"Daiyu…Daiyu…"

The she wolf groaned in her sleep, then fluttered her eyes open. Though in a daze from being shaken from her deep sleep, Daiyu could make out a familiar white silhouette and her nose picked up Sesshoumaru's musky scent which was saturated with the fragrance of maple trees. She was about to sit up, but his hand pressed her back down.

"There's no need to get up just yet." He said, "You need only to wake up. I have brought food."

Before Daiyu could respond, he had hooked his arm underneath her knees and around her back, then lifted her from the floor. He carried her outside of her room and brought her to the living room where Daiyu could detect Inuyasha and his wife's scent from her position against Sesshoumaru's chest. From the smells in the room, they had just recently had dinner and Kagome was cleaning up for the night.

"How is she doing?" Daiyu heard Kagome ask, but did not answer herself.

"I will return with her later." Sesshoumaru replied, not answering Kagome's question.

As Sesshoumaru brought her outside, Daiyu shivered in the cold night air, which a demon like herself rarely ever did and her carrier clenched more tightly around her shoulders. She was on the verge of sleep once more when suddenly Sesshoumaru stopped a distance from Inuyasha's house and even farther from the village. He set her down as gently as he could against an enormous tree trunk and her eyes peeked through dark lashes at him with dull grey eyes.

"Why did you drag my ass out here?" Daiyu mumbled drowsily, however Sesshoumaru remained silent as he pulled at his fur. He unwrapped the mokomoko around himself before bringing it to wrap around her body. Daiyu watched him stand up fully, then turn on his heel towards a large bear demon carcass, which had already been cleaned and stripped of its fur. A quick tearing sound came to Daiyu's ears, then Sesshoumaru returned, a filet of raw red meat in his hand. He crouched down in front of her and brought the meat up before her mouth, his gesture was more of a command to feed her and Daiyu frowned.

"Just because I'm injured doesn't mean I can't feed myself." Daiyu quipped from her position against the tree as she brought Sesshoumaru's mokomoko more tightly around her shoulders.

"Just shut up and eat." Sesshoumaru retorted before shoving the meat into her mouth. Daiyu attempted a glare at him, but the effort was lost as her instincts arose, causing a light red hue to appear over her eyes. She was starving.

In an instant, she was wolfing down the meat that Sesshoumaru kept feeding to her, any of her previous resentment lost as she quickly sated her appetite. When the bear had been nearly stripped to its bones, Daiyu gave a sigh of relief and relaxed into the fur, the redness in her eyes disappearing and her silver eyes regarded Sesshoumaru lackadaisically.

"Thanks." She murmured quietly, "I didn't realize how hungry I was."

"Hn."

Sesshoumaru was wiping the blood off of his hands with a rag before tossing it over his shoulder to be quickly forgotten, then turned his attention back to Daiyu. His fingertips, mindful of the claw-like tips, brushed her raven hair from her cheek and tucked behind her ear. The action causing her eyes to widen like saucers and her face to erupt with heat as she drew back from him. At her recoil, his hand drew away from her, a frown appearing on his pale face as his golden eyes bore into her. He said nothing, however Daiyu could feel his question through the intensity of his gaze and she became overwrought with unease.

"Sorry, sorry." She muttered, "It's just that…"

She bit onto her lower lip, her face becoming flush with her embarrassment before she averted her gaze to stare down at her hands. "I'm not…" She mentally kicked herself in agitation by this point. Why was it so difficult to just spit it out?

"Experienced?" Sesshoumaru suddenly put in and Daiyu's mouth dropped.

"Th-that's n-not exactly-"

"So you've been touched by another?' Sesshoumaru stated coldly and Daiyu felt the hair rise on the back of her neck as she felt his aura spike with aggression.

"No! No!" She exclaimed, raising her hands up in defeat, "It's just that I'm still kinda processing all of this. I feel like everything just blew up in my face, all in just a short amount of time, and I haven't had any time to go over it in my head."

Sesshoumaru's frown did not lighten as he regarded the she-wolf in front of him, his face drawing close to hers and his hand snaking up to brush against her neck and she shuddered.

"What are you-!"

"Quiet!" His voice was quiet, yet was filled with demand and Daiyu complied as he leaned closer to her. His breath tickled her neck, his large hands grasping onto her shoulders and drawing her closer to him. She flinched with shock as his fangs scraped against her neck and a feral growl emanated from him; reverberating into her body.

"You're gonna mark me already?" Daiyu exclaimed, her hands were pressing against his chest in attempt to shove herself away, but he held her more firmly. He released another, much louder growl and Daiyu became rigid, however, he did not bite her. After a long moment, which felt like an eternity to the anxious Daiyu, Sesshoumaru raised his head to her eye level, a devilish smirk arising on his face.

"Why act so repulsed, Daiyu? I seem to remember you crying out in your fever for me just days a go."

Daiyu was aghast as her face flushed beet red and she tried hiding her expression into his mokomoko. Her reaction ushering a wider smirk to his lips before he drew closer to her again, his arms snaking around her much smaller frame and his long legs lightly bent on either side of her. She felt like he was blocking her between the tree behind her and with him so close.

"Aargh! You damn dog!" She growled into the fur. His breath returned to her neck and Daiyu trembled. Her hands lightly clenched onto the front of his haori as he kissed into her skin, her body tingled as if a spark of electricity was crawling up her spine and her heart pounded loudly in her ears. With breath hitching, she felt him raise his head and then kissed her fully on the lips. There was less shock to this kiss, but heated anticipation, so Daiyu returned his affections with equal fervor and she moaned against him.

She wanted to forget everything. To be completely lost to the world and drown herself and he seemed more than willing to supply her. His hot mouth and skilled tongue melting her into a stupor that she never wanted to rouse from, however, as his large hands roamed across her belly she flinched in pain and he withdrew from her, ushering a puppy-like whine from Daiyu.

"We will continue this when you are fully healed." Sesshoumaru murmured, "But I am pleased with your enthusiasm."

"Shut up." She growled before shoving him back, but he didn't budge an inch from her. He got up into a crouch before slipping himself behind her, his back against the large tree as he drew her against him between his legs. She leaned against him, her fingers lightly treading down his neck as a confident smile arose on her countenance.

"What is it?" He asked, though his expression appeared calm. She suddenly nipped at his neck as a chuckle arose from her.

"I'll be the one to mark you first." She said and a growl arose from him.

"We'll see about that, wolf!" He mock snarled before grasping onto her tightly, then attacked her neck with lavishing kisses and nips.

It had become late into the night before she had realized it, being much too engrossed with the insatiable exchange of affections, until Sesshoumaru broke off from her. He was about to get up, but Daiyu pressed him back down.

"I want to sleep out here." She said but he shook his head.

"I would prefer you inside." He said, already getting up again. Daiyu was lifted up by him once more, the mokomoko still wrapped around her, before he began to walk them back to his brother's house. She yawned greatly, but then was startled as Sesshoumaru halted in his steps and his head turned to look over his shoulder. She noticed his nostrils flare with an intake of scent, and then his shoulders grew tense.

"What is it?" She sniffed the air and the smell of cat came to her nose. "Put me down."

Sesshoumaru complied and set her on her feet before he turned on his heel, his back facing her as several figures emerged through the woods. She was about to step out from behind him to face her attackers, but Sesshoumaru nudged her back behind him.

"You are in no condition to fight." Sesshoumaru stated. Daiyu was about to argue but Sesshoumaru gave her a heated glare, demanding obedience from her and she bit back a rebellious growl.

"Fine! Just this once, I'll sit this out." Daiyu grumbled, "But if you start getting your ass handed to you, then don't blame me."

"That is most unlikely."

"…What? Are you referring to not blaming me or the possibility of getting your ass kicked?"

"Both."

"You overconfident bastard!" Daiyu snarled, but Sesshoumaru said nothing in retort as he withdrew Bakusaiga. The cats stepped into the moonlight, their eyes glowing in the darkness as they withdrew their weapons. Daiyu counted two leopards, both of which were females, one jaguar, and three mountain lions.

"Move aside, dog." One of the lions demanded, "We have no business with you."

"You trespass on my territory to threaten my future mate," Sesshoumaru stated, his expression was calm, but anyone could feel his aura spiking angrily. "I believe that gives me more than adequate reason to rip out your insides."

"Oh? The bitch got herself a mate already? She must have been desperate… " One of the female leopards coyly chimed, "to open her legs so quickly like a common whore."

"At least somebody wants to fuck me, you fucking transvestite!" Daiyu quipped loudly and was about to step out from behind Sesshoumaru.

"Daiyu!" He snarled and she quickly remembered herself, but gave a short snarl in animosity all the while the insulted leopard yowled in tantrum.

"Let's get this over with, shall we." The lion demon said, ignoring the outburst as he drew out his double edged blade and his cohorts followed suit, whipping out their various weapons before facing off against Sesshoumaru. Daiyu was growing nervous, how was Sesshoumaru going to face off against 6 attackers at once?

Sesshoumaru did not hesitate, with a quick slash of his blade and eruption of green and gold light exploded forth, killing four of them, leaving the one female leopard and the lion demon.

"What the-!" Daiyu gasped, bewildered beyond words with the strength of Sesshoumaru, to kill them so quickly without moving a step from his spot in front of her.

The lion demon sped forward and then slashed his blade at Sesshoumaru and Daiyu. A burst of demonic energy blasted at the pair and Sesshoumaru took a step back until Daiyu was right behind him and could feel her against his body before he used his blade and the explosive energy crashed against it. Daiyu's eye lids were clenched shut as gusts of air swirled around them like a tornado and she clutched onto the back of his haori to steady herself.

With a short grunt, Sesshoumaru rebounded the blast and it finally released with a burst of light many yards away from where they stood. The lion demon's mouth was slightly agape, his eyes wide with his aghast expression.

"How do we-?" The leopard demoness exclaimed, but the lion cut her off.

"We retreat! There is nothing we can do against him right now."

The lion and leopard demons leapt away from Sesshoumaru and Daiyu, their tails whipping behind them as they scurried away while Daiyu couldn't help but laugh at the situation.

"Don't think you've won just yet! We will come back with reinforcements and when that happens, I will personally gauge your eyes and tongue out, bitch!" The leopard snarled at Daiyu.

"What was that you said? I'm sorry I couldn't hear you." Daiyu hollered back, stepping from behind Sesshoumaru, "Maybe if you stopped running with your tails between your three legs, she-male-!"

"Whore!"

Daiyu growled and was about to run after the leopard, but Sesshoumaru grasped onto her arm and pulled her back.

"Enough!" He scolded loudly, his golden eyes appearing hot with acrimony and Daiyu froze. "It would behoove you to show some restraint. It would not be wise to let your temper control your actions, especially on the battle field."

"But that bitch-!"

"I said enough!" He snarled this time, making Daiyu flinch. At her reaction, he took a moment to cool down himself with a long exhale. His grip on her arm lightened, then released and Daiyu rubbed at the soreness in her arm from his steel-like grip.

"You're being an asshole." Daiyu muttered loudly, obviously not attempting to hide her comment from him and he fumed, his aura blazing and Daiyu laughed loudly. "See? Look who's pissed now?"

"I should have let those filthy cats eat you alive!"

"Yup, too bad, now you have to take care of me." Daiyu chuckled, "You should have escaped while you had the chance."

"You're a cunning bitch, aren't you?"

"It would not be wise to let your temper control your actions." Daiyu attempted to mimic his voice by talking as deep as she could with a strict expression. Sesshoumaru was seething angrily, if she were Jakken, he would be long dead by now.

"Are you trying to make me kill you, woman?" Sesshoumaru growled low, "Perhaps this Sesshoumaru should reconsider his bachelorhood."

Daiyu petted the mokomoko that was still wrapped around her shoulders and she smirked devilishly, noticing him stiffen.

"Believe me, once we're mated, I will not keep you wanting." She noted that his golden eyes darkened a bit and his scent became a bit muskier from her words, but then he seemed to recover himself after a moment, a glint appearing in his eyes. He stepped toward her and towered over her, causing her to take a step back, but his hands caught her around the waist and her eyes widened.

"I'll hold you to that, you ignorant virgin." He said huskily before giving her a forceful and bruising kiss, knocking the wind out of her and making her tremble greatly. All words of retort lost instantly as she gave in.

"Are those hickies?" Kagome exclaimed loudly. Daiyu was outstretched on the futon, ready for Kagome to switch out her bandages when the loosening of her collar had revealed quite a number of marks on her olive skin. The she-wolf made no reply as she buried her face in the blanket in attempt to cover herself, her face turning scarlet. She could practically feel Sesshoumaru's silent chuckles in the corner of the room and she smacked him in the back of the head with her pillow.