Pack
Last:
Minutes later, another barrier surrounded the sleeping Kagome, while everyone slept peacefully in the clearing, unaware of the surprise they would all get upon awakening.
Now:
As Kagome regained consciousness, she felt warm, comfortable, and protected. She didn't want to move from her spot, but she knew she had to. She had a quest to finish, a brother to save, and an evil bitch to kill. As she reluctantly opened her eyes, she smiled softly at the sight before her. Sometime while they were sleeping, Mattaki had moved them so that she was now surrounded by their group. Miroku was on one side, with his back towards her. Mattaki was on her other side, lying so that he was facing her back. She realized then, that she was using his arm as a pillow. Fang had at some point, turned back into his smaller form, and he and Shippo were snuggled up against her chest.
She slowly, so as not to wake the others, sat up. She stretched, smiling in satisfaction as her back popped. Feeling something move behind her, she turned, expecting to see that Mattaki had awakened.
However, what she didn't expect to see, was a black lump of fur lying behind her. Her brows furrowed in confusion. Following the furry mass, she saw that it was attached to her shoulder. She stared at it blankly. Her mind was trying to comprehend what was happening. She had just about decided that she was too tired to question it at the moment.
Then, it purred.
…
…
…
"AAAAHHHHHHH"
Mattaki, Miroku, Shippo, and Fang would never forget this day as long as they lived.
They had been awakened by a loud scream. Jolting up, they saw that it was Kagome who had made the noise. They all deadpanned when they realized that she was freaking out just because a piece of fur that had purred at her…..Wait, what?
"Since when does fur PURR?!" She practically shrieked at them.
"That's so weird. I didn't know lumps of fur could do that!" Shippo exclaimed excitedly, as he rushed forward to pet it.
Suddenly, Mattaki started chuckling, which soon turned into full out laughter. Tick marks formed on Kagome's head, while Miroku, Shippo and Fang just sweatdropped.
"I think he's broken." Shippo whispered. Everyone else just nodded in agreement.
Soon enough, Mattaki calmed down enough to speak. "I apologise. It's just that, well, the purring black fur you see is called a Moko Moko. Only Daiyokai have them. It is created from our Youki, and contains our power, which is what allows us to transform into our beast forms. I have one as well, but the Witch stole it from me. That is how she took my powers. However, since it is made from me, only I can access that power. It now looks like Kagome has one too, though it should be impossible. Miko can't control their Reiki in such a way. The only reasonable explanation, is that Kagome has somehow been turned into a demon. A Daiyokai, to be exact. The reason I laughed so much, was honestly more from hysteria than anything else. I mean, the irony of a Miko being turned into a demon is quite funny when you think about it."
Kagome just sat there staring at him blankly for a moment. Taking the initiative, Miroku grabbed Shippo from her lap, covering his ears as he did. It was a good thing too, because suddenly, Kagome was ranting and screaming profanities so loudly that even Mattaki was cringing. She used words that would have made the men blush, had they not been so surprised at the time.
Just then, a very stupid toad demon decided to enter the clearing, and spotted them. He ignored the ranting female, deciding that she looked far too delicious to pass up, and attacked them… That's when they learned that instead of disappearing when she was somehow turned into a demon, Kagome's Miko powers had actually increased…. Needless to say, froggy bit the dust… Literally.
As soon as the still irate female turned to look at the now terrified men, they all bolted to hide behind the closest thing they could find.
Kagome stopped her tirade and began laughing, when she saw that two grown male demons and a Raiju had taken to hiding behind a defenseless Kitsune kit.
As she laughed, she started crying, which became worse, until she was more sobbing than crying. Immediately, her pack were surrounding her, muttering reassurances. She took comfort in their closeness, and they showed her such care that she was soon calm enough to speak once again.
"H-how did this happen? Why did this happen?" She whispered sadly.
She wasn't just talking about her latest transformation. She was talking about the whole situation she had suddenly found herself in. She just didn't understand why Kikyo had picked her of all people, why her brother was taken from her, seemingly without reason. Why she was suddenly on a witch's shit list, when she had never met the bitch before. She couldn't understand any of it.
Mattaki seemed to instinctively know what she was really asking, but with no answers coming forth in his mind, he decided to stay silent, and to just try and reassure her the best way her knew how. He began purring. Just like an alpha would do to calm a scared or upset pup. After a few minutes, the other males of her pack began doing the same.
A few minutes later, Kagome had been calmed enough that she once again fell asleep. Mattaki was suddenly thankful that she had somehow managed to keep her time barrier up throughout the whole ordeal. He loathed to awaken her anytime soon, after that last episode.
Mattaki suddenly felt very guilty for making light of the situation by laughing as he had done. He knew that it was a very big change for Kagome to have to deal with. He also knew that the reason it upset her so, wasn't because of the fact that she was a Miko being turned into a demon, something most Miko would hate more than anything, considering the two are natural enemies. In fact, once she got used to her new body and skills, Mattaki knew that Kagome would enjoy being a demon. Especially since she got to keep her Miko powers as well.
It simply boiled down to the fact that Kagome had just had enough. It was quite understandable, since her life had been turned on its head so suddenly that she hadn't had much time to breathe, let alone process everything that's happened so far. In actuality, Mattaki is surprised that it had taken even this long for her breakdown to happen. Even he didn't think he could have held out as long as she had, if he'd been in her shoes.
"Is she gonna be okay, Mattaki?" Shippo asked, his eyes watering as he gently ran his claws through Kagome's hair.
Mattaki's heart clenched at the look in the Kit's eyes. They were full of anguish and sadness. He briefly looked up and smiled in thanks when he saw Miroku and Fang move further away, in order to give their alpha and the kit the short moment of alone time that both could sense was sorely needed, for the kit's own wellbeing. Mattaki was happy they had done so, and would be sure to reward them for their thoughtfulness later, but right now he turned his attention back on the kit.
"Yes, Kit, she will be fine. She just needs to rest, is all." He answered, swallowing the lump in his throat.
"Why did she react like that? Does she not want to be like m-us, like us? Will she hate me now that she's a demon?" Shippo asked again. Mattaki ignored the slip up. He knew that even though it had been a very short time since the two had met, Shippo and Kagome had already become attached to each other. In fact, he wouldn't even be surprised if the Kit had already started seeing her as a mother figure. It would only be natural after all.
Shippo hadn't known the love of a mother, and right after becoming orphaned and treated cruelly, a woman enters his life, who not only shows him kindness and affection, but one who is also supportive, comforting, and is willing to allow him to help avenge his father. Mattaki could see how Shippo would latch onto such a rare find.
Most female demons in general would never agree to raise another's pup. Many would just kill the offspring, and be done with it. It was just instinct. But Kagome had been treating Shippo as if he had been her own. Even though she had been a human Miko, Mattaki had seen her do small things that were seen as signs of affection and love used by mothering Yokai. Nuzzles to the head, sleeping together, running her fingers through his hair as a way of comforting him, keeping him close to her at all times.
Kagome had done all these things and more. Mattaki just knew that if she continued to do these things after her transformation,(and he strongly believed she would) there would never be any separating the two, as they would soon become mother and son.
And he would help them, too. He knew of a ritual to make them so, as completely as if she had birthed him herself. The only thing is, he wouldn't say anything about the ritual unless he knew for sure that both of them wanted it completely. Otherwise, they could risk accidentally killing each other. Their powers would rebel against the ritual and kill either the owner of the power, or the one that the power was directed towards, rather than accepting it, like they would if both wanted the ritual wholeheartedly. Both of which were things he was sure none of them would want.
Shaking his head free of those thoughts, Mattaki looked back down at the now sniffling kit. He could see both Miroku and Fang trying to reassure him, though they were having no luck in doing so.
"No, Little Kit, it's not that at all. You see, Kagome has just had a lot thrown at her in a few short hours. She hasn't had time to sit and think on these changes, nor has she had any time to cope with them. It just so happened that when she saw the changes that have just now occured, she became overwhelmed. It's not that she doesn't want to be a Yokai. I'm sure that when she comes to, and has had time to process it, she will come to enjoy being one of us in such a way.
And as for your last question, have no fear. She may be a Yokai now, but she is still Kagome. She would never hate you for something so trivial as your being born from another. She will still care for you as she did before. Maybe even more-so, since she will now have certain instincts on how to treat you, that she didn't have before. Can you smell what type of Yokai she has been turned into?" Mattaki asked.
After concentrating for a moment, Shippo's face lit up as he exclaimed. "She's a kitsune!"
Mattaki smiled. "Yes, and because she is such, she will have more of an urge to care for you in ways that until now, have simply not occurred to her. Such as grooming, cleaning, and many others. She will not have the urge to be rid of you, as I'm sure you are fearing. I think that perhaps, quite the opposite will occur, and she will be loathe to have you away from her side for very long at all, for many moons to come." He said happily.
Just then, Kagome groaned from her place in Mattaki's lap. Shippo looked down worriedly as he moved to sit beside her, rather than on her stomach like he had been.
Mattaki became amused when he saw how the kit was practically bouncing in place, due to his excitement. The king knew that soon, the two kitsune would be inseparable.
However, he frowned to himself, he was a little worried as to what would happen after the evil bitch Kikyo was destroyed. Would Kagome stay with them in this Realm, or would she wish to return home with her brother. Only time would tell, but even he was willing to admit that the young woman was increasingly growing on him.
Shaking himself free of troubling thoughts, Mattaki was once again amused to see that Kagome was now awake, and was animatedly talking to Shippo, as he was telling her all about how he would 'train' her on everything she would need to know about being a kitsune. Kagome smiled softly at him, her eyes full of adoration, as she reached up and began gently running her claws through his hair.
It was almost comical at the speed in which Shippo grew still. Slowly, he began relaxing against her, letting out a soft, growl-like purr. Mattaki's eyes widened minutely when he immediately heard a lower, more soothing, growl coming from Kagome.
"She will make a wonderful mother someday." He thought.
Kagome, for her part, was happy that Shippo had responded to her ministrations so well. She adored Shippo, but his overexcited gibberish had begun to hurt her newly sensitive ears, which is why she started grooming him. Something just told her that he would calm down quickly with her actions, and she was thankful that it'd been true.
She smiled up at Mattaki, when she knew for sure that Shippo had fallen asleep. "How long was I out? And where are the others?" She asked softly, so as not to disturb the kit.
"You have not been asleep for long. Half a candlemark at the most,although with your time barrier still going strong, it has likely been only mere seconds. As for your second question, Miroku and Fang walked away to give the kit and I some privacy. Poor boy was scared that you would abandon him, now that you are a demon. However, I reassured him that you would not." He informed her.
"Why would I abandon him, just because I became a demon?" She asked, a troubled look settling on her face.
Mattaki explained to her how most female demons treated young that weren't their own. To say that Kagome was appalled by such things, would have been a drastic understatement.
"I would never do that to a child! To abandon or worse, kill an innocent, defenseless being, just because it wasn't biologically mine goes against everything I believe in. No offense meant, of course. I know that it is merely the way of yo- our kind, but still. Even though I am now a demon, I will still hold true to most of the morals instilled in me by my mother." Kagome stated firmly, pulling the sleeping kit even closer to her chest.
Mattaki smiled, in order to show her his pleasure in her statement. Then, letting his instincts take hold for a moment, he nuzzled her temple in affection. He was even more pleased to see her blushing brightly, as he pulled away.
Chuckling at her, he slowly stood, bringing her with him. He released her once she was steady on her feet. The two then turned toward their remaining pack, as the males returned to their sides.
"How are you feeling Kagome?" Miroku asked, as Fang yipped in agreement to the question.
"Much better, thank you. We should continue on our way soon. Even though my barrier is still in place, we shouldn't dally any longer than necessary. I say we eat some breakfast, and then continue towards the castle in the middle of the Labyrinth." Kagome stated.
After seeing the rest of her pack nodding in agreement, she moved further towards the edge of the clearing, planning on setting Shippo down somewhere safe, so that she can gather firewood, in order to make a cooking fire.
"We will hunt for meat, so we can all break our fast. We will return soon, Kagome." Mattaki stated, watching her place the kit gently upon a soft patch in the grass. Fang immediately moved to curl up around Shippo, keeping him warm.
"Alright, thank you. Please be careful. You never know what Kikyo could be planning next." Kagome said. Mattaki and Miroku nodded grimly, before turning and disappearing into the surrounding forrest.
Kagome sighed, turning back to her self appointed task. She had just finished building a fire, when she suddenly heard a voice from behind her.
"Well now, how did you like my newest gift?" Turning around, Kagome gasped. Right before her stood the Queen Bitch herself, Kikyo.
TBC...
Shout-outs to our reviewers:
E-man-dy-S: Glad you think it's interesting and are looking forward to more. There will be plenty more.
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