Steel Fang
Chapter One
*
Her long, black hair flowed in the wind, a faint green glimmer to it. Her two, blue, soul piercing eyes stared out at the sunset. One hand rested on her very pregnant belly, while the other hand grasped the over-sized kimono she was wearing. She yawned loudly, not afraid to show her exhaustion while showing off two, tiny, pearly white fangs. Her eyes dropped half way a moment.

"Saikoubi!" a deep, masculine voice yelled across the field. The woman turned to him. His jet black hair only reached his shoulders, and he had the same ice blue eyes. The only difference he had from her, despite male and female traits, was that a long, chestnut brown tail flowed behind him. He smiled warmly at the woman, raising his hand in a greeting.

"Hakutou!" she yelled in a scolding tone, her voice strong and brave. "You startled me! You know it's not good for the pup for me to be afraid!"

Hakutou chuckled as he closed the gap between them. He bent down gently kissing her cheek. "And it is not good for the pup when his stubborn mother will not rest."

Saikoubi giggled, playfully hitting his arm. Hakutou smirked looking down at the woman. She was so small... much smaller than even a human. So petite, yet so strong. He gazed down her bulging stomach. For humans, they'd be pregnant for nine months before their child came. But for wolves... it was only three months... the rapid expand of the body would probably scare a human... but Saikoubi was strong, a strong wolf demon. Even if she was small... she would survive.

"It's due anytime," she whispered slipping her hand into his. Hakutou frowned and slowly picked her up bridal style.

"No, it's late," he corrected, sighing softly. "It should have come seven moons ago... I'm afraid, Saikoubi."

Saikoubi looked at Hakutou's face, the fear in it. He was always so honest with his feelings; he could express them to the world and not blush once. She, on the other hand, was too shy to even admit she was pregnant.

"Let's get back to the pack, the others are already asleep."

*

Another month passed. A total of four months and two weeks since Saikoubi became pregnant. Constant spasms hit her, but their child never came.

"It will come soon," Hakutou would always say. Saikoubi began to doubt him. Whatever he said would never happen. Until...

Saikoubi awoke with a start. Her swollen stomach was throbbing with pain. She crossed her legs tightly and fought to sit up.

"Hakutou, it's... Hakutou? Hakutou?" she looked around for her beloved, who seemed to have disappeared. She stood up straining to hold herself steady.

"Hakutou?!"

She walked outside clinging to the wall. Tears filled her eyes when she searched for his scent, which was nowhere to be found. She slowly slid to her knees as another spasm hit her. She set her forehead against the ground.

"HAKUTOU!!!"

She covered her face with her hands. Had he abandoned her? Had he left on a sudden mission? Where was he? Her heart ached with the thoughts of him leaving her. She was so scared now, her mother had told her she wouldn't be able to give birth because her hips were too small... that if she did she wouldn't survive... but Hakutou had given her hope that she would live. Now she was terrified!

"Sai! Sai calm down!"

She felt strong arms wrap around her pulling her up. She instantly clung to the body knowing it was him. She bit her lower lip letting out a moan of pain. "Hakutou... i-it's..."

"Don't speak, come on they're waiting for us."

Saikoubi kept her legs shut tightly as Hakutou picked her up and hurriedly began running through the mountain pass.

"Oh!" she yelled clutching his arms. She clenched her teeth. She felt herself being set down. She could hear everyone talking. Words of encouragement, discouragement, and concern.

"The pup's late, do you think it'll come out right?"

"She's much to small to even give birth!"

"Do you think the pup a girl or boy?"

"Will she live?"

"Shut up!" Hakutou shouted as a few other wolves huddled over her. Saikoubi grabbed Hakutou's hand as they slid her lower kimono open. Instinctively she spread her legs apart but in part screamed as a spasm hit her. She felt Hakutou's hand leave hers as he began shouting at the few wolves around her. Her legs were going numb with a sharp pain in her hips.

"It can't come!" one yelled. "It's late, it's more developed, there's no way she can get it out!"

"NO! She can and will!" Hakutou shouted back defensively. Saikoubi realized the seriousness of the situation as her pain numbed her body. She could die giving birth... wolves mated for life. If she didn't get their pup out... he would die with her. They wouldn't have an heir and their line would die out.

With a large gasp for breathe she pushed with all the strength she had. She felt something snap around her hips but ignored the pain as she felt the child begin to erupt from her.

"It's coming!!"

She heard the gasps of surprise from around but ignored. She could hear the pup's screams of life when it started to make its way out. She gasped softly feeling another wolf grasp the pup gently to pull it out. She lied motionless in shock of pain. She closed her eyes, wanting to die.

Silence fell except for the pup's cries. Hakutou paled as he turned to Saikoubi. He almost screamed until she suddenly whispered his name. Hakutou grabbed the black haired child with already large fangs and knelt next to her. Saikoubi looked up at the two of them.

"It's a boy pup," he informed her as he pulled her up slowly against a wall. Saikoubi nodded as she slid her front kimono off her shoulders. Hakutou carefully set the pup in her arms. His screams ceased as he began feeding. Saikoubi smiled happily, but weakly.

"He's strong," she whispered closing her eyes. Hakutou tensed again.

"...I'm not."

She opened her eyes looking down at her son. "Strong like a steel fang. Kouga."

Hakutou quickly wiped the tears from his eyes from the fear of his mate's death. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and gently stroked his son's chubby cheek.

"Then... Kouga it is."

*
*

A/N: ...dude... That was fun.