As Only You Can
Author's Note :: Ahh… well – let's have some plot development, no?
Disclaimer :: If you know it and love it, it isn't mine. I'm simply borrowing these things for a bit and I most sincerely thank the creators of the Inuyasha universe for this privilege.
As the handsome Leader of the Eastern Yoro led the amber-haired youkai confidently into the main cavern of the cave, what had previously been a bustle of activity quickly paused in silence as the okami pack drank in the form of the lissome heroine of the first cub born to their pack after the attack by Naraku. What the princess didn't know is that Kouga's pack had already adopted her as one of their own.
Ayame drew a deep breath, wary at her place on Kouga's left-hand side. It was the first evening that she had been well enough to join to Eastern Yoro in the main chambers of their den and – from what she could tell – it was the first time for many of them seeing a white okami youkai. But pride would not allow the lovely young woman to lower her head or cower from their attention.
She was beginning to wonder if Kouga was waiting for her to speak when two male youkai came to stand before her. The first, a youkai with a white Mohawk bowed his head politely, greeting, "Lady Ayame, it is a pleasure to see you looking well."
The demoness bowed back, a gesture of great respect. And then she turned to face the other youkai, reading sleeplessness and grief upon his handsome features. She understood immediately that this must have been the youkai who lost his mate to the tora and she felt her chest tighten as she made the realization. Their eyes met and the pair regarded one another for rather a prolonged moment before Ginta took Ayame's hand and bowed deeply. His voice was soft as he murmured, "Thank you, sister."
She bowed back to him, whispering, "It is my honor, Ginta."
Before the youkai could formulate a response, an energetic voice called out, "Ayame-hime! Please come sit with me!"
She smiled down at Mikomi, pulling her hand from father's and taking, instead, the son's. It had been enough interaction that the women of the pack laughed good-naturedly and activity resumed as though it had never left off. As Ayame let Mikomi lead her towards the fire where stew was being served, Hakkaku slapped Kouga's shoulder, declaring, "Look out, boss! You've got a bit of competition."
"So it seems," Ginta smiled cautiously.
Kouga laughed, crossing his arms over his chest and shaking his head, "That godson of mine has a bit too much of his father in him."
"Damn right, he does!" Ginta smirked.
Meanwhile Mikomi had taken Ayame over to an area where a collection of furs were piled. There were a few other females but, otherwise, it was a rather unpopulated part of the cave. The cub proudly announced, "You can sit here!"
"Thank you," the amber-haired youkai obediently took her seat. She recognized Hitome almost immediately and bowed politely to the brown okami, offering her a polite, "Thank you, sister, for caring for me."
Smiling, the older youkai shifted closer so that she was seated next to the princess. Mikomi had crawled into Ayame's lap, crossing his legs to fit into the space that had been left when she had crossed hers. He'd brought her a cup of the stew and waited expectantly for her to take a sip. After humoring him, she cried, "Mmm! It's delicious! Did you help make it?"
Mikomi nodded enthusiastically, drinking his own stew.
"He's fond of you, dear," Hitome smiled.
Ayame chuckled, putting the cup down beside her so that she could move a few of Mikomi's bangs out of his eyes. Her voice was soft, perhaps to mask a bit of the sadness she felt that he'd lost his mother at such a young age, "You're a very sweet little boy."
"No, child!" the older youkai shook her head in exasperation. She gently turned the princess' gaze from the cub in her lap to cross the den. She chuckled, "I meant him."
Ayame's eyes caught Kouga's and he stared at her so intensely that she had to look away for fear she might ignite. She turned to look at Hitome, confusion etched on her pretty features. The amber haired okami could still feel Kouga's eyes on her.
"Why so shy, dear?" Hitome smiled, her eyes glimmering with a mischievous light. "For three seasons you've been of age to find a mate of your own. What is it that you're waiting for?"
"I don't know," Ayame stammered. "I just – I guess I hadn't thought about it."
"Oh, come child!" Hitome wrapped a protective arm around Ayame's waist, mindful of her shoulder. As she snuggled against the girl, she smiled when the princess' head fell against her shoulder. Her voice was kind, "Elder Choro deserves his rest; find yourself someone strong and kind, someone he'd be proud to know was leading the Northern Yoro with you at his side. Even if it's not our Kouga."
"Hitome!" Ayame exclaimed, her eyes widening.
"I didn't tell you it couldn't be Kouga."
Ayame laughed, wrapping her right arm around Mikomi as he curled into her arms. She shook her head in a feeble attempt to deny the truth in the old okami's words. Eight hundred years was such a long time.
Before the conversation could continue, a slight disturbance could be heard coming from the mouth of the cave. It had started as a low growl from one of the sentries and Ayame subconsciously tightened her grip around Mikomi. Her emerald eyes followed Kouga to the entrance of the cave.
"A white okami?" he questioned, his surprised tone echoing through the limestone caverns. The entire pack was silent and tense for the unexpected arrival.
Ayame's heartbeat quickened as she gently shifted Mikomi to the safety of Hitome's lap. Without words, she crossed the distance to the entrance of the cave to stand beside Kouga, joy spreading over her features as she found the familiar figure of Nobuyoshi, the head of her grandfather's personal guard.
"Honorable Nobu!" she breathed, concern etched over her features as she quickly tried to piece together any reason that might bring him down the mountain in the second week of winter. She was glad to see the middle-aged youkai visibly relax when his deep brown eyes met the pretty emerald of hers.
"Princess!" he breathed, bowing his typical greeting. Then, letting formality fall to the wayside, he let his strong hands slide around the slender expanse of her back, pulling her into a gentle embrace, as a parent might embrace a child. His voice sang of relief, "It brings me great joy to see you well, my lady."
"How on earth did you traverse the path, Nobuyoshi?" she questioned innocently, pulling out of his embrace and finding that Ginta and Hakkaku had come to stand beside their leader.
"There is no time, princess," he looked away, his brown eyes meeting Kouga's for a moment, considering the young prince carefully. It was as though he were trying to discern a certain emotion. "Elder Choro has passed to the gates of jigoku, child. You are no longer safe here in the Eastern Lands."
"Not safe!" Hakkaku protested, crossing his arms over his chest.
Ayame made a small sound in the back of her throat, like she might have choked. Her right fist came to rest over her heart as though it might ease the pain. But she fell to her knees, murmuring, "Grandfather!"
Kouga knelt beside her, pulling her to his chest to hide what reaction she might have after fully processing this news from the rest of his pack. These emotions were her own and her honor he would protect above all else. He scooped her up into his arms, bridal style, and commanded, "This way, Honorable Nobuyoshi. We have much to discuss."
But he didn't wait to see if anyone had followed him. He carried Ayame back to the room that she had been using. She remained still in his arms, unmoving and silent. The okami prince knew that with Nobuyoshi, Ginta, and Hakkaku on his heels, it would have been inappropriate for him to comfort her – Nobuyoshi seemed to have tensed enough that the Leader of the Eastern Yoro was holding the Northern Princess so intimately at all. Kouga could sense the guard's irritation.
Upon entering the room, Kouga placed her gently down on the large fur in front of the blazing fireplace. It was the same place that he'd watched her careful recovery, finding himself more and more taken by her strong will and selfless character – as he took a knee beside her, he wondered how it might feel to watch an angel cry. Frowning at the sadness in her emerald eyes, Kouga could read her inner turmoil as she struggled to pick one emotion to cling to.
He couldn't explain the desire he felt to touch her – he'd merely acted on instinct, brushing hesitant fingertips over the smooth skin of her cheek. His voice was soft when he commanded, "Hakkaku, bring her water."
Nobuyoshi took a knee on Ayame's other side, grasping her hand gently within his own. Brown eyes met sky blue and he kept his voice low, "You understand that she cannot stay here, Lord Kouga. Were circumstances different – but she is the unmated Alpha female of the Northern Yoro pack."
Kouga growled, "Might we speak of such things later on, you and I? Let your princess grieve for her grandfather without needing to remember who she is for a while."
The older youkai hid a smile, nodding just once to the Eastern Lord. He took a seat beside Ayame, staring into the fire and remembering a time when he'd been, himself, quite like the ebony-haired okami prince beside him. But any sentiment of attachment that he might have felt for the Eastern Lord was quickly hidden in the recesses of the old guard's mind. Now, everything for his princess was different. Every unmated Alpha of the countryside was a threat to his princess – no matter how kindly he held her hand or how tenderly he stroked her hair.
"Nobuyoshi is right," Ayame sighed, bringing her right hand in a fist to rest over her heart. Her emerald eyes spelled an emotion that Kouga couldn't quite place as she stared up at him, "I must return to the Northern Mountains to honor my grandfather."
"Then I shall accompany you," Kouga smiled kindly. "The journey will be strenuous and you've not had sufficient time to heal from your injuries, Lady Ayame."
"Your pack?" she hesitated.
"The Alphas of every clan in the countryside will come together at the passing of another Alpha," Nobuyoshi replied, having turned to look at the pair of young okami youkai beside him.
Hakkaku returned with a small cup of water in that same moment. He offered it to Ayame with a sympathetic smile, "Here, sister."
"Thank you," she accepted the drink.
"Ginta!" Kouga called.
"Boss?" the fourth male youkai acknowledged.
"You're in charge until I get back."
He nodded, crossing his arms over his chest and glancing down at where Ayame sat, staring into the flames and clutching her glass like her life depended upon it.
"And Hakkaku?" Kouga's eyes met those of the other okami. "Prepare the wolves – we leave at dawn."
"You got it, boss!"