Without Knowing by theforgottensoul

*thedeal

WITHOUT KNOWING.

               PROLOGUE; *thedeal !

"The left flank has been destroyed, Touga - sama," the western lord remained unmoved at the foot of the cliff watching the battle in the plain. It was not his time to enter; he would wait until the leader is to show himself. Even with the news he just received as one of his fellow inu`s stopped just short from him. Narrowing his eyes when the ebony haired male frowned and placed his hands on his hips to peer down at the battle, his armor smeared with the blood of the enemy. "Kagetora, I very much appreciate that you have joined me in battle once again." With a slight smile he turned to his longtime friend. Only for battle does the dog leave his house in the mountains. The House of Higurashi were proud inu`s who only really keep to themselves. Though Kagetora and the western lord had been good friends since they were mere pups, they have always been in battle with each other. During these times most of all. He was grateful.

Kagetora glanced willingly at the lord and smiled softly, “ … anything for you, my lord.” Touga sneered at his longtime friend before turning his attention back to his troops. All battling diligently and for his land, they weren’t apart of his army – most of his army was lost in the battle of Eden. Most of these soldiers down the hill were youkai that lived in his lands and fought and supported him. This would be the final battle, he would be sure of that. Jaw unlocked he threw an outstretched arm towards his army and a roar tore from his throat and the battle commenced. Higurashi followed the same sound and both Inu’s – both silver and black – launched themselves to the field with blood now staining the edge of their blades.

* * *

It raged, day and night – for days, this war raged between Japan and another distant land. With youkai of another skin and accent – a different tongue and clothing, though they were the same in every other way. Just grunts working for a higher power – fighting for a purpose. Only difference was, that these higher ups, the Lord of the West and the Head of Higurashi were on the ground with their grunts while the Lords or Kings of whatever were hiding away in the shadows. Cowards.

Higurashi looked and grinned back after slashing down at the charging ino that came charging at him. Touga caught the snide little smirk on his old friend and furrowed his brows, avoided an attack that was marked for him. Chuckling as he watched Kagetora charge after another. Higurashi’s were such willful and blood thirsty inu’s which is one of the main reasons why they kept to themselves, away from civilization.

Before long Touga found himself face to face with one of the leaders in a full on battle – blood was split as weapons clashed. The young inu lord concurred that they may be cowards for not fighting this war, but they were by no means weak. He had a hard time defending himself because the man was five times bigger, more force was thrown into his attacks than he could muster – Touga found himself on his knee. It was luck, he would think that he managed to pull himself up and bring down his enemy. Standing there on his knees he stared at the battlefield – watched as his men rose and fell. Draping his head low he could hear his sire’s words as he forced his head back up.

He was young lord, yes, but this was hardly his first battle. First war, first show of dominance as he proved his rightful place on his throne in the western domain. The land his father gave him and his father’s father before him. With hand gripping tightly on the hilt of his sword he rose from his fallen knee and with a roar ripping from his throat he thrust his sword the sky with a yell of victory for one leader down.

Kagetora looked up at his lords voice a smirk slowly sliding across his face and placed a hand on his hip. Swiftly swiping his weapon downwards to rid the remains of blood on the slick metal blade. Watching carefully as Touga once again lunged himself to the continuing battle.

“We came to win, to survive,” Kagetora perched as he shuffled his boots against damp dusted ground that was becoming moist of the enemies split blood. The ebony inu was reassuring himself more than talking to his clan member who placed a hand on his shoulder. “Should we continue, Kagetora – sama? Touga, is very boastful when it comes to battle – it could endanger our race.”

Our race? They were the same race, just different breed – like dogs. Kagetora chuckled slightly and shook off the hand. “I know this, but – my lord has always been this way, since we were fairly young pups. I suppose it’s a way a heir is brought up.” The male next to him furrowed his brows – “ .. but Kagetora – sama, you are not this way.” Smiling cheekily at the younger inu and took a few steps back towards the battle. “I am only to rule a clan, not a whole domain.”

Kagetora had found himself against the late and final leader whom revealed himself a couple days after the first one had been slain. The young black inu had been completely caught off guard at the attack and even with all his strength he couldn’t keep up before he knew it his back was plastered to the ground and the offending sword at his neck. The enemy is his native tongue was probably sprouting words along the lines of: Any last words – Kagetora sneered as he began sorting a way out of this here situation. His mind was drawing blanks as gray eyes watched the descent of metal.

Though brief pain and death as to what he was expecting had never came. His head was turned and his eyes closed waiting for the impact, after a few more seconds he opened his eyes and glared back up to the offender only to his an amused western lord standing above him. “Naturally, I am not one to agree of attack someone when their back is turned, though seeing you were in immediate danger I just had to intervene. If I had known it was easier to kill them from behind I would have planned this more sufficiently.” Touga grinned a little before offering his hand in which Kagetora took grateful, though as soon as he reached his knees he bowed low with his hands to the silver inu’s feet.

“I am in your deepest debt. Please, allow me to make it up to you, my lord.”

Touga was completely thrown back at this long time friend’s reaction to being saved. It wasn’t what he had expected at all. Though they were in no danger as to see that as soon as he had cut down the leader the opposing enemies had fled or in the possible he noticed seeing the retreating backs.  “I hadn’t really wanted anything, so – call this even as to the time you saved me, back when we were only three feet tall.”

“Please, I cannot leave without at least giving you something.”

Touga frowned deeply at the honorable inu at his feet; he hated to see him like this – on his knees, bowing to him. Kagetora was such a prideful dog with so much honor and the only reason for this was because his loyalties ran deep.

“Fine, my mate and I are expecting our first pup – give me your first born daughter as a promised mate to my unborn son.” Of course, this was just a joke - for he had a knowing smile on his lips and a laughter bellowing from his upturned face.

Kagetora rose from his fallen position with his eyebrows furrowed, “ .. you cannot be serious?” Touga slapped the black haired dog on his shoulder.

“Of course I am, I am just being as ridiculous as you are.”

Kagetora down casted his head, “I cannot promise anything – for I have two sons already, if my mate does happen to bare me a female, I shall mark her down.”

There was no arguing with him, though Touga had no intention of taking his friends daughter and label her as a betrothed to his son. He was not that cruel and if he had to promise a mating proposal in advance for his son he would make sure it would benefit his lands in the future.  Even if the Higurashi clan was powerful, he did not want to mix black with white. Yin and Yang as they say.

“ .. You already have two?”

Kagetora chuckled at his friends fascinated expression.