Cookies and Canines

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Departing from the old temple the kumo had confined them to was not an easy task. Both demons were relatively weak, and still suffering the consequences of their strife. The pair walked towards the ravine, one of Naraku's hands curled shyly in Sesshoumaru's palm.

At the edge of the cliff, they gazed down at the treacherous looking climb to the river below. Sesshoumaru quirked a questioning brow at Naraku. Naraku hesitated for a brief moment before calling a swirl of dark energy to him. Sesshoumaru tensed a little, his power instantly wary of the kumo's intent.

A thick purple cloud hovered before them just within the mouth of the gaping ravine. Naraku stepped onto the cloud and offered a hand to Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru firmly took it, noting that Naraku's hand was shaking a little from the exertion of power. The cloud descended almost whimsically, lazily drifting towards the waterbed below with a smooth and caressing grace. Naraku's eyes were shut in concentration, willing his power to remain condensed and controlled.

As they neared the ground, Sesshoumaru could hear Naraku panting slightly and he went to envelope the depleted hanyou in a supportive embrace. Naraku leaned heavily against him as they touched ground, his legs shaky. For a moment they remained in perfect stillness, as the sounds and feels of nature seeped back into their pores. The noises of birds, and the feel of sunlight washed through their senses and made all of the aches seem just a little less painful. Sesshoumaru tightened his grip around the hanyou, dropping a light kiss near Naraku's brow. Naraku shivered with shy energy and lay his cheek near Sesshoumaru's collarbone- the closest he could brave to a return gesture of affection.

Sesshoumaru gently released him and the pair began following the path of the south-flowing river. The walk was easy enough, no more than a few bends and boulders to slow their progress. They moved mostly in silence, either shoulder to shoulder or Naraku slightly ahead. By nightfall, they had made excellent progress in human terms, but for youkai, the distance seemed extremely small and tedious. Neither, however, could up the pace or attempt to fly as they were both far too exhausted and still recuperating.

They settled beside the riverbank in a nest of brush and driftwood. Sesshoumaru tucked his pelt comfortably around himself and then extended it to Naraku, curling it around him as well. Naraku cuddled close to the powerful inu Lord. Sesshoumaru looped an arm around chilled, pale skin, and whispered a goodnight to his small companion.

"Goodnight" repeated Naraku, like a prayer.

~~~~I~~~~I~~~~I~~~~

Naraku woke alone, but snugly curled in Sesshoumaru's warm pelt. He inhaled the rich scent of sandalwood, and smoke, and honey. It made bumps rise along his skin and a warm sensation ignite in the pit of his stomach. He memorized the taste of the few kisses they had shared, and the way Sesshoumaru treated him like something delicate and precious.

He perked his head up when he caught Sesshoumaru's scent, along with the warm scent of fresh blood. Naraku crawled out from the pelt, mouth watering at the sight of a fresh kill slung across the shoulders of an emerging Sesshoumaru's, like some War God reaping the spoils of bloodshed. He followed the beads of red trailing down Sesshoumaru's body, licking his lips unconsciously.

Naraku's wandering eyes did not escape Sesshoumaru and he smirked to himself, tossing to the carcass to the ground with a muffled thump. Naraku knelt close by, timidly waiting for Sesshoumaru to take the first portion of the plump looking lamb. He hungrily waited, head bowed, until the thick hide was pushed to his knees.

"You are probably hungrier than I, little one."

Sesshoumaru's voice was impassive but the suggestion was the permission Naraku needed as he leaned over and inhaled the rich and heavy scent. With little decorum, he sunk his fangs into a bloody shank and tore at the tender flesh with a loud, wet tearing noise. He tried not to eat too much, frequently pushing the carcass towards the inu Lord but each time he received only an indulgent smile and a shake of a head. Naraku shrugged and feasted on the warm body, ripping through raw flesh and sinew. The body was soon reduced to no more than a mess of mutilated bones and skin. Naraku's forearms and hands were stained red and his mouth was covered in a light sheen of blood.

Sesshoumaru couldn't help but chuckle a little. He moved forward and thumbed away a rolling droplet of scarlet. He moved the finger to his mouth, watching Naraku all the time. Naraku was transfixed, watching Sesshoumaru's tongue flick over the pale digit.

"How about a swim?" suggested Sesshoumaru softly. The new type of hunger in Naraku's eyes made Sesshoumaru smirk.

Without waiting for a response, Sesshoumaru wandered over to the riverbank and began stripping off his outer clothing. When he reached the drawstring of his pants, he paused and decided leaving them on would likely help his chances of the little kumo joining him. Sure enough, just as he was wading into the lazy water, he heard the soft rustle of clothing hitting the ground. What he didn't expect, was the sudden pounce and capture of his person. He stumbled forward into the water, gasping as the cold permeated every ounce of his body.

Naraku was on his back, arms hooked around his neck and legs wrapped around his stomach. He clung to Sesshoumaru laughing aloud. Sesshoumaru reared back up, grasping Naraku and flipping him to bring them face to face. Naraku's cheeks were flushed and he was still trying to stifle his laughter. Sesshoumaru grinned and captured Naraku's red lips in a cold and blood-streaked kiss. Naraku wrapped himself around Sesshoumaru all over again, sitting astride Sesshoumaru's hips as the kiss deepened. Sesshoumaru traced the exposed terrain of Naraku's back, surprised when he realized that there were a few scars seemingly much higher than the rest. He carefully traced each branch of the odd marking, realizing that his fingers were brushing the etching of a spider. Naraku seemed to realize the shift in mood and the deliberate touch. When realization struck, he quickly disentangled himself from Sesshoumaru and backed away through the cold water. Sesshoumaru advanced, curious. Naraku bit his lip as Sesshoumaru turned him around and placed his hand over the black spider at the center of his back. Naraku flinched but fought the instinct to flee. He hated the vulnerable feeling of not being able to see Sesshoumaru's face or know what Sesshoumaru would do next, but he didn't dare move. He waited for a reaction, praying it would not be a negative one.

"When did you get this?" questioned Sesshoumaru finally.

Naraku shifted uncomfortable, head low.

"When I killed my father, his mark was transferred to me as the next Kumo Lord in the bloodline." He waited, holding his breath.

"It is very beautiful on you," Sesshoumaru replied candidly, truly intrigued by the dark marking.

Naraku visibly relaxed and hesitantly turned back to face Sesshoumaru. He closed the distance between them and laid his cheek on Sesshoumaru chest. Sesshoumaru recognized the insecurity and gently enveloped Naraku with his arms and Naraku felt warm and calm.

A few minutes later, the pair waded out of the water, hand in hand. They returned to their makeshift camp in silence. Naraku slid back into the warm encasement of Sesshoumaru's pelt, and Sesshoumaru leaned in and gently nipped his exposed neck. He smiled as he went to retrieve their clothing.

Behind him, Naraku was suddenly sitting up, gripping his hand over the place where Sesshoumaru's teeth had grazed his skin. Sesshoumaru returned but Naraku was too preoccupied to notice. Kneeling in front of the lost looking hanyou, Sesshoumaru tipped his chin up, a question in his eyes. He was worried he had frightened the little kumo, but he couldn't imagine how...

"You- you bit me." whispered Naraku, befuddled.

Sesshoumaru didn't speak for a long moment. He carefully traced the light scratches on Naraku's neck. They were no more than two lightly raised marks against otherwise flawless skin.

"Does that upset you?" He asked quietly, his tone unreadable.

"No." replied Naraku honestly.

Sesshoumaru smiled and handed over a light bundle of clothing. They dressed in a silence brimming with some sort of quiet elation. Hand in hand, they continued along the river path.

Around midday, their progress came to an abrupt halt. Sesshoumaru grasped Naraku by the elbow. He lifted his head with narrowed eyes and inhaled deeply. The feral, unmistakable scent of danger flooded his senses.

Sesshoumaru eyed the walls of the ravine, aware of the sheltered, but simultaneously trapping nature of the area. Naraku seemed to pick up on the panic and danger in the air. Although his sense of smell wasn't as strong as Sesshoumaru's, he was the first to see the dark shapes between the lines of sky and land.

"Wolves" he whispered.

And they were upon them.

Sesshoumaru tucked Naraku close as the ravine filled with the howls and snarls of hunting canines. The pack was massive, tumbling over itself in the pursuit to reach them first. Within moments they were surrounded by a ring of dust and a pack of wolves. Their jaws snapped wetly, some of them midway through transformation, others fully human. Naraku was curled beside him, not fearful, but bristling with waves of uneasy energy. His defenses were up and he seemed coiled with the readiness to attack. The wolves were all bristling, nervous and angry. What appeared to be the leader, a massive, shaggy dark beast, transformed sinuously. Cracking his jaw and licking his canines, he stared directly at Sesshoumaru.

"Step aside fool, do you not know that you stand beside a killer? He reeks of death even now" Snarled the wolf.

Naraku's energy flickered for a moment and he gazed up at Sesshoumaru, gaging his reaction. Sesshoumaru's expression did not change.

"We are traveling peacefully to return to my lands. Why are you slowing us down?" It was the coldest voice Naraku had ever heard, and it made him shiver with its sheer power.

The wolf sneered contemptuously, obviously unaware of who Sesshoumaru was. "What do you take me for, some type of idiot? If you are his ally, then you are just as guilty as he. We know what you're trying to do! And we shall kill you as well!"

The entire pack seemed to close in a little further in a mass of bloodthirsty bodies. Sesshoumaru almost rolled his eyes, irritated by the wolf's bravado.

"And what is it that we are trying to do?" he sighed, leaning into Naraku reassuringly.

"You are leading this killer to our Prince! You are helping a murderer! This is treason!" barks and growls accompanied his accusation.

Sesshoumaru blinked. Suddenly, he realized that they must be very far North, and apparently very close to Kouga's Domain. He recalled the memory of Kouga's stories, the hearsay he had picked up from the rumors of the Realm.

"Take us to Prince Kouga." He demanded quietly.

The leader's eyes widened and for a moment he sputtered in disbelief.

"You are crazy! Do you honestly believe we would risk His Highness? We will kill you both and leave you to rot in the river!"

Sesshoumaru sneered, and stepped forward. "And when His Highness hears that your pack attempted to attack Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands, then he will surely forgive me for destroying you one by one and strangling you with your own tails." His eyes were narrow and his voice low and dangerous.

Silence followed his threat as nervous whispers and uncertain gazes travelled around the pack. At last, a wolf near the back of the group spoke up, addressing his fuming leader.

"It is truth Hako, he is most surely the High Lord of the West for I once saw him at His Highness's side. I smell no lies..." a few other voices piped their agreement while others began pacing agitatedly.

Finally, when the chorus of opinions died down, the pack leader looked suspiciously at Sesshoumaru, and then Naraku.

"Fine," he said at last, "let our Prince decide your fates. May he bring something wretched and terrible upon the vile, kumo murderer." He added disgustedly towards Naraku.

With that, the pack disbanded and began scaling the ravine walls. The leader continued to keep a close eye on the two youkai as Naraku conjured a purple cloud and the two seemingly glided to the sky with ease. On the ground again, they found themselves re-surrounded by the aggressive wolves. Sesshoumaru half-recognized the area, but only vaguely.

Naraku was nervous, and he pressed just a little closer to Sesshoumaru's side. They were obviously overpowered, no matter the rumors that surrounded his reputation and Sesshoumaru's name. Neither was in any condition for confrontation, and it was a breath of relief to know there wouldn't be fighting any time soon. However, it wasn't enough to entirely allay Naraku's fears. He didn't trust easily, and while Sesshoumaru seemed to know the Wolf Prince, he didn't want to become too comfortable with the turn of events. As if sensing Naraku's nerves, Sesshoumaru curled a possessive arm around Naraku's waist and Naraku relaxed a little. He let Sesshoumaru stroke his side, and whisper a quiet reassurance into his ears. In the distance, he could see the foot of great, looming mountains which he assumed was their destination. He gritted his teeth and began to walk.

Some time later, as night was falling, his suspicions were proven correct. They were at the base of the mountains now, gazing up at the towering rock face riddled with holes and caves. The pack entered through a lower cave and ended up walking through dark, heavy-aired caverns. He hated the claustrophobic aura of the place, and wanted only to see light again by the time they had reached a spot where the tunnel opened into a broad, west facing cave.

Prince Kouga had been alerted ahead of time of their arrival, and although he was wary of the rumored Kumo Monster, knowing Sesshoumaru was there soothed some of his nerves. He raised a brow however, when the two were finally brought before him. Both youkai were bloodied and obviously in a poor state. There were marks and scratches that indicated a fight, but not with his pack. Even more intriguing was the possessive hold Sesshoumaru had on the kumo who looked nothing like the evil creature the Realm had gossiped of. In fact, if an onlooker were to guess, they would've likely chosen Sesshoumaru as the cold-blooded killer with his icy expression and powerful stance. In comparison, the hanyou looked like a docile child.

"Prince Kouga, it is a pleasure to see you again... I only wish our meeting fell under better circumstances." Sesshoumaru had stepped forward and bowed formally, obviously hiding a cringe of pain.

Kouga quickly descended from his throne of furs and rich pelts. "Of course my friend, you know you are always welcome in my home." He clasped Sesshoumaru in a careful embrace, secretly supporting the Lord's obviously faltering balance.

"Thank you, Wolf" muttered Sesshoumaru for the Prince's ears alone, "May I request a place to rest for the night for myself and my companion?" Kouga hated the formality, but there were too many of his pack around to forsake tradition. He could feel their wariness and scent their high-strung readiness.

"Of course Lord Sesshoumaru. You are free to stay so long as you feel inclined, your companion as well."

He could sense uneasy growls in the background but he ignored them. He knew Sesshoumaru would explain himself later.

"My deepest thanks," replied Sesshoumaru with another bow and a clasp to Kouga's shoulder.

An attendant appeared out of nowhere, and Kouga instructed him to lead his guests to one of the high caves. Subtly, he also requested a medic.

When Sesshoumaru and Naraku reached their chamber, they were greeted by a cozy pile of furs, a lively fire, and a nightstand laden with cookies.

Sesshoumaru knew it would be some time before he would be on the receiving end of any of Naraku's attention.

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A/n- implausible? I don't care. Thanks for reviewing

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Chapter 7: Hardy Candy