A/N: Thanks for reading, warning ahead for a little sexual content and a reminder that the story is rated M. Hope you enjoy it! Leave a review to let me know what you think :)
When everyone else was out of sight, Sango and Kagome looked at each other and then t Ava who was barging ahead through the woods.
Sango cleared her throat first, "Ava, we came from this direction, I don't remember seeing a spring nearby."
Ava stopped, then looked around, and finally turned to the two women, "I don't doubt it, I have no idea where in the hell I'm at, it's not as like there are signs around here that say 'water source, this way'."
Ava sighed and then kept walking, the women following behind her.
Kagome put her hand on Ava's shoulder, "Are you alright? We've been wondering how you were doing since Sesshomaru saved you. You seem worried, or bothered about something."
Ava nodded as she moved a tree branch out of the way, "Yeah, I'm just trying to get far enough away from damn inu ears so I can have some girl talk. Trust me, I could use some wine, a good movie, and some serious girl talk right about now."
Sango looked at Kagome knowingly, a small grin on her face, "I'm pretty sure that we are out of range, unless they are purposely spying on us. How about you tell us what's going on?"
Ava finally stopped and the trio found as comfortable spots as they could sitting against some tree trunks all facing each other.
Ava groaned and looked at Kagome, "Does Inuyasha boss you around all of the time? I mean, before, it didn't bother me so much with Sesshomaru. But then he ordered me not to follow you guys just now and it made me so damn angry. And he doesn't just make me angry, he makes me…frustrated."
Sango snickered and Kagome looked at Ava with understanding, putting her hand on her knee, "Trust me, I understand. Inuyasha may not be a full youkai but he's got the inu part down pat. I didn't understand for the longest why he was always bitching at me about getting in the way, or ordering me to stay out of the fights, but as the years passed by, I finally got it. When I wouldn't listen to him, he'd just sit in a damn tree all night and ignore me until the next day, which happened a lot because I didn't listen most of the time. Sango explained to me one day how packs worked, and I finally started to really see that it was part of Inuyasha's nature to be a pack leader that made him so…commanding."
Ava picked at a piece of grass, nodding as she relaxed, "That's what Sesshomaru said, that it's a pack thing and he's Alpha and I guess I'm part of his pack, and I'm supposed to obey him and he's supposed to protect me."
Kagome chuckled, "It sounds pretty cave man like when it's put like that, doesn't it? At least he tried to explain it to you. Inuyasha left me confused and hurt for so long because I didn't understand. But, Ava, I learned that their intentions are pure. Inuyasha doesn't think me, or Sango, or Miroku are any lesser than him, it's just part of who he is and his position as the leader of the pack that makes him feel the responsibility to protect all of us. And, at times, when he can't and one of us gets hurt, you can tell that it really pains him, like he's failed. Inu take pack very seriously. It's definitely something a 21st century woman like you and I aren't used to, but then again, when would a 21st century woman have to worry day and night about getting attacked and murdered by demons lurking in the woods?"
Ava huffed, "Isn't that the truth?! I mean, I get it, I really do. I understand that I'm going to have to change my thinking to fit in here. Just being raised in the world we were raised in, it seems wrong as a strong, independent woman to just…submit to a man."
Kagome sighed and nodded her head in agreement, "It's not in our nature, and it's in their nature to expect it from us. I mean, I try to listen to Inuyasha, but as you can see, we still argue a lot and I still do a lot of things he tells me not to. But, that's because Inuyasha sometimes makes some really stupid decisions and acts on his emotions rather than with his brains. I'm pretty sure Sesshomaru is a whole lot more controlled and way more well-thought out than Inuyasha. Just don't let him hear me say that."
Sango laughed, "I'm sure you can trust Sesshomaru, and listening to him when he decides to assert his leadership is probably for the best, for both of you. Although he is a lot more controlled than Inuyasha, you can't forget that Sesshomaru is a full youkai, and he obviously takes everything very seriously. Inuyasha and Kagome can argue and yell at each other because Inuyasha is a lot more childish, he isn't full youkai and he wasn't raised with strict inu traditions like Sesshomaru. However, with Sesshomaru, I'm sure defying him is going to anger him on a completely different level than Inuyasha, and he's going to take offense to it and probably react much differently than Inuyasha's pouting and yelling. I'm sure he understands his ways are not your ways, but it's probably not a good idea to poke the beast, so to speak. But if you want to come back with us, you can, you don't have to stay with Sesshomaru if he's making you uncomfortable."
Ava toyed with the hem of her kimono as she listened to the women's advice, "I don't mind traveling with him. I really like his company and Rin is a sweet girl. And let's be honest, he's absolutely gorgeous and staring at his backside and his abnormally amazing hair as we wonder around the forest is one of the highlights of my day. He's been very kind to me and understanding, and he's sworn revenge on Ko Kira for what he did. I mean, by what you guys told me about him, he's been completely different than what I was expecting. He was there to comfort me when I broke down about Ko Kira's attack, he's helped me figure out exactly what I am and why I'm here, and he's promised to help train me further to defend myself better. Now that I actually say all of this out loud I kind of feel bad for getting pissy with him when he was only trying to do what was best."
Kagome smiled softly, "I was always certain he was different than what he showed us. He's always having to put on an air of indifference to deal with Inuyasha and he acts like he doesn't care, but I knew that for Rin to be following him around, there had to be a softer, kinder side to him. Perhaps it is just a side of him that he shares with his pack. I am glad he is treating you well and you sound happy, for the most part."
"Yes, I guess so for the most part. Happy and frustrated, though. His aura has a really strange effect on me."
Kagome paused and then continued with her question, "When you say a strange effect, you mean like…"
Ava threw her hands into the air, "Like sexual, it's like a damn wave of hormones wrapping around me and making me so damned sexually frustrated. And he knows it too, and he keeps doing it! It's not fair!"
Sango grinned to herself. She knew exactly why a demon's youkai energy would have that effect on the opposite sex, but she wasn't about to tell Ava it was because she was Sesshomaru's intended mate. She'd have to tell Kagome her suspicions later.
Sango put her hand on Ava's knee, "Look, I'm not saying jump in bed with the Lord of the West tonight, but trust me when I say, if he knows what he's doing, he's doing it on purpose because he wants to get that reaction out of you. And he's inu remember? They're driven off of basic instincts, so sooner or later, either you're going to jump him or he's going to jump you. If he wasn't so damned in control of his emotions all of the time, I'd say we'd be having a very different conversation right now. But, as it is, he is also very smart, and I'm sure he realizes he can't treat you like another inu."
Ava stood up, dusting off her kimono and tossing her hair over her shoulder. Sango and Kagome stood as well, Sango snickering in amusement at seeing Sesshomaru's crest on the neck and shoulder of the kimono.
Ava followed her eyes to what she was looking at and rolled her eyes, "I must be really stupid about what this means, because first Sesshomaru's servant Usagi pointed it out, then Rin, and now you. What the hell is up with this flower pattern?"
Sango smiled and threw her arm around Ava's shoulder as they began walking back towards camp, "How about I just say, it means you are part of his pack."
"You're lying. If it was true, Rin and Jaken would have it as well."
Sango looked to the sky as she pursed her lips, "Wellll, let's just say it's a sign of royalty."
"Rin already told me that, and I'm not royalty so that doesn't make any damned sense."
Sango smirked, "Well then, let's just say that maybe you should ask Sesshomaru about that. I'm not going to be the one to tell you."
Ava rolled her eyes and groaned in frustration, "Some help you are!"
When they made it back to the group, the men were all scattered about in a ring around the little ones, Rin and Shippo sitting on the ground making crowns of flowers. Ah-Un, Kirara, and Jaken were a bit separated, choosing to stay out of the commotion. Ava glanced at Sesshomaru who had his arms crossed as he leaned against a tree and was looking off into the distance.
Her attention was drawn as Inuyasha started talking loudly, "Hey, where the hell did you three go? You don't look or smell any cleaner than when you left."
Ava chuckled as she shrugged, "Look, it's pretty clear I don't know where in the world I'm at and I can't exactly sniff out a water source. Turns out there wasn't any water around. Sorry."
Inuyasha's ears twitched, "Feh, whatever. Come on, we need to start moving if we are going to find any more shards. Ava, you're coming too right? You don't have to stay with that heartless brother of mine anymore now."
Sesshomaru moved towards Inuyasha slowly, one hand resting on the hilt of Tokijin, "She isn't going with you. She's not part of your pack anymore, little brother."
Ava sighed, again with the commanding. Ok, remember what you said back there to Kagome and Sango, you've got to think of things from his point of view and pack perspective.
Ava glanced to Kagome and Sango, who were giving her small smiles of encouragement as she stepped towards Sesshomaru and turned to Inuyasha, "He's right, Inuyasha. I'm going to stay with Sesshomaru…"
She swallowed as she found it so hard to say the next few words that had probably been the strangest thing she had ever said in her life, "He is my Alpha now."
She couldn't bring herself to look at Sesshomaru, she was so embarrassed at the strange words that had left her mouth.
Inuyasha's ears just flattened but he didn't say anything, he was not going to challenge his brother on the matter.
Ava watched quietly as everyone said their goodbyes, their groups scuffling about to move off in different directions. Kagome and Sango gave her a parting hug, everyone else waving goodbye with promises that they would see each other soon.
She stayed next to Sesshomaru, still unable to meet his eyes as he stood quietly beside her. When Rin came up to them he turned, and they began following him again without missing a beat.
Ava wanted to apologize for getting angry at him, but as she stared at his back, she realized it would have to wait for both her embarrassment to die down and for them to have a moment alone. Rin talked excitedly next to her, showing her a crown of flowers she had made for Ah-Un. Ava lifted her up to put the crown on Ah-Un, who wore it proudly as they continued their trek.
When the sky began to turn orange with the setting sun, they set up camp in a wooded area. Sesshomaru erected a barrier around the camp, a rather strong one that left Ava glaring daggers in his back at the mounting sexual frustration she was starting to feel thanks to his aura.
"Jaken, watch over Rin and make sure she does not stray outside the barrier."
"Yes, my Lord."
Sesshomaru, without another word, scooped Ava up into his arms in a bridal carry, mindful of his armor, before speeding off through the woods. She barely had time to wrap her arms around his neck when they reached a small clearing near a shallow stream. Sesshomaru sat her down before stepping back and drawing Tenseiga.
Ava backed up immediately in fear. Ok, I really misread that punishment promise of his. He brought me out here to kill me, and made sure Rin wouldn't come out here and see.
Ava gulped as she put her hands up, knowing she had no defense against the Killing Perfection as her heart began to race, "Look I'm really sorry for talking back to you earlier, I realized it was a mistake. I've wanted to apologize all day but was waiting until we were alone. I promise I'll listen and won't argue you with from now on, please don't kill me."
Sesshomaru arched an eyebrow, he wanted to laugh at the absurdity that she'd thought he brought her away from the others to kill her, but his inner Beast also felt incredibly guilty that his future mate was on the verge of tears in fear for her life because of him.
Sesshomaru put Tenseiga away, stepping closer to Ava but she backpedaled still. He sighed, "You have no reason to fear me. I promised you I would teach you how to use your tanto tonight. I shouldn't have assumed you knew of Tenseiga's nature when I drew it, but it cannot harm you at all. Tenseiga can only bring people back from the dead, it is not a sword that can do harm to humans."
Ava swallowed, her heart finally starting to calm down.
Sesshomaru flared his aura to build another barrier, this time, his energy doing more to comfort Ava and quell her fears than bring on the usual ache.
She finally met his eyes, suddenly feeling silly for thinking he was going to kill her, "Oh…I'm sorry. I overreacted, twice today apparently. It's just been a really, really long day."
Sesshomaru wanted to gather her in his arms and bury his nose in her neck to reassure her that he would never harm her, but he restrained, "Draw your tanto and show me what Sango taught you."
Ava nodded, moving in to the defensive stance Sango had first showed her.
Sesshomaru started to re-position her elbow and front foot, "What happened at the temple?"
Ava moved into the offensive stance as Sesshomaru helped her with her form again, "Two Kamis appeared, one male, one female. They said I was a Tennyo, and that they brought me here to make sure Ko Kira was destroyed and to help restore balance. Apparently seeing and sensing youkai's auras is one of my abilities, along with some other things that to me, aren't really 'abilities' just personality traits. It's not like I have any superpowers like you do."
Sesshomaru stood behind Ava as he positioned her into a new stance, his arms guiding hers as his lips brushed her ear, "You do not need any special physical abilities. I am more than capable to ensure your protection."
Ava shivered before Sesshomaru released her, standing in front of her as he drew Tenseiga, "Now, defend yourself."
Sesshomaru started attacking, obviously slowing himself down so as not to overwhelm Ava. Ava, having practiced with Sango before, did not do badly. As a dancer, she was already light on her feet and quick directional changes were easy for her.
When she missed blocking one of his strikes she got a whop on the rear with Tenseiga.
Ava squeaked, rubbing the sting on her bottom, "Ow!"
Sesshomaru chuckled and she attacked him with new vigor, wanting to land a hit on him for smacking her butt. He lazily defended himself, which made Ava even more determined.
Finally she stepped back and huffed, putting her tanto back in its sheath and throwing her hands up in the air dramatically, "Frustrating and unfair! That's what you are, in every single sense of the words."
Sesshomaru sheathed Tenseiga, a small smile of satisfaction on his face, "You did not do badly. You could not defeat someone like me in a battle, but a lower demon and a human you could defend yourself against well if you had to. At least I know now that you can wield the blade you carry. I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself with it."
"Hurt myself with it?! How hard can it be? The pointy end goes in the bad guy!"
Sesshomaru's smile grew. He found so much amusement in Ava's growing frustration, "Well, I guess that's one way to look at it."
Ava put one hand on her hip, the dying sunlight reflecting off of Sesshomaru's armor.
She motioned with one hand to his hip, "What's the story with that other sword you carry?"
Sesshomaru drew Tokijin, the aura on the blade sparking and coming to life, "It is Tokijin, a demon blade, and it most certainly does harm anything it comes in contact with. Do not ever touch it; it has killed everyone else who has tried to wield it."
Ava's eyes widened, "Not a problem. I will definitely not touch that thing. What about your armor? None of that's going to kill me right?"
"Why do you ask? Do you plan on trying to take it off of me?"
Ava couldn't help the smile and chuckle that escaped, she couldn't believe he was actually flirting with her so forwardly, "Well that wasn't why I was asking, but yes, I guess if I did try to take it off of you I'd like to know."
"You wouldn't need to try. You'd only have to ask."
Ava's smile widened as she started to feel really uncertain about where the conversation was headed, raising up on her toes as she clasped her hands, "You know, one of these days, I'm going to figure out how to make you just as frustrated as you make me."
Sesshomaru stalked up to Ava, his mokomoko wrapping around her waist as one hand cupped her cheek, his thumb running along her lip, "I have a great deal of patience, but I look forward to you trying."
He leaned forward, tilting her head to the side slightly as he ran his nose up her neck, eliciting a gasp from her lips as he gripped her hip, "Acknowledging that I was your Alpha today made me very pleased."
He squeezed her hip, his other hand tangling in her long hair as his claws scraped against her scalp. She answered with a soft mewling sound, unable to speak due to his attentions.
"I would like to reciprocate the claim."
And without any further words the hand at her hip moved up to pull roughly at the neck of her kimono, shoving it to the side to reveal her bare neck and collarbone. The hand in her hair tightened and tilted her neck further to the side as Sesshomaru bared his fangs and sunk them into her shoulder.
As Ava gasped in surprise followed by a hiss of pain, Sesshomaru began pouring his aura into the wound as he coiled strands of his aura inside her body and around her, his free hand traveling back down to squeeze at her hip. With every soft pull of blood into his mouth he squeezed and released her hip in time, his youkai aura pulsing through to her core.
Ava, her body on fire, reached up and grabbed the back of his head with one hand while the other gripped onto the arm at her waist to try and find some way to ground herself.
His energy overwhelmed her, the tendrils of his aura feeling like fingers on her skin. It was as if his fingers were dancing between her legs, inside her, around her...she could barely think.
With a final pull of her blood into his mouth, Sesshomaru surged his aura once last time to push Ava over the edge. She let out a loud moan as her body shook in release and her knees started to buckle.
Sesshomaru kept her in his grip with one arm as he removed his armor with the other hand, bringing them both to the forest floor as he leaned against a fallen log. Ava lay wrapped in his arms while he shifted her to put her back to his chest, her chest heaving and her eyes droopy.
Sesshomaru drug his tongue along the four puncture wounds before righting her kimono.
Ava shivered in the after effects, "That was…you are…incredible."
Sesshomaru smirked behind her, holding her tighter against him, "Hn. Sleep now."
And without protest, Ava passed out in his arms finally feeling an ounce of release from her frustration.
