Sesshomaru's yokai at least had given her the courtesy of her clothes.
But that didn't do much to abate her shock at waking up in the arms of a wolf. She stayed very still, her mind racing and her heard starting to pound.
How?
Her nose told her exactly what had transpired between them.
Sex, and quite a bit of it. Smelled like they'd both been here for a few days. She half-opened an eye, her gaze flicking over him. Assessing. Odd. She could see Daiyokai stripes on this wolf's cheeks.
She was not aware any of the wolf tribes had sired a Daiyokai. Perhaps they'd been keeping him secret? He smelled strong and healthy. Black hair. Deep caramel skin. And his arm was heavy and well-muscled, and warm on her shoulder. It was Koga- she recognized the smell. But… since when was he a …?
Perhaps to someone else, he would be considered handsome.
But all Sesshomaru felt was mounting panic and desperation.
Her damn yokai had a mated a wolf.
A filthy wolf!
Are you pleased, you lovesick bitch? Look at the trouble you've wrought.
Sesshomaru's yokai just gave a little content huff. She was always interfering. Well. This would be easy enough to correct.
Sesshomaru had not felt fear like this in a long time. She gently slipped herself out from under his arm, accidentally waking him in her haste. Koga rubbed an eye and removed his arm, not quite processing what was going on.
"Sesshomaru?" His voice was deeper than usual from sleep. And she ignored the strange rush of hormones it set off in her waist. Pausing and shivering before continuing to dress.
She finished dressing faster than he'd ever seen anyone dress; armor, shoulder cuff, swords, fancy obi, shoes. Slapped on in precise layers, and finished as she swept that heavy, huge tail up over her shoulder.
And suddenly, he remembered. You must stop her.
Shit!
He only just managed to get on his skirt, leg protectors and sword before she darted out of the cave, saying nothing and transforming into a ball of light.
"Damn it! Sesshomaru!"
He gave chase. It was a very cool morning- puffs of his breath could be seen in the air as he sprinted. Frost crunched underneath his feet and coated his legs in freezing, chunky dew.
She was certainly fast, faster than most of his kin. But he wouldn't let her get away.
Not this time.
Now Sesshomaru had experienced a lot of different methods of attack in his…her, lifetime.
What she did not expect from the damn wolf was for him to tackle her like a fucking linebacker and send them both spiraling into a nearby tree from her momentum. His back slamming into the bark, and several pieces falling off and littering the ground. Koga saw stars, and had to catch the wind that had been knocked out of him.
He was holding tightly to the little ball of white light struggling in his arms.
Sesshomaru burst forth in a flash of white light, snarling viciously. Before Koga could even really process what was happening, she'd looped that vicious acid whip twice around his neck and pinned him with her other arm high on the tree. His feet dangled.
And he could smell the awful smell of his own flesh burning. There was a loud hissing in his ears.
"You should have been grateful and ran- when you had the option." She hissed, pulling the rope brutally tighter, bit by bit cutting off his air.
"I have the marked one's right. You cannot kill me." He whispered, tilting his head back in agony and clenching his fists. Wanting to claw at the rope but knowing it'd bite through the flesh on his palms as venemously as the flesh on his neck.
He saw her eyes flick to the mark on his chest.
Her mark. A crescent blue moon.
"And you think I care if your tribe disintegrates? If your line ends because I take another?" She snarled. She was right up in his face now, and he could feel her warm breath and see the gleam of her very sharp teeth.
"You think- I wouldn't able to- snag a different mate-first?" Koga whispered, choking and coughing in between words, his legs scrambling for purchase on the smooth tree trunk. This seemed to give her a slight pause.
Wolves were irritatingly prolific. And Koga's pack was much closer. He could probably get laid quicker than she could, as much as she hated to admit it. And when he mated another yokai, her mark would blacken and fester. Slowly, painfully, killing her.
Consuming her for her mate's infidelity.
She slid him down about two feet and allowed him a quick breath of air.
"Maybe I should just kill you, then. If that is your intent." She whispered. Eyes like terrifying shattered yellow jewels.
Ah, shit.
Making me put all my cards on the table.
He thought and sighed before muttering, " I've got Sire's rights, Sesshomaru. You can't just run off." His blue eyes meeting her fetid gaze. Sire's rights weren't commonly used among yokai, but were often used among Daiyokai. It was a way to keep Daiyokai's from dying out(after they nearly had in Inu No Taisho's time).
Daiyokai were so rare and prized; every bit of them. Even pelts. They were ridiculously strong, hopelessly beautiful, and in constant danger of having their heads lobbed off.
For there was no greater honor than killing a Daiyokai in battle.
Her eyes widened in surprise, the rope around his neck snapping back into her hand.
Searching his face, checking for any sort of tick that would give him away.
A little alarmed that the wolf seemed to be telling the truth.
"Liar."
He held out a hand, palm- up. " Smell, then, if you don't believe me. You've got a good nose."
She grabbed his hand none too gently, drinking in the smell of his blood. Then smelling her own wrist, the tip of her tail flicking nervously.
It was there.
The tiniest taint of his blood in her. Underneath the stink of her own sweat and smells from the cave.
Something only the two of them had noses good enough for.
She looked as panicked as he felt- her eyes wider than he'd ever seen them and her body trembling slightly.
"Hey-" He went to set a hand on her shoulder, snapping his arm back just in time to avoid a nasty lash from her claws.
"Do not. Touch me." She snarled, still thinking.
"It's one month, Sesshomaru. It's not going to kill you. And if you're still unhappy at the end of the moon-cycle, I'll make the moon-tea for you myself." Koga said, quietly, though he very much did not want to.
He didn't want to make the tea that would destroy his pup.
But he did want Sesshomaru to stay with him. And had to offer her some sort of … comfort or consolation to the clearly panicking Foo-Dog.
"And then you can go back to the Palace, and pretend none of this ever happened. But I have a right to show I can be a proper mate to you; one Daiyokai to another. That's a law even you can't break."
She hissed at him like a wild animal and he blinked, sighing a bit and crossing his arms. "Yeah, yeah." Rubbing his neck and repressing a whimper. It hurt like hell! He'd have to make sure to put some salve on it later so it didn't get infected.
He was surprised when he saw her eyeing the wound. And could have sworn that just for a second, there was a faint tightening around her eyes as if she was… sorry.
He waited for some time before gently prodding, "So?" not wanting to drag her back against her will.
Saw her swallowing thickly and messed with the two swords at her hip, her tail curling all over itself in anxiety. "Just give me a moment to think."
Pausing when he stood there, tail flicking a bit back and forth.
"Alone." She added with some venom. Koga raised his hands, "All right. All right." Walking off about thirty feet or so. Not really trusting her to get out of his eyesight just yet.
Sesshomaru sat with her legs crossed, her chin resting on the back of her hand.
She could get away from him, if she wanted to. She knew that.
And yet…
Now that she was able to think more clearly, there was a strange hesitation she felt in going back to the Palace. Assuredly, her mother Inukimi would make her drink the potion. She would be rid of Koga and his vile offspring, and transform back into a man. And then continue his wanderings and…
And what?
Sesshomaru's path was muddled. She'd spent the last five years seeking out and destroying the most powerful yokai alive, save for the four Daiyokai rulers that held up their kingdoms. As much as Sesshomaru wanted to kill them, even she understood that mowing them down would only create more war and strife.
I seek only to battle the most powerful beings alive.
And she had. And now? She was one of the most powerful beings alive. Perhaps even the most powerful being alive. Yokai shuddered when they said her name. Birds took flight when she entered the vast forests of her territories. And for the first time in her long existence, she was doubting her resolve.
Rin was well taken care of.
And the last time he'd seen her had been… well, a bit awkward. She was fourteen now, and her interests were starting to turn in the direction of the other sex. She was… Well.
She was looking at him in the way that female yokai often looked at him. Seeking a mate. But he would not have her. And very gently, told her as much. He was her father. Her protector. That had been an awkward conversation.
But that was a place in her life he could not take. They died so quickly after all.
Sesshomaru's face showed some amusement. Well. That would have been a slightly worse situation. She could imagine her mother's reaction if she introduced a human as a mate.
Rin would be dead before teatime.
What am I really after?
Where am I going in this life? Surely there is some important task still left for me. She despaired at the thought that all that was left was for her to wait for Inukimi to waste away, then take over the throne.
No; she'd gone adrift many years ago to avoid being chained to the throne. She would take it when she had to, and not the moment before.
Never. That's what she had said. No bastards, no stupid pup.
And yet. Now that there was very likely one in her… She could feel a very slight hesitation in her resolve to get rid of it that irked her.
A hesitation in her body and mind.
Some… tiny scrap of weakness. Like a tiny bubble in ice; liable to burst open under too much pressure and cause the entire lake to shatter.
She didn't understand it. Why? It is the correct decision. If not now, then later, by Inukimi's claws.
What? You think you could be a mother?
The Daiyokai almost shuddered at the thought. No, no. Sesshomaru had barely 'taken care' of Rin, and it was in a very loose sense. Often, he let her forage on her own. Only learning to hunt for her, to fetch her blankets in winter, much later on.
In a lot of ways it had been Rin teaching Sesshomaru how to parent. How to… talk. Feel. Learn. Be someone again after the death of his father and the crushing pressure of Inukimi's demands.
Sesshomaru rubbed her temples, trying to get to the source of it. But her feelings were cloud and would not solidify.
It must just be hormones or my damn yokai.
She finally dismissed. All she had to do was put up with Koga's nonsense, sign some paperwork, and in a month everything would be back to the way it should be.
But she would not go quietly.
"I have my own proposition for you. I will go with you if you fight me for one turn, without losing. Meaning I did not find opportunity for a lethal blow at your neck, head, or chest. Swords only."
Koga looked slightly nervous. He'd only been practicing his swordwork for about two years. Sesshomaru had been doing that since… well, probably since he'd been inside Inukimi.
The Foo-Dog made an irritated sound, " I will even use Tokijin. But if the blade tip touches you, in any of those areas, you lose. And I take my leave of you. Do we have an agreement?"
The wolf took a deep breath, and nodded. Drawing his sword.
Ginka and Hakakku were out on patrol with three others when they paused.
"Hey. Isn't that Koga?"
They sniffed their air. " Uh huh. He's with someone, though. That's the same smell that was on his leg a few days ago." They looked at each other before nodding, taking off in the direction of the smell.
Skidding to a halt in the trees when they saw it and ducking into the underbrush.
Of course, Koga and Sesshomaru knew they were there- in fact, had smelled them well before they arrived.
But they weren't important right now. Koga, going toe to toe with Sesshomaru. Only… the Foo-Dog seemed different somehow. Smaller?
As their swords clashed and Koga darted around the clearing, the two wolves whispered to each other like kids in the back of a classroom.
"How come he's fighting with Sesshomaru? We've got no quarrels with the Foo-Dogs!"
Hakakku tilted his head, petting one of the wolf's heads close by and whispering, " I… I think that's why he's been gone so long. You know what I think? I think… they're courting each other. Remember how he said he was helping out a female in heat? What if…?" The wolf trailed off.
Ginka hissed, " Don't be insane. Sesshomaru's not female, idiot!" though, he trailed off a bit as he watched.
"Well, she certainly smells that way. And looks that way. I wonder what happened? Maybe she got cursed or something."
Koga winced ,leaning as far back as he could go. Sesshomaru's silver sword whizzing past in a woosh of cold air, slicing off a part of Koga's bangs. That had been close. Too close.
"They are distracting you, Koga." She murmured, coming down beside him and hitting him with the butt of her sword. He felt a crack of one of his ribs and jumped away.
"Do not focus on them. Focus on me. And yourself." She leapt for him again. He was fast though- and had decent cardio strength, and strength in his wrists.
He skidded off to the side, barely dodging her. He didn't have any time to think ! Any time to plan! All he could do was react and dodge with this damn Foo-Dog! Koga was already panting and coated in a light layer of sweat.
He crouched in front of her, snarling, his tail whipping back and forth.
He was going to win this.
He was going to win her, and he was going to win for the pup inside her.
All he had to do was not let that damn sword dig into any of those three places. Blood was pounding in his ears, now. Wasn't that stupid Daiyokai blood supposed to be helping him out?
What Koga didn't realize is that, it was. He was much faster than before.
Before, this match would have been over before it started.
Before, Sesshomaru's temper wouldn't be rising slightly in irritation at his swiftness. And he had good rhythm- or rather, lack of it. His movements were so unpredictable that Sesshomaru didn't know what Koga was doing until about two seconds before it happened.
It made him hard to hit.
An irritating trait.
Sesshomaru cranked up the barrage. It was all the wolf could do not to get struck- in fact, he was struck in many other areas. Legs, knees, ribs, stomach. Both arms.
But it seemed like when she did, he suddenly became more desperate as well. Landing three quick, shallow blows on her in the course of a few seconds, and then darting away again.
Hakakku and Ginta watched in silent amazement as Sesshomaru, suddenly, was forced to take a step back.
In a second, a blur of movement.
Koga's wrist and arm gave a violent 180 degree twist, his blade connected to Sesshomaru's. And just for an instant, Tessaiga was freed from Sesshomaru's hand.
She'd been disarmed of her weapon.
Sesshomaru grabbed it quickly enough on its way to the ground, so quick that Hakakku and Ginta probably hadn't seen what happened. But she did. And so did Koga.
He stood, nervous. Ears slightly pricked and the very tip of his tail giving a low, nervous wag. His breathing fast and light. The Foo-Dog glanced up at the sun.
It had been exactly a turn- one hour. And somehow, the stupid, disgusting wolf had managed to disarm her.
"One month. Then you must let me go."
Koga raised a hand to his temple, making little salute.
"Scout's honor."
Sesshomaru rubbed her wrist lightly and snarled, " Get dressed, for decency's sake. And tell your friends to stop gawking; its unbecoming of all canids." Her glare managing to reach the two wolves hiding in the bushes. She sheathed her sword with a low click. They jumped, running to Koga's side and keeping their distance from the very angry Foo-Dog.
"W-we weren't spying! We were just worried about Koga! He's never usually gone from the pack this long." Ginta explained and Sesshomaru looked at him evenly.
Snapping her teeth at him.
He jumped a good few feet in the air, and cowered behind Koga.
"Oh for God's sake." Koga rolled his eyes. Shoving them off when they started seeing the differences in him, as well,
"Woah, dude! Your cheeks…" and reaching out for his stripes. He waved them off. " Later, later. I'll explain everything later all right?"
Making a quick stop at the waterfall to grab the rest of his armor, his shoulder pads, his arm warmers, etc. before heading back to the pack's cave.
Carefully matching pace with Sesshomaru and letting the other two wolves engage in conversation as they made their way back. Ginta and Hakakku slowly drifting ahead while he and Sesshomaru stayed a few feet behind.
But she noted he didn't invade her space. A good three feet or so away from her. Unlike those other damn wolves.
Slowly, her shoulders started to fall from their high, tense position.
The sun was like a gentle, warm arm across her shoulders. It was actually not too bad of a day… one of those rare, summer-like spring days still clinging to the bite of winter.
Accidentally, their eyes met. His eyes were icy again, she remembered them being a different shade before.
During sex, she suddenly realized.
They were like… blue fire. Burning her from the inside out. Wolves naturally had a slightly warmer temperature than dogs; helped with the icy winters, and with disease.
A memory bubbled into her mind- his fangs in her neck, four hot points, his claws sliding up her back. Him so tight inside her she was a little worried she'd burst.
Her own claws in his hair, wrapped tight to his scalp. Biting back a scream until his fangs gently slid from her. Precious blue blood slipping down her neck in a warm trickle as he whispered against her skin;
Go on. Sing for me.
Before latching once more.
And she had. Oh, she'd howled for him until her throat was sore.
Sesshomaru's face went pink, pink to the tips of her ears.
Don't show me this !
Sesshomaru screeched at her yokai, but the beast was simply amused.
Her throat suddenly dry, the moisture seeming to relocate to a different and much more embarrassing area. Koga's head tilted a bit, and she could tell from the position of his tail he could smell it. But luckily, he said nothing, instead asking, " Have you eaten today? Would you like to come with some of my runners at dusk to go hunting?"
Sesshomaru gave him a wary glance, still processing the way her body reacted to him now with much discomfort. And, embarrassment. " Oh. I do not need to feed nearly as often as regular yokai. I think you'll find the same for your own appetite. And its doubtful I'll be much use to stealth-hunting in my yokai form."
Koga blinked, a little surprised. " You only hunt in your demon form? When's the last time you went hunting?"
Sesshomaru paused , counting on her fingers before finally admitting in a lower tone, " A while." And leaving it at that. Koga's expression changing to one of slight concern.
No wonder her yokai had made this transformation for her. Usually, wolves transformed back and forth every few days, weeks. It helped keep them in touch with their instincts, temper their urges to hunt, mate, kill.
Generally speaking, a wolf who did not transform was cause for concern. It meant that wolf was not in tune with their inner needs at all; was actively suppressing them.
Wolves like that were the most dangerous. Instinct built until it was at explosive levels. They were liable to lash out explosively and unpredictably. Even at those they loved.
Koga didn't know how it was with Foo-Dogs, but he assumed it was at least close.
Something had happened to Sesshomaru. Something terrible.
When they arrived, most of the pack came out as usual to greet them. Chatting, talking. Eager to see Koga and – what was this? A Daiyokai? The more came out, the more uncomfortable Sesshomaru became; he could see it in the way her shoulders rose and her tail began to bristle.
Before she had a chance to draw her weapon Koga stomped the ground with his left foot and let out a low, deep growl.
It's vibrations rippling through the crowd and skittering pebbles. Staying close to her and leaning out into the crowd, forcing the wolves too close away from her. His nose wrinkled in anger and the whites of his eyes occasionally staining with a deep blue as his demon writhed.
The three closest scrambled back in embarrassment, whimpering lowly.
Stay away. The snarl said as it continued. A line of drool working its way down Koga's chin. The intensity softening when the crowd's noise got lower and lower.
The crowd was now absolutely quiet. All eyes on Koga. Waiting expectantly.
Sesshomaru was quietly, surprised.
Koga swallowed extra spit and murmured, "Stop. I will be out in about fifteen minutes to explain everything but- damn. Be respectful, and give her space!" His last sentence was most definitely a command- very low in his throat, practically in his belly.
Another male tried to sneak closer, entranced by the Foo-Dogs soft silvery beauty. Sesshomaru started to react, but a rush of wind stopped her claws.
Koga pinned the grey wolf to the ground, his foot in the center of the wolf's chest.
"I think that's close enough, Shen." Koga let his eyes go blue, the irises a deep, alarming red as he licked his teeth. All the time, that growl leaking from his frame. The wolf cowered, tail tucked. "S-Sorry Koga."
His canine fangs that were much larger now- overlapping his bottom gums when his mouth closed. Each tooth in his mouth was as sharp and thick as a shark's tooth, and Koga's gums were black.
Black like a wolf's lips.
She hadn't noticed that before.
Then again, she hadn't been able to count every tooth in his head before. She could now.
Koga waited, his eyes flicking back to their blue-and-white. The wolf named Shen looked up at him, and after a moment, Koga leaned down, offering him a hand up. Which he took gratefully. Embarrassed.
"M'Sorry." He muttered again, and Koga patted his shoulder, " No big deal." Sending him back off into the crowd.
The crowd parted for them both, all curious stares and occasional, apologetic tail-wags. Koga made sure to gently touch a few of them in reassurance- a pat on the shoulder, a pet on the tail.
They'd greeted her as a wolf would, but that was dangerous with Sesshomaru.
He didn't want any of his pack hurt by trying to approach her. And he didn't want Sesshomaru feeling overwhelmed and uncomfortable here as everyone, in an attempt to be welcoming, invaded her space.
Sesshomaru breathed a sigh of relief. Well. At least they listened to him. He changed on a dime as they walked- his eyes back to their normal whites, his teeth smaller as he chatted, " Eheh, sorry about that. They've kinda got their nose in everyone's business all the time. But once they get used to your smell, they'll leave ya alone. It just takes a little while."
His tail giving low content wags and his arms crossed comfortably behind his head. Koga could go from competent, frightening leader of the wolf tribe to dumb frat boy at the turn of a dime.
But then again, Sesshomaru thought. So can I.
"Also, please don't go wandering around the caves without me or one of the other wolves to guide you We made them really hard to navigate so that when we get attacked, intruders get lost. Even with my sense of smell I've gotten lost plenty of times." He murmured, checking the lamps as they passed to make sure they had enough oil.
"Noted." She said softly, looking at the lamps with some interest. She'd assumed that the wolf tribe just slept in one, big, primitive cave.
She didn't know they had things like lamps down here. And all these forking tunnels. It was kind of fascinating.
There was the smell of so many wolves. It was making Sesshomaru's head spin. "Its so… dense. How can you stand so many different smells on you?" Sesshomaru muttered, yellow eyes glassy.
Koga blinked in surprise. " Well. It's… comforting to us. To smell like your brothers and sisters. As they say- lone wolves die, but a pack survives."
They made their way to a door on the lefthand side of the tunnel. It looked like simple pine or cedar; and there was a faint smell of fresh oils. It smelled nice.
Koga opened the door and lit the lamp, and Sesshomaru peered inside. Surprised to find that it was similar in a lot of ways to her rooms in the Foo-Dog Palace.
Sesshomaru had moved from the horrendously extravagant rooms his mother had given him to a much simpler building, far away from the main Palace. And its rooms were like this – bed, desk, chairs and a table. Shelving. A stone hearth for a fire. Some comfortable, thick rugs that felt like the grass outside.
Simple.
It smelled very strongly of him, though. And she bit back a comment about wolf-stink. At least Koga seemed to take a bath every once in a while- she wasn't sure the same could be said for some of the other wolves.
" You can choose whatever bed you prefer. Ayame was pretty big into books, so those should keep you busy if you don't end up wanting to go on hunts or border patrols with us." He said quietly.
She's probably used to such finery.
I wonder if she's sneering down her nose at me right now.
He thought, and it was a little disheartening. He wanted her to be… comfortable while she was here. And his room was actually one of the better ones.
Many were nothing more than simple nests.
That would have been… a bit uncomfortable.
"How is the wound." Sesshomaru said without looking at him. Wandering into the room, comparing the beds. She liked the big one, but the smaller one seemed more plush, and also didn't smell so strongly of Koga which was nice.
The wolf's tail flicked as he pulled aside the curtain to the other room. Pulling out drawers that held all of his medicines and herbs before smearing one of them all the way around his neck.
"Fine. Like you said, Daiyokai heal pretty fast. With this, hopefully it won't scar. Though…. Guess it'd be a good memory in time." He joked, looking her over. She was sitting in one of the chairs, and had a few cuts from him as well.
Raising her brow slightly, " You place that in the category of a good memory? You almost died."
He chuckled, " All good stories are like that." Setting the little container in her palm. Tilting his head a bit when he felt her jump as their fingers brushed.
She was very… jumpy. He found it odd.
"You can use this, if you want. I have to go talk to the pack. They're probably all wound up. Will you be all right in here for a bit?" She sniffed the container. It didn't smell like any medicine she was familiar with… but, it certainly was pungent.
"Oh no. I , Sesshomaru, am going to be left alone in a room for a few minutes. How will I survive." Sesshomaru said dryly as she unscrewed the little wooden box. Koga perking up a little when he realized, There is someone in there. I knew it.
She's joking around with me.
He couldn't help but laugh, leaning into the door frame as she did so.
"Yeah, guess I needed a little perspective on that huh? Miss lone wolf." She looked over incredulously, her tail floofing a bit. What? She wasn't a – oh. She colored slightly.
"Sorry, Sorry. It's just an expression. I uh. I'll be back in a bit." He said, closing the door gently and heading down the hallways, occasionally having to pause to have a chuckle.
When he arrived back at the entrance, he was met with full-on hugs. From Hakakku and Ginka obviously, but also from the other members who had been equally worried.
"Koga!"
"We missed you!"
"We're so glad you're okay!" He was laughing softly, ruffling their hair and blushing a little when his tail was lifted and inspected by the pack. He felt gentle touches on his cheeks, tracing the stripes.
"You're a Daiyokai! You'll have to tell us everything!"
"All right all right! Yeesh! Get offa me!" He huffed, crawling up to one of their ledges and getting comfortable before tapping his chest with his fingers.
"All right. Questions. Shoot em at me."
His pack gathered round the ledge. Ginka and Hakakku crawling up to sit wit him while the other ones gathered, barking questions up at him.
"How did you become a Daiyokai?"
Koga pulled part of his armor down a bit, showing the crescent moon mark on his chest.
"Sesshomaru gave me her mark. When she did, all this just…. Appeared. She said I always had the potential in my blood, even though I wasn't born a Daiyokai. Next question."
"Why is Sesshomaru here?"
Koga sighed a little. " She's here, with me, for some paperwork and other-issues that need resolving. She'll be here for a moon cycle. But I dunno if she's gonna stay. What happens next after that is her decision."
"Is she gonna be your mate, Koga?"
His cheeks reddened up a bit, " It's… complicated. We'll have to see." And he crossed his arms, hoping they would stop asking about Sesshomaru. But of course, they didn't. He was more than grateful when he finally had to stop answering questions for the dusk patrols.
"Sorry you guys! I'll be back for breakfast tomorrow, and you can drill me again then. Ginka, Hakakku, wait for me here. I wanna see if Sesshomaru wants to come."
They tried not to do border checks at the same time every day, and they'd caught enough game this morning so they wouldn't have to hunt at dusk, which was nice. Just an easy border run.
Killing demons. Easy, and fun. He was pretty sure even Sesshomaru would enjoy it.
And maybe one more around midnight. The feral yokai of the forests could still smell Sesshomaru and Koga, and were wandering into his territory more often.
Two Daiyokai in the same area meant the possibility of yokai pups, kits. And there was no other flesh they wanted more in the entire world. Eating a Daiyokai pup gave you a power boost similar to the Shikon Jewel shards, but without the drawbacks of its taint and Naraku's influence.
Of course, you had to be okay with murdering and devouring a child; and, most likely, killing a breeding pair of Daiyokai. But the demons of the forests of this world were one hundred percent okay with that.
Koga knocked before entering, his tail giving little low lags. Been a while since he'd had to worry about knocking. He remembered fondly Ayame screeching at him one time when he'd accidentally walked in on her dressing.
It had been worth it, though.
"Hey. You wanna go for a border run with us? Kill some demons?"
Sesshomaru perked up a little. She was good at that. " Mm. Yes." Running off some pent-up emotions was exactly what she needed right now. The simplicity of the hunt and kill.
To stop thinking about the fact that she was here. With him. For a month.
To stop thinking about … her arm went over her abdomen for a half second as she stood, joining him and closing the door behind her. They walked through the tunnels, Sesshomaru asking occasional questions about their construction and support systems.
Once they were outside, Ginka and Hakakku joined them as well as two other wolves. One with black hair like Koga, and one with soft brown fur and eyes.
"Let's go." Koga smirked, and the wolves , and one dog, disappeared in a shimmer of energy.
It was the fastest run they'd ever done.
Sesshomaru was excellent with her whip. And, she was also surprisingly good at working around the bodies of the other wolves. More than once, he'd felt that green whip crackling right by him, so close he could feel the bristling heat and occasional, acid droplet.
As the wolves tackled yokai, her whip went around them. Finishing off any yokai that they hadn't noticed. Once, she'd grabbed Ginka with her tail and flung him out of harms way as a giant set of razor sharp teeth closed in the space the wolf had been seconds before.
Though her expression was calm, Koga was beginning to be able to read her.
And he could tell by the faint glitter in her eyes, that gleam of concentration, that she was enjoying herself.
The group walked back, panting, coated in blood of varying colors. Talking, chatting. Satisfied. Joking around. One wolf even went in to pat Sesshomaru's shoulder, but paused when she lifted a lip, showing fang.
"I wouldn't." Koga said gently, ruffling the wolf's hair when he looked confused by her reaction. When they returned, of course Hakakku brought out some sake. Each of the wolves partaking in a shot before bed while the dog politely declined.
"Hey, Koga, Sesshomaru. You wanna stay out here with us?" Hakakku offered, sitting down on one of the lower ledges. " It's such a nice night, we figured we'd stay up and tell stories for a while."
Koga looked up. It was nice; beautiful. The night was cloudless, and the milky way was gleaming in the sky. A rippling ribbon of terrible greatness. The stars so bright that there was no need for the moon's light.
He glanced over at Sesshomaru, tilting his head a bit. It was clear from the look in her eyes that she wanted to go back to bed. He smiled, " I'm good tonight, you guys. I'll see ya in the morning. Try not to drink too much."
As they walked, Koga glanced almost thoughtfully down at his blood-smeared arms and legs. "Think maybe I should take a bath?" He turned to Sesshomaru.
The Foo-Dog answered automatically, "Yes. Absolutely." without turning to look at him, and his tail puffed.
"Hey! Rude."
She glanced down at herself. Actually, she wouldn't mind a bath either.
She still smelled strongly of Koga, and sweat. Maybe smelling like herself would make her feel better.
She turned to him, " Are they separate baths?"
And he blinked in surprise. "Well, yeah. We aren't total savages, ya know." And it was her turn to drop their gazes in mild embarrassment.
That is… what she'd thought of the wolf tribe. Made an assumption about all of them without thinking. But this place was so much different than she imagined it would be.
"I'll accompany you. I would like to wash off the blood." She murmured, and he nodded. Leading her down a tunnel that was much more sloped. The soft earth changing into smooth stone the farther they went down.
"How long did it take you to build all of this?"
Koga looked around thoughtfully. "Well. About half of it was done when I was a pup so… probably two generations? Since then we've been having to make more nests since the pack seems to keep growing. We perfected fortifying the tunnels by trial and error. And believe me, being buried in here is no fun."
Sesshomaru's eyes widened a bit. " You were buried?"
"Oh yeah. Almost died from lack of air too. That's why we've got all these little air holes laced throughout the tunnels." Koga pointed to a small hole in the tunnel's ceiling with a pointed claw. "And those are fun because ya gotta put em at an angle and drain em properly. If you don't, your tunnels get flooded in the winter. Pain in my ass, but… at least they're finally finished. For now."
Sesshomaru was quiet for a moment, her tail twitching a bit. She had no idea all of this was under here. In some ways, it was kind of like an underground town.
The Foo-Dog felt the steam just before they turned into another corner, and Koga pulled aside the curtain for her. There were two enormous bath spaces; separated by a wall of rock. The water looked steamy and was a deep, milky blue. Smelling faintly of salt and iron and other minerals.
"Should be clean towels stacked, soap and all that stuff. I'll meet you out here whenever you're done." He said casually, forking off to the men's side of the bath's. She almost made the mistake of following him before catching herself and growling lowly.
Still not used to being in this weak form.
Sesshomaru glanced around. By happy coincidence, there were no female wolves bathing in the springs at the current moment.
She gathered up what she needed, made a neat pile of her clothes and slipped into the water. Her tail floating on the surface of the water before finally sinking underneath. She soon found the perfect spot and sank down, the water lapping just underneath her nose as she curled up her body.
It felt so nice. The heat melting away the dirt and filth and the smell of wolf.
It was almost peaceful… well. It would have been anyway, if Koga and his other male wolves weren't busy trying to drown each other on the other side of the wall.
"Koga! Lemme see your tail!"
"Ow! I already told you its sensitive! Back off, slut!"
Splash. Sploosh.
"Get him! Get him while he's down!"
"Dogpile!"
SPLOOSH
She sat up a bit at the long silence that followed, somewhat nervous. Settling back down and grumbling to herself when she heard the lot of them break the surface once more, laughing and swearing.
They're like hyperactive pups.
She thought with an annoyed look, grabbing the soap and starting to scrub herself down. Not satisfied until she smelled nothing but herself and the scent of the soap bar's strange, lavender mix on her skin. She then streaked it through her hair, dipping her head under a few times to wash it out.
Startling a bit when, as she was drying herself, she was forced to look down at that female body again.
Her other form had been all angles. But this one was all gentle curves. The curve outward from knee to hip. The tiny other curve inward from hip to ribcage. The strange flatness of the stomach and the wideness of the hips. She traced the maroon stripe on her hip absent mindedly.
These hands are so weak and useless. No wonder Koga was able to disarm me so easily.
Sesshomaru thought with no small measure of irritation.
I feel so… small.
The world felt… different when she was like this. Males felt different. Other females felt different.
Her own body felt so foreign under her claws.
Gathering the towel under her chin for a moment and taking a long, shaking breath. Ignoring the hateful way it clung to her chest and sat so nicely against her stomach and that wretched, neat sex between her legs.
Her tail snaking around her legs and ankles in an attempt at a self-hug.
I hate this.
Only for a month, she reminded herself. Just a month. Then everything would go back to normal. What? The great lord Sesshomaru, scared? No such thing. She didn't feel that anymore, no sir.
Sesshomaru didn't feel anything. That was the way it was supposed to be. Because when you can't feel you can't hurt. She dried herself as quickly as she could and dressed. Frowning when she still felt heavy water stuck in her tail.
She looked around. No one there.
Besides, they were all wolves, they would understand. She crouched down on all fours, shaking herself out like a dog. Satisfied when she felt water spraying everywhere and out of her fur.
Standing back up when she was finished and startling a bit when she nearly bumped into Koga at the entrance.
"Oh! Hey." He looked much better off, and she was surprised to see him with his hair down. It was thick and soft and came down in gentle waves that curled slightly at the bottom. Somehow, it made him look… less severe. "Feeling better?"
He trailed off a bit at her expression. She looked kinda pale and shaken, even paler than usual. Something was distressing her. He searched her eyes for a moment before saying lowly, " Not too happy about being female, huh. Guess I don't blame ya."
He lifted a hand without thinking, jumping a bit when she hissed. " Woah! Look. It's empty. I'm not gonna hurt you, okay?"
Jeez, she's jumpy. Like she things I'm gonna-
He paused, finishing the thought. Like I'm gonna strike her.
He reached out again, so slowly. Stopping when her snarls reached their peak and starting again when they lessoned. Eventually managing to get a hand on her cheek. His thumb claw underneath one yellow eye and the other four, tucked away near her temple.
She was actually shaking.
You couldn't see it, but Koga could certainly feel it.
What happened to you.
What happened. He thought in quiet despair. No wonder you're always striking first.
" I'm not gonna hurt you with these claws. Ever." He said again. Looking deep into those yellow eyes and drowning in their golden depths. She was trying not to show it, but he could smell it, and feel it's taint in the air.
What is happening to me? She thought. Her instincts screaming at her to curl up in his chest and whimper like a whipped dog.
She softened, just for a moment. He felt her pressing her cheek into the warmth of his caramel hand. Letting her skin get tainted by his smell once more.
Sesshomaru seemed to realize it the same time Koga did. And jerked back, slashing at him.
He was able to get most of his hand away, but she still managed to nick his pinky and ring finger with her claws. Blue blood blossoming out and dripping out onto the ground.
"Ouch." He said with mild surprise, sucking the slashes to get them to stop bleeding. Looking at her, but she was pointedly avoiding his gaze.
"Guess you can't say the same thing though, huh." He murmured, thoughtfully. His tail giving low slow movements that were as thoughtful as his gaze. "Sorry. I shouldnt've pushed ya. You ready to head out?"
She nodded silently, her head still spinning.
I let him touch me. Why did I do that? I never let anyone touch me except for Rin.
They went back to their room. Koga asked if she preferred him to be outside for a bit, but Sesshomaru declined. She wanted to pretend that it hadn't effected her that much. He just shrugged and blew out the lamp curling up in bed after making sure Sesshomaru was settled with a few, warm pelts for the night.
"Hey. Where's that little girl pup you kept with ya, anyway?"
"Rin?" Sesshomaru paused in the darkness. " She is in one of the ningen villages." She played with strands of her damp hair, curling it over a few of her claws.
"How come she's not with you?"
Another small pause. "She needed to learn to live among her own kind. I thought perhaps she'd like to come with me after some time, but she is ah." Sesshomaru thought of the right wording for it. But no matter what way it was said, it was going to be awkward.
"She is interested in me as a mate. So, it is best we have some separation for now. Until she finds another human."
"Oh damn. Were you interested in her, too?" Koga said, always up for gossip.
Sesshomaru scoffed, "Of course not. But I care for her well-being. And she will be safer there than with me."
The Foo-Dog paused and added, "Weren't you after Inuyasha's mate for some time?" and the wolf laughed softly, " Oh, yeah. She was quite the looker. Still is actually but… he won her fair and square. Besides, the more I thought about it, the more I realized it'd be one of those tragic things. I don't wanna mate someone and then have to bury them a coupl'a years later."
Koga paused, then. Remembering Ayame and giving a sigh. Maybe Sesshomaru should know about all of that. But… it wasn't something he wanted to talk about right now.
"Mm. Well, at least you have more sense than my wretched half-brother." Sesshomaru murmured, pulling the pelt over her shoulder and curling up. Wiping some of Koga's smell off her cheek and onto her fingers.
His smell.
It was kinda like cinnamon, and leather, and campfire smoke. She wanted to hate it, with every fiber of her being. And if he asked that's certainly what she would tell him.
She curled up her hands under her chin and pulled her legs up, transforming herself into a little ball.
"Yeah. Well, g'night. You want me to wake you up for the dawn hunt?"
The Foo Dog considered this, eyes moving under their lids. " I am not certain… just, ask me tomorrow morning."
"All right."
It was quiet, in Koga's room. Quiet and dark and faintly cool, just the way she liked to sleep. She fell asleep with his scent faintly in her nose. And strangely, slept long and deeply, which was unusual for Sesshomaru.
Ignoring the way her abdomen felt slightly warmer than the rest of her body.
Warm like him.
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SammyJams- Haha! Well, you know how it is. I'm always worried I'm gonna get banned on here. Glad you like it though! And I'll try to include more of that later.
Miss Critique- Hey, thanks! Glad you liked it, and I hope you like this chapter, too.