly until two years ago. She does now though, but we don't mention it too much." His voice was subdued, like he was repressing most of his feelings. You frowned more confused. Why wouldn't they mention if they were related? The though baffled you.
"She understands my reluctance to allow others to know of our relationship. I'm a wanted theif and Spirit Detective. There are many whom would jump at the prospect of using her to get to me for revenge." He gave you a passing glance, seeing you understood he went back to scanning the trees. You went back to listening to Kazuma's recollection of the girls.
Akki's Point of View
You flexed your hand gently, fingering the blade of the large, silver dagger attentively as though absorbing its feel. You continued to lounge in the chair, as the preparations were made. Soon the Detectives would come, finding more than they bargained for in their route into the tribe lair.
It won't be long now, before I gain what I deserve. Twenty one years of searching, of researching, of finding how to get what I seek... Your clothes rustles faintly as you adjusted yourself in your throne. You could hear the far off movements of the pack in the other chambers of the cave; no doubt they were ensuing the measure were in place before the detectives showed up.
Soon, little Brianey. Soon you will learn just how important you are to me. How your blood is going to help me reign supreme. You're going to understand truly, how you fit into the grand scheme of things.
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