As Only You Can
Author's Note :: Well, I certainly wasn't forcing anything more out of that last chapter. Sorry it was so short. Here's something a little bit longer; hopefully it can make up for the delay in getting this chapter here. Sorry for that; my computer had it's own set of personal issues... but we should be back on track now! Please enjoy.
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.
The first three days of their journey were uneventful enough. The cool winter chill held back from the party well enough as they ascended the summit. But it was on the fourth day that the winds picked up, shifting to bring forth a storm upon the weary travelers most astounding.
"We've got to find shelter!" Hakkaku cried out, his arm making its way around Akimo, the female youkai who had been selected to make the journey. She nuzzled her face into the warmth of his jacket and Ayame lowered her eyes to break the icy wind from her high cheekbones.
"This way!" Nobuyoshi commanded, turning off of the main path leading to the summit and heading west around the mountain.
The wary youkai followed, Hakkaku and Akimo directly behind Nobuyoshi while the fourth of Kouga's pack, Oiji, took the middle. Ayame was next, with Kouga bringing up the rear. The blizzard raged around the group, so fierce it was difficult to see more than a few feet in front of you.
Ayame stumbled, off balance with her arm in the sling, and Kouga was quick to catch her before she fell.
"Allow me, princess," he whispered against her neck, cradling her in his arms and sighing contentedly when she buried her face in the warm furs around his shoulders. But when the okami prince looked up and in front of him, once more, he frowned. The rest of the party was out of sight as he growled, calling out, "Nobuyoshi? Hakkaku?"
The wind carried his words east, in the opposite direction that the group had been heading.
He trekked forward, footfalls crunching frozen snow underfoot. One step, then another. Onward and forward for what felt like an eternity. Desperation flooded his intent as he felt Ayame's frame trembling in his arms. His voice was a whisper against her ear, "Hang on, Ayame. Just a little further."
Though even Kouga was unsure if those words had been meant to comfort himself or Ayame.
When he saw the opening of a cave, he breathed a short sigh of relief and rushed inside. It was small, not tall enough for the okami prince to stand within, but it would suit their purpose. He knelt, resting Ayame's weak form against the wall at the back and he quickly unfurled the furs that he had carried strapped to his back.
"Your skin is on fire," he frowned, mentally cursing himself that he had let her get too cold. He quickly covered her in the furs, clamoring behind her so that her back rested against his chest. Her forehead dropped to rest against the cook of his neck and Kouga kissed the top of her head.
Her coat was cool to the touch, frozen from the storm. So Kouga was gentle as he helped it off of her shoulders, following suit with his own. He tossed both coats on top of the pile of furs covering them. Ayame closed her eyes, murmuring, "You're so warm."
"Shh!" Kouga soothed her, rubbing his hands up and down her arms to help warm her. He crossed his legs, capturing hers so that she was sitting in his lap, and gently rocked her back and forth. His voice was low, "Everything will be fine now. I've got you."
Ayame was quiet for a long while and Kouga considered that she might have fallen asleep. Her skin was slowly returning to its normal temperature, a sign that her fever was fading. The handsome dark-haired okami relaxed at this discovery.
"Kouga?"
"Hmm?" he shuffled at the sound of her voice, not realizing that he'd almost fallen asleep.
"What will happen when we reach the summit?" there was concern on her features but she was beginning to regain some of her natural color.
He had been almost asleep and completely unprepared for her question, which might have explained why he had answered so hastily. His voice was confident, "I'll declare you are my woman before your pack and the other Alphas, Ayame."
She turned around, sitting on her knees before him. Kouga's arms were still wrapped protectively around her waist. Her right hand cupped his cheek and her emerald eyes were locked on his. There was no mistaking her lust-filled gaze and Kouga's thoughts of decency and honor quickly vanished. She bit her lower lip before asking, "Why would you want me for your mate?"
Smirking, Kouga tugged gently on her right wrist, compromising her balance. He took advantage of her dropped guard by capturing her lips with his own. Before she could regain her composure, the male youkai laced his fingers through her amber hair, to which she purred her satisfaction against his lips. When he broke the kiss, the female youkai trembled for the intensity of his gaze, locked on her, "I want you by my side, to lead my pack and yours. I want you to be the mother of my cubs. I want yours to be the face I wake up beside every morning, the lips I kiss to sleep at night. You're mine and I am yours. You're the woman I want to take care of – to have take care of me. Ayame-"
She pressed her lips against his fiercely, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. And the fingers of her right hand wrapped possessively around the fabric of his sleeve, pulling it tightly around his bicep in an effort to bring them closer together. She broke the kiss to lean her forehead against his, begging an answer, "Then what are we waiting for? Kouga, I love you! Let's-"
"Shh, princess!" he silenced her with a gentle kiss, smelling now, underneath the scent of her arousal, the true motivation for her pleas: fear. She was afraid of what other Alpha might be waiting for her at the Northern Mountains. And Kouga felt his pride swell – that she thought so highly of him that he could protect her from whatever other fate might be lying in wait. Sky blue eyes stared into hypnotizing emerald and he whispered, "No, Ayame. Not here. I won't dishonor you like this. You deserve the strongest Alpha. I'll die before you receive anything less."
"And I'll die if he's anyone but you," she buried her face in the crook of his neck but no tears fell.
"Trust me, Ayame," he kissed her forehead, smoothed her auburn hair away from her forehead. "It will be me. I swear it, koi."
Kouga held her frame against his own until long after she had fallen asleep. He'd set to the careful task of memorizing every one of her features, cataloging each one that he might be able to, later, call upon it from memory alone. And when he fell asleep, it was her that he was thinking of; swearing to whatever kami might listen that, come hell or high water, she would be his woman.
The next morning, Akimo found the sleeping forms of her leader and the princess of the Northern Yoro curled together against the back of a cave. Her heart skipped a beat as she looked down on them fondly, knowing the real reason that her Alpha had been so insistent that they accompany Ayame and her guard to the summit. The pair had managed an impressive trek upwards in the blizzard. Newly reunited, their weary party would reach the Northern Mountains before sunfall.
"Boss?" the platinum-haired female mused cautiously. "Princess? Wake up!"
Ayame opened her eyes, rubbing them tiredly with the back of her right hand to adjust to the bring light behind the silhouetted figure before her. She was quickly pulled from her drowsiness and the warmth of Kouga's arms by her right wrist as Akimi pulled her directly into the fresh morning sunlight.
"Oh!" Ayame exclaimed. "So bright!"
"Sorry, princess," Akimo blushed. "I only thought you might prefer if Nobuyoshi didn't find you sleeping so – you know!"
"What of Nobuyoshi?" the old youkai called from where he ascended the pass.
Ayame blushed furiously, turning away from him to face Akimo and mouth a silent, 'Thank you!'
The other youkai only smiled, chirping happily, "I've found her, Nobu-sama!"
She rushed over to stand in front of him, all in hopes that she might buy the princess a few extra moments to collect herself.
Kouga emerged from the cave wearing his jacked and having already stowed away the furs that the pair had slept beneath the night before. He smiled at Ayame, crossing the distance that separated them to help the princess into her own jacket for the day.
"Princess?" Nobuyoshi questioned, watching the Eastern Yoro Leader through wary eyes, frowning his response. He strode quickly through the clearing and wrenched her jacket away from the place where her neck met her right shoulder, the place he feared that the other youkai might have claimed her.
Ayame gasped, her cheeks flushing crimson as emerald eyes flashed daggers at Nobuyoshi.
Kouga smirked, "You doubted my honor?"
"Of such things, one can never be certain," Nobuyoshi replied stoically as he led the way out of the clearing. He didn't turn around as he added, "Come, princess, we mustn't tarry if we are to reach the summit by nightfall."
Oiji and Hakkaku looked away in respect for the shamed princess. Kouga kissed her forehead, taking her right hand in his before replying, "C'mon, let's get going, koi, so I can put my mark there!"
Ayame blushed. Akimo coughed that her leader could be so crude. Oiji laughed, encouraging, "That's more like it, Kouga!"