Part 27: Trap
The final day of walking was reached, and you had never been more relived or frightened in your whole life. Everything you had been trained for; lost in the battles and felt since meeting the Detectives came down to this one, almost insignificant, day.
You were situated on a small, rocky ledge that joined to the towering mountains that led east toward the home of the Koorime's and the darkness demons. The sky was a steel grey, the clouds glinting like swards in the sunlight that hit them. Small animals scattered from the site, but could be heard at distances away from where you were.
Kurama was gathered with the rest of you, a small plate with Yakitori (grilled chicken pieces on skewers), that Shadow and yourself had cooked over the fire from last night. It was unwise to try to build another fire this close to the Wolves cave, and so you ate your chicken cold. Kazuma was complaining lightly about the lack of heat - it was rather chilly, despite the weather.
"The entrance to the back of the cave is unguarded. It's the best option." Hiei replied coolly as he arrived back and stooped to sit beside you. You smiled slightly at his sudden mood change toward you and reached to pull a twig out of his hair. He looked at you quietly for a moment before retuning to the task at hand.
"Alright, so at nightfall we all go to the back of the cave and gain entrance. We know from Koenma's spies that the hunters in the pack will be away so we have more of a chance to get Akki alone and stop him." Kurama uttered the plan calmly as he set his wooden skewer down in the discard pile and reached for his napkin. His hair was tangled for lack of a comb; you had no time for personal hygiene today, it was vital everyone knew the plan inside and out.
A wrong move could cost you more than the mission.
"Once inside we split up into teams. Yusuke and Kuwabara, you will make your way to the main area," Hiei placed two small stones into the centre of the dirt-draw map of the cave. Another vantage you had was that Youko-Kurama had used these caves before as a hide out, before the wolf demons had inhabited it. "Shadow and Kurama-"
"Will take up the position by the mouth of the cave and stop the returning hunters." Shadow and Kurama recited perfectly. You smiled gently, feeling the worry lessen. If we know the plan well enough we should be safe... It's just the fighting that you can't predict.
You stiffened, feeling a hand on your back; you were compelled to keep still, as to not alarm the person. You felt light, gentle pressure run down your back, and return; almost as if lulling you into security.
"Myself and Brianey, will seek Akki, while taking out as many of his followers as possible. Once thirty minutes has elapsed the rest of you will make your way to the throne room to help us. Everyone clear?" There were solemn nods from the others. The pressure left your back as everyone stood.
"Good. Then we wait." Hiei stalked off, disappearing into a blur. Yusuke stretched lazily and grinned at you, confidently. You frowned and headed to Shadow.
You were in serious need of a one to one with her.
*
Akki remained for the remainder of the day in his throne room. The pack knew the plan, it was simple. Some of the hunters would go out as normal, for the night hunt to throw the detectives off guard. Once they all entered into the back of the cave they would be greeted by twenty-five of the strongest followers at his disposal, and brought directly to him.
Only a matter of time now. Tonight is the full moon. Tonight her blood will alter completely into the purest form it can. And when I harvest that blood, when I absorb it into myself I will be ready to take Makai as my own. He cackled gently to himself. He was elated at how easily his plan was falling into place, piece by piece. He allowed another hollow laugh to escape his twisted lips as he reminded himself of how the girl had no idea, still, why he needed her and her alone.
But she will soon... I'll tell her before I kill her. After all, a wolf always explains his reason for killing.
He stood and sauntered out of his throne room to check the preparations. The time was approaching.
*
If there is one thing you hate more than being rushed, it was waiting.
You almost cried out in joy when the sun started to sink behind the mountains. You had been sitting all day sharpening and preparing the weapons that Hiei had so thoughtful brought for you all. Yusuke had even taken a dagger as a 'just in case'. Kazuma also had one safely stashed into his boot.
Hiei was now equipped with two katana's, three daggers and throwing stars. Even he was taking no chances this time around in confronting Akki. Kurama had his rose whip along with a fine looking Wakazashi and you and Shadow both had a sward and a spear, respectively.
"What if something goes-"
"Don't!" You and several other voices had cut off Kazuma's doubts before he could finish voicing them. He cringed slightly, before nodding and looking away re-checking his bandages around his arms - they were not for wounds, but instead to help protect the knuckles and improve the protection of ones wrist when punching, as well as to maintain grip on weapons when sweating. All of you had them tightly wound around your arms.
"I know - I'm sorry. I shouldn't be on the 'what if's' now, it's too late we're here already. And we're going to kick some demon ass!" His voice was low so that it wouldn't carry, but the intensity of it had you biting your lip in admiration. Unlike you his voice was strong and confident - you were quaking already on the inside just at the thought of facing whatever unknowns were in that cave.
"Look," Kurama's voice said gently, you paced to him quietly and looked over the cliff face you were on, to the cave; it could be seen from here. You nodded acknowledging him. "They've started out for their nightly hunting."
"Then let's get going." Yusuke reasoned heading for the side of the cliff that was less of a sheer fall. You did a once over quickly on yourself, before following them all and lowering yourself for the fifty foot climb to the trees below.
Akki's Point Of View
"The selected hunters have started out, my Lord." Toebe advised you, "The rest are in the back of the cave, they have concealed their kai's as asked and are awaiting further orders from you."
"Excellent, they are to wait there until all of Brianey's party are a good way from any exits, ensure they have no escape. After such incapacitate them, do not under any circumstances kill them. I want them alive to watch my awakening." You surveyed the pup, seeing him visibly shiver. You smirked showing one large frontal canine, he kept his eyes on the ground and shrank back. "Understood?"
"Yes, my Lord." He squeaked before practically throwing himself at the throne entrance, he pushed the heavy drapery away from the entrance and disappeared. Chuckling gently you followed after him, your feet noiseless upon the ground, as if you were a ghost.
You turned a corner into another direction in the series of caverns, not bothering to light any torches to see - wolves could see perfectly well without light, of course.
"Make sure no one comes this way." You muttered as you slinked past a guard, the order was unnecessary anyway, all inhabitants shied away from this area of the cave because of what happened here in the past, believing by simply ignoring this section they could become separate from it. You thought it was weak of them to do so. Why would anyone want to forget what happened in this cave, the blood spilt? The endless trials to perfection?
An arousal lit in your stomach at the mere thought of such... pleasures.
Strolling to the centre of the room you ran a hand over the stone, stained rustic red from blood and sweat; it was smooth: about a meter in length and half a meter in width: like a small table. Beside it stood a smaller pillar coming to waist height to you at your six-foot eight-inch, frame. A small stalagmite in the making. On this, there was a cup, made of Makai metal and a lengthy dagger, seven inches in its blade, sharpened to perfection.
You moved passed these to a small opening in the side wall that led onto a ledge and looked up.
It's
Brianey's/ Your Point Of View
You had made it to the bottom of the cliff and had followed Hiei and Kurama, whom seemed to know the path better to the cave than the rest of you. You, along with the others were all concealing your youki along with your scents with an over powering plant essence Kurama had graciously poured over you all. He said it was 'sap from an elder Yanagi (
"We're here." Was all he said, but it was enough to set you all on hyper alert. You shifted uncomfortably to get a better look.
The back of the caved looked completely as you would expect any cave to look like. The wall towered and sloped at an angel to join onto the rest of the mountain side that loomed further to the west: you were still quite low down from the mountain valley. The opening was a small crack inside the structure itself, seeming to be the result of a stream which snaked it's way into the cave and passed your location about twenty feet away.
Trees and other shrubbery dotted the landscape around the area. Dead leaves, bark and fallen limbs of plants littered the muddy forest floor.
It was quiet...
"Be on guard, and don't make any rash movements. Wolves can hear and smell far better than most demons." Kurama stressed. You had noticed he had become the more dominate leader for this mission; Yusuke was happily following for a change. "When we get inside and the fight starts, make sure you don't get separated from your partner. They'll try to do that to make it easier to kill you, and trust me they will try to kill you."
Wonderful...
With a single nod, he sprang and landed nimbly to one side of the entrance. Scanning quickly he motioned to the rest of you and you all followed in various methods. Hiei, his third eye exposed now; grabbed your wrist and with a sharp pull moved quicker than you had imagined. You gasped as you looked around dizzily for a moment at the side of the cave wall and then back to the shrubs thirty feet away.
"Quicker than you thought?" He smirked before slipping into the entrance after Yusuke. You looked around for a moment, steadying your racing heart and jolting stomach.
This might be my last glimpse of a world. You thought; fear building until you felt the world sway dizzily.
"Don't think like that. We'll survive. Trust me."
"Of course I trust you." You murmured gently, before slipping into the cave, you had to blink a moment before you found the others in the dark. You had to admit your wolf blood really had its advantages; it was almost as if it wasn't dark at all.
"Alright let's split up." You breathed gently.
"Now!"
All hell broke loose.
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