Valadium
Chapter XXV
A maroon eye cracked open as the sound of yet another deep intake of breath was heard. Nervous energy could practically be seen in the woman as it became apparent how much of a conscious decision was made to not pace or tap her sandaled foot against the bamboo of the floor. Arms uncrossed to flip long brown hair over her shoulder briefly and resituate the lapels of her kimono before crossing over her chest once more. Once concentration was broken, feet began to shuffle in a short pace, not quite small enough to be lady-like but just long enough for others who did not know the female to recognize her as a warrior.
The maroon eyed male sighed. '3…2…1…'
"I can't take it any more!" Mahogany eyes slanted towards her companion, arms moving from their position across her chest to prop the heels of both palms against her hips. "How can you just sit there so nonchalantly, Naraku?! Aren't you worried about Kagome? Didn't you see Sesshomaru's face after her announcement to the entire population that matters in this culture?"
The dark hanyou cracked both eyes open at the jolting movement of a dainty fist bunching the front of his haori. He briefly looked up into his beta's glowing orbs before carefully lowering his gaze and frowning. "What would Kagome-sama say about your behavior right now, slayer? Do not disgrace our alpha's name while we are in the epicenter of inu court."
The subtle growl that had started at the base of her throat was abruptly cut off at his words. Sango sighed and slowly released the familiar's clothing. Plopping down beside the half-demon she somehow found herself calling friend after several months of his constant presence, the taijiya reached up and massaged her temples, eyes tightly closed against what little light there was in the antechamber to the pack's series of rooms.
"You seem to have a misplaced sense of needing to do something to help our Kagome, but what you fail to realize here Sango is that we would only get in the way of the dealings between two Alpha superpowers." Naraku re-crossed his legs allowing his knee to bump hers, "While your worry is heartening and I have no doubt that Kagome-sama would find comfort that you are merely looking out for her wellbeing, mind my words when I declare that it is not strictly needed. Lord Sesshomaru is a demon of honor and I can glean from his aura that he would not dare to hurt his Amazon Champion, even if only for the sake of the remaining challengers that she must face."
The exterminator's features pinched, "So you're saying that he won't hurt her because he needs her at full strength and excellent health."
"Indeed. She is, after all, the only obstacle between heathens who would seek to take the Western Throne from him." A devilish grin split his face as he glanced at the female next to him. "Besides, I hardly believe Sesshomaru wants to have a serious fight against a mighty Amazon if the stories you have told me about her defense of Inuyasha against him were, in any way, true."
Sango chuckled and straightened her back against the hanyou, mahogany eyes lightened from amusement. "Oh they're true alright. I saw him limping for a week after that! I think that's when we all learned that Kagome can and will take down anything that threatens any one of us."
Naraku watched the beta settle comfortably by his side. They had formed a strong bond of friendship since their alpha ordered them to go hunting together so many moon cycles ago. They often talked of sciences and of the metaphysical, each learning from the other and made a great team together. While the familiar was male, he found it humbling that the dominate female took his advice to heart about certain matters and politics in the pack. 'And hopefully she'll take my counsel on yet another subject.' He sighed, "Slayer, I believe it is time we broach the worry of your mate."
"Houshi-sama?" She startled, "First of all, he isn't my mate, and second, why would we have to talk about him? He's with Ryoto-sama watching the rest of the pack in the markets."
"Sango." Naraku chided, with a brief cluck of his tongue. "You are probably just as blind as I remember Inuyasha being years ago about Kagome. How can you deny the monk as your mate when you have claimed him several times in front of many women who have sought to draw him away from your side? Whether you have made it official or not, in the demon world you have made him your intended, and as such he has responded in kind and has not revoked your claim. However, I fear that he may do so soon, as it would be within his right."
The blush that was staining her cheeks drained suddenly, and while her scent and face remained defiant, a spark of fear appeared in her eyes. "I realize that the normal order of demon culture is reversed in our pack because of Kagome being a female alpha, but why would Miroku-sama reject me as a mate? He was the one who started this relationship."
"Since our friendship has sprouted, have you not noticed how distant the monk has become?" The dark hanyou questioned. "I do not doubt that he believes your affections have been redirected."
Sango blinked at him for a moment before bursting out in laughter. While trying to control her humor, she wondered out loud if she had turned him into a hanyou pretzel one too many times during their skirmishes.
"I take insult to that." He sniffed haughtily, which caused her to nearly fall over in another fit of glee. "You sound like a dying cat with the winter cough, Slayer. I wasn't aware that high-pitched wails counted as laughing."
She sobered up and glared at the offending half-demon. "Excuse me. I'm sorry if my mirth damaged your sensitive ears, Naraku-san."
He huffed, and slanted an incredulous glance at her. "Lying is very unbecoming of you, Beta-sama." Naraku smirked at her quick comment of being caught red-handed before turning to face her better. "Still, the matter stands. It has come to my attention that the monk Miroku believes us to have come into…that sort of relationship. And while you are a very talented, powerful and overall wholesome choice of a mate that I would not deny if the opportunity presented itself, I also know that you have a deep affection for the monk. I would be accused of being a dastardly companion if I did not make you aware of the situation."
A nearly tense silence dropped over both parties after his words, and Naraku briefly wondered if his brutally honest demeanor had made the slayer uncomfortable with his presence. Dark, maniacal and scheming would be the word choice of his pack-mates' description of him even after all this time, but no one would deny that if asked directly, the hanyou would be unrepentantly honest even if his particular word choice further made what was being said vicious and yet poetic. Although, if there were anyone in the pack who truly understood, Naraku felt it would especially be this female and then his Alpha. It wasn't that he wished to cause his pack-mates emotional distress, but he knew that one of the truest forms of power was the application of words. A person's reaction was dependent almost entirely on how you said something, not the actual words themselves. 'Psychology as Kagome-sama has explained.'
Sango twisted in her seat to face the hanyou fully. Reaching forward, already used to being able to bodily force her chosen companion to her commands, she dragged the dark familiar into a nearly crushing hug. "I don't think you know how stupid and somehow smart you are at the same time, Naraku. Sometimes its nice to know that other people find me desirous, and I appreciate your honesty even though I know you don't love me. I mean, I know that for demons it isn't really about love, but for humans like me, it is. And…and…you're right, I do love Miroku, with all my heart. I don't know what I'd do if he rejected my claim."
His muffled accusation of her persuading him into a fight made her chuckle. "Probably. But…well, I never thought I'd say this…Naraku you are one of my closest friends. I've shared things with you that I haven't even told Kagome. And while that type of bond is close, nothing can compare to a mate. I don't want to lose Miroku. So how do I get him back?"
Hearing the utterance of needing to be let go so that he could breathe and give her the next step of instructions, Sango abruptly removed the hanyou's body arm's length away, eyes curious as the tint of blue left his face. She watched him draw in two deep breaths, his clothes wrinkled and askew from the strength of her embrace. "Now that I can continue to live, you're second directive, Slayer, is to turn around."
A dubious look etched itself into the lines of her face, "Why on Kami's green planet would I have to turn around?"
Exasperation rooted itself on the half-demon's pale face and wine colored eyes rolled, "By all the— just do what I say, Sango!" For the first time in their friendship, Naraku bodily forced the exterminator to do as he said. He stepped away from her as the brunette woman's eyes landed on the violet orbs of her intended, which were wide and quivering with emotion.
"Miroku…" She began, her voice soft before her eyes hardened in determination and she stepped forward, dismissing the rest of the pack that stood behind him, "Miroku-san, I realize that my actions in the past were probably not too clear, but I want to rectify that now. I don't have a gift for you as I should in the way of our Alpha's culture, and I don't have much to give you except my heart and my body for your comfort and future children, but I, Sango eldest of the Taijiya Clan and Beta of the Selva-cao Pack, ask for your consent, not as my husband, but to be my mate in the ways of the Inuyoukai."
A dainty darkly tanned hand held back the clothed arm of the houshi before he could step forward. "I hear a request has been asked of a member of my pack. You, Sango of the Taijiya Clan, wish to take my Houshi as your mate?"
The slayer did not falter despite the swell of power that came from around the male she was laying out her intentions to. Determined mahogany eyes clashed with eerie ice blue orbs. "Yes."
The demoness swathed in the colors of the Western Lands and the tickling fog of her darkness stared the brunette down, as if weighing her worth for the male. "And if I were to deny you your request?"
"I would fight you for him." Eyes lightened to honey, face darkening with animalistic determination as she stepped forward.
"To the death?" the demoness inquired, senses picking up the nervous tension of the dark hanyou behind the slayer, as if wanting to step up to show support for her claim once the woman nodded her agreement.
"Very well." Pale pink, scared lips quirked upwards with a smirk, and the level of her power slowly simmered down. She stepped to the side and released the sleeve of the Houshi's robes. "I, Kagome, Alpha of the Selva-cao pack, will give my blessings to this union if my monk consents to be your mate."
All eyes turned to the violet eyed male as surprise glinted and then faded from his orbs at the blessing of his alpha before an easy feeling of longing and relief filled them. He stepped forward, the rings of his staff clinking slightly as he shifted the weapon into the crook of his arm and neatly bowed to the brunette woman before him. "This Miroku, houshi of the Selva-cao pack, would be most honored to become the mate of the Eldest of the Taijiya Clan and Beta of the Selva-cao pack. However, I ask of only one thing, if I could Sango-sama?"
Mahogany eyes glittered with more emotion than her human heart could identify. "Name it, Miroku-sama."
"I request a kiss from my maiden to seal the arrangement."
A tender blush dusted the cheeks of the slayer, making her features turn more human once again before the sheer confidence of her youkai alpha steadied her body and allowed the fearless taijiya to reach forward and gently pull her intended's head to her own. As delicate as a butterfly's wings, lips whispered over lips before Sango threaded her fingers into his shoulder length hair and used gentle force to part his lips and take control of his mouth. Slowly, she pulled back, eyes hooded and focusing in on the glazed violet orbs of the monk, "You are mine, Miroku."
The crowd around them cheered.