A MOMENT OF PEACE AND A FLUFFY PUPPY.
Sesshomaru awoke feeling like he just had the best sleep in years, something that had been a constant occurrence the past five mornings. Pure and complete bliss.
After spending that night with his mate and making up for lost time, things had settled back into place between them so smoothly he was almost waiting for something to go wrong. And yet despite the terrible things that had happened, Akane didn't hate nor fear him in the least.
They had taken the afternoon after his late night arrival and talked everything over until both of them had been fully convinced that the other held no lingering negative thoughts or emotions.
Convincing Akane that he didn't blame her for the incident between her and the spider had proven to be more difficult then expected, but only because she herself held blame so strongly.
Thankfully though, once he explained that the spider himself took full responsibility, and had offered himself up willingly for punishment, that eased her remaining guilt from it.
They had spent that following evening and night in her house, talking of everything that had happened while they had been apart, eating a meal he gladly cooked while listening to her tell of how his future self made an appearance to reassure her things would be fine.
It still felt strange knowing that there was another version of himself in this time, and it always brought up so many questions whenever she mentioned it, like whether or not Akane eventually was to leave him in the past, or if she decides to stay with him there. Clearly if a future version of himself lived here it meant he would not be coming to the modern world with her, which was something he had been putting off thinking about.
But at least Sesshomaru knew that his future self was keeping an eye on Akane, most likely had been all her life without her knowing. It was somewhat reassuring to know she was protected when he could not join her in this modern world.
Once Akane's tale was done it had been his turn to inform her of the insane scheme the spider had created to trick both Ikari Shitto and himself into believing he was dead. Sesshomaru succeeded in making her laugh as he told the details of Naraku's very convincing impersonation of her and all that had transpired before the spider revealed himself.
When Sesshomaru, with much reluctance, told her of not just the first kiss but also the second when the two men had parted, Akane had fallen off the couch in laughter.
She had no idea how hard it had been to actually admit to that. Just a few months ago he would never have breathed a word of something as humiliating as that kiss out loud, but now he trusted that she wouldn't use it against him somehow.
And hearing the heartfelt sound of his mate's laughter was well worth a moment of embarrassment, and of course he had her make up for the nearly hysterical way she laughed at him, by having her help bathe him in that miraculous shower of hers. Gods how he enjoyed that...
It had been a wonderful evening, and his need for her presence had been well sated.
The next morning they had set out for the enchanted well, and began the long journey to the human village they both had come to consider home.
Flying cut the time in half, but it was still a few days before they reached the place, giving them plenty more time to talk about what happened and what was to be done from this point forward.
Sesshomaru wasn't all that surprised when his mate asked if he was willing to help take down the Hakudoshi boy, now that it was made clear it had been him behind everything in an attempt to kill off the spider and take the Shikon Jewel.
In all honesty he had wanted to protest, to say this problem was for both Naraku and Inuyasha.
After all Naraku had been foolish enough to create the boy, and Sesshomaru had no interest in the jewel shards like his half brother who was collecting them. But he knew that Akane would never agree to just leave her friends in danger, and despite his own selfishness, a tiny part of him did feel the strange need to assist them as well.
Sesshomaru had told himself it was because he wanted revenge on this Hakudoshi boy for using him in his little game with Naraku, but, in all honesty... maybe he simply did wish to help.
And so last night when Akane had asked him to forgive Naraku and help kill Hakudoshi, to team up with his half brother so they could all work together, he agreed without protest.
Something he could tell by her wide eyed expression had not been the expected response, she knew him well enough to have been prepared to argue about it and convince him, which just a few months ago would have been the case.
But the pleased and almost proud look in her sapphire blue eyes at his sudden willingness was enough reward for him, and the rain of kisses that followed. He had felt himself change over the past few months, and seemed the changes were not yet done, however they were not exactly a bad thing.
So here he was, five days after reuniting with his mate, laying in the late autumn grass under his fur and her blanket and feeling like all was right with the world once more despite all the recent chaos of possessions and faked spider deaths.
Akane was snuggled tight to his chest with his arm protectively around her, and he could tell she was waking by the way her breathing altered. In moments she was stretching out like a coiled dragon and tilting her head to see if he was awake, blue eyes still half asleep.
"Morning sunshine, how long have you been awake?" She said between yawning and covering her lips, slowly rolling off him to curl herself around his body from the side.
Sesshomaru smiled and pulled her closer, his claws now in her hair as he watched her trace circles on his chest with her fingers.
"Long enough to watch the sun rise. Did you sleep well enough? Last night was rather cold."
Akane laughed at this and sat up, grinning down at him so that he could see those tiny fangs his blood had given her not too long ago.
"I slept perfectly fine thanks. After all, a certain someone had me all nice and hot by the time we passed out to sleep." She teased, wiggling her eyebrows and causing him to laugh.
"Yes... Last night was very... hot." He mused while stretching his arm above his head, beyond happy to lay in the grass and enjoy the view of his mates naked body.
"Mmmhm... Hot and steamy!" Akane blew him a kiss as she stood, instantly shivering in the morning cold and nearly diving at her piled clothes. Watching her hop around and complain of freezing only made him laugh again, which caused her to growl and toss his own clothes at him.
"Thank you, now I don't have to leave the warm blanket to dress." He couldn't help but tease, eyes still locked on her as she quickly tugged on her pants.
"Oh shush you. Lazy ass." Akane stuck her tongue out with a huff while fiddling with her bra.
But again, he found himself grinning at her, having missed this interaction more then he thought.
He had missed everything about her. And now that he was with her again he couldn't believe how easily he had fallen for Naraku's act. There was an obvious difference between them.
Now Akane was standing in front and staring down at him with a smug look, hand on her hip as the other reached down to pick up his forgotten robes.
"Earth to Sesshy, do you need help getting dressed now that you've gotten to oogle me?" She asked while waving his robes in front of his eyes, making him blink back into focus.
"I am perfectly capable of dressing, I was merely lost in thought a moment. And this Sesshomaru does not... what do you call it?" He asked while taking his clothes from her, pausing at the strange wording she often used.
"Oogle." Akane repeated with a tiny smile.
"Ah yes, that. I do not do THAT to anyone, I was simply looking." He stated with a mild huff while starting the process of dressing with his one arm.
"I hate to break it to you Sesshy, but if someone is looking someone else up and down while drooling it's called oogling. And you were totally oogling."
"I was NOT drooling-" He started, but was cut off when all of a sudden she kissed him, making all thoughts fade to nothing. Akane continued to kiss him while her hands began to help put his robes on, as if he wouldn't notice, but he chose to just enjoy the moment.
Normaly he would be offended by someone assisting him in dressing, but she did it in such a sweet and sneaky way he decided to ignore his pride this time. Her taste was worth it.
By the time Akane pulled away all he had left to put on were his boots, and neither of them were cold anymore. Without another word he finished and stood, taking the swords she held out to him with a nod of thanks and brief lick to her cheek.
"So we should be at the village by this afternoon right?" Akane asked slowly as he placed the swords at his hip, making him look at her curiously.
"Indeed. We could get there sooner actually. The blood you let me take last night renewed my energy completely, so I can fly faster today... Why so worried?"
She blinked in surprise at him catching her tone of voice, but they both had become much more in tune since the mating. Being apart so long had almost made them forget that little side effect.
"Oh, well... I mean, Naraku is meeting us there right?" Her tone still worried, causing him to frown a bit as he moved closer to her, studying her face.
"He was told to bring Rin to the village and wait. It's the safest place for her, and for some reason I trusted him enough to do that simple task... should I not have?"
"What? NO! I mean, yes, yes of course Rin is safe with him. That's not the issue." Akane's eyes were wide as she reassured that he had made the correct choice, but this only increased his confusion.
Sesshomaru sighed in frustration and placed his hand on her face to make her look at him.
"Then is it simply the thought of seeing the spider again that has you worried? Are you not ready to face him yet after what happened or..." He paused a moment, eyes widening, suddenly thinking he knew the problem and why she was reluctant to say.
"Or is it that you are worried how I'll react to him? How we will react to one another now that everything is out in the open? You should know that even before the whole issue with the dragon nest and getting possessed that I already had suspicions he liked you, that came as little surprise. And it was the possession that made me act so violently in the first place about it. I've known for some time now that you wanted to save him and be his friend."
His words caused her to stare, unblinking, he could sense she was waiting for him to show some sign of anger or jealousy. But there truly was none, his hand still cupping her face as he gently ran his thumb across her lips to try and ease her worry.
"You chose me, Akane. You waited for me to come find you, and even hired and wanted to help the spider save me from the possession. While he clearly means something to you it is I whom you give affection and romantic love. I understand this. If anything, the ordeal with Ikari Shitto helped to prove all this to me. I hold no hate for your friend, and certainly none towards you. I thought we made this clear already when I came to get you."
"W-well yes," She said with a tiny breath of relief as she leaned into his touch, gently placing her hand over his own in a loving hold. "Yes I know you aren't angry at me for what happened, and that you understand more now then before... But I'm still a bit curious about how you and Naru will get along if around one another. You say you don't hate him now but what if-"
A well placed claw to her lips stoped her words, and he leaned down to rest his forehead against hers for a moment to try and calm her nerves a little.
"No sense worrying about maybe's and what if's, my mate. I swear to do my best to behave and handle your strange and somewhat infuriating friend. After all he kept you safe and saved your life twice now, as well as... saved me. That alone earns some forgiveness." He did his best to convince her to calm down and it seemed to work as she nuzzled against him, licking his moon as she pulled back with a smile lighting up her face.
"Your right, no point in worrying until something actually happens. And I'm MORE worried he'll say something stupid. But I'm sure you can handle him." She said with a wink.
"He'll say something stupid, that goes without saying. If he didn't I would think something wrong with him. However I will thankfully have you to keep him somewhat in line." Sesshomaru chuckled at the very thought of the spider acting any other way.
Akane beamed up at him, sharing in his amusement and looking glad that he really didn't seem to hold anything against Naraku anymore.
"Now then my Akane, if your nerves have been settled shall we pack up and take flight?" He said while taking a step back and offering out his hand to her.
His mate took the hand and kissed his knuckles before they both turned around to pack up what little they had out. Akane folded the blanket for her backpack and he watched in amazement as she somehow managed to put it inside something that looked far too small for it.
Once the task was done Akane came up to him as he placed back on his white fur boa, with a look he had a hard time figuring out since it was an expression she rarely used. She wanted to ask something, something she assumed he might say no to or find odd. It had been a long while since she asked an odd question of him.
"Hn?" Sesshomaru tilted his head to the side, making her smile for some reason before coming out and asking what was on her mind in a cute and shy way, toying with her hair.
"I was wondering something... Since it's just the two of us right now, and you say that your energy had returned, well I've always wanted to... Can we use your dog form to fly to the village?"
Now THAT was most unexpected, completely taking him by surprise.
"What?" He blinked at her, not getting why she seemed so eager to do so.
"Well it's just that you've only ever showed me that side of you twice, the time you tried to use it to scare me away, and then at the Dragon nest. And I've wanted to ask why you never use that form to fly since one would think it to be faster..." Now she was the one to stare curiously, and he knew he couldn't get away without an honest answer.
He frowned a moment, and her stare only seemed to get more intense. The old him would just walk away without bothering to answer the complicated question, but now he supposed there was no harm in telling her the reason.
"I do not like to rely on that part of myself very often, even in battle, because I have very little self control while in that form. My beast is the one at the front, as I described when telling you of my battle with the spider. Even then it took everything I had not to just transform considering what little control I had at the time. So no, even if that would be a slightly faster way to travel, I rather not."
The blast of sudden disappointment came off his mate like a cloud, and he swore the skies began to match that very mood as the sun was suddenly covered above them, making him glance up and back down to the pouting woman in mild surprise.
"Oh, I see. That does make sense, I can understand considering you like to be poised and in control of your emotions and behavior." Akane said, although she could not keep the pouty tone out of her voice despite her words of agreement, and he found his lips twitching in amusement.
With a small sigh of defeat, ever unable to resist her when she acted this way, Sesshomaru ran his hand over his face before agreeing to do something he never thought would happen.
"Since you are so set on this idea, I suppose... At least this one time, there isn't any harm in granting your request for a ride." The very moment the words left his lips the skies began to clear of those sudden clouds, and he wondered if she even realized she was doing it or not.
"REALLY?!" Akane all but squealed happily, making him cringe a bit at the volume.
The enthusiasm in her voice and body language was making it hard not to laugh, but he had to be sure she understood that this was a rare privilege first.
"Yes really. I see no real reason why not, just do not expect this to become a normal way to travel around. Only when it is the two of us, understand?" He stated firmly, making sure she knew how much he rather not rely on that other part of himself.
"Of course, I mean, at least this once please. I'll never ask again!" She was nearly bouncing with excitement at this point and he found himself at last laughing despite being so reluctant.
"I'm beyond certain that you WILL ask again, but as long as it's when we are alone I might be more willing to allow it. Just not very often. Are we in agreement?" He began to walk while looking for a decent spot for the transformation, not wanting to destroy any trees.
Akane was by his side nodding with a huge smile on her face as they walked a few more feet into a slightly more clear spot, placing the backpack on and skipping along next to him as he looked down at her with a barely concealed smile, amazed at the things that made her so happy.
Once satisfied with the surroundings he asked her to step back and mentally readied himself, giving his beast orders to allow him the most control once the transformation was done. They did have a destination after all and the last thing he wanted was to have his inner animal taking Akane on a joy ride in a completely different direction. He could feel a bit of excitement build up within himself with anticipation as his beast agreed to behave.
Sesshomaru took another step back to be sure nothing would accidentally get damaged during the change while staring at his mate, knowing from the previous time she would not find his other form frightening, but still curious how she would react nonetheless.
With a calming breath he allowed his yokai aura free, no longer suppressing his power.
The air around them grew thick with an unseen force as his aura became bright enough even for mortal eyes. It surrounded him, growing and glowing like a colored wind, first gold then red as his fangs grew and eyes changed color.
Sesshomaru heard Akane let out a gasp, but not out of fear, rather her voice was filled with awe and for some reason it caused his heart to race. Her reactions always surprised him, things that would frighten others, she found fascinating. It thrilled him to no end, knowing she didn't fear him.
A bright light of red swallowed his body in the shape of an orb, then the ord grew in size until it was the size of a large house. It morphed and changed shape, and when it faded away the true form of the white yokai dog stood tall and proud, staring down at the dragon girl bellow and sensing nothing but excitement and curiosity from her. Not even a hint of fear coming from her scent.
"Ohmygod! Sesshy! Your freaking HUGE!" Akane shouted up to him, not that he had any trouble hearing her to begin with. But her reaction and wide eyes caused a bark of laughter to leave him.
It had been so long since he changed forms that he found himself stretching out his limbs and shaking his head side to side just to feel everything out again. His muscles felt tight, in need of a good run to release the built up tension from being confined for too long in that smaller form.
The only thing that stopped him from giving into the instinct to run was the girl slowly making her way closer, looking up with such dazzling blue eyes and reaching her hand out. He wanted to run, but he also wanted to make his mate happy first.
Before Akane could ask to touch him, Sesshomaru carefully layed down with his head by his front paw, ears down in a submissive gesture so she knew he was fine with her coming closer.
"Your so fucking fluffy... If you weren't the size of a house I would SO want to cuddle you!" She said as if just barely holding back another squeal, hands slowly running across the fur on his paw.
This was a similar reaction to the first time he allowed her a glimpse of this form, and of course the plan to scare her away back then had backfired in his face. She had called him fluffy back then as well, but he didn't bother trying to hold back the eye roll at her words this time.
"Oh sure, roll your big eyes at me, it's not my fault your so cute like this." Akane laughed while looking him over in pure awe, and he huffed in response before tilting his head as she reached to scratch one of his ears. Her tiny hands oddly did a decent job at it, and in seconds his tongue was out while leaning into her wonderful touch, tail thumping the ground hard enough to leave indents in the earth from impact. He should be embarrassed by this reaction, but he couldn't help himself.
Sesshomaru had never showed anyone aside from enemies and his parents this form, no females and no lovers were allowed. And he NEVER had someone do this before, but he loved it and because Akane could tell he was enjoying her ruffling his fur, she increased speed at it.
"Such a good boy! Seems like you enjoy a good massage no matter what form huh?" She teased with an amused laugh, hands burried deep in his soft white fur and she had somehow found a spot he could never reach himself, making him pant it pure bliss a few moments before catching himself.
With a swallow he forced himself to calm and lift his head up and out of her reach, which of course caused her to pout up with her bottom lip out like a child. It was a rather adorable expression on her face and he couldn't help but lean down and playfully lick her whole cheek with the tip of his large tongue. A loud and girly squeak came from his mate as half her face was now covered with saliva, and he found himself laughing at the death glare she gave him while cleaning her face.
"Now that is way less sweet and WAY more yucky when your in this form! Yeeeesh!" Akane wiped her face with her sleeve and paused when she caught on to him laughing.
"I've never heard a dog laugh before... that IS what your doing with those noises? Yes, of course your laughing at my spit covered face. Bad bad Sesshy!" She tried continuing to sound mad, but a grin was slowly coming to her face and soon she was laughing along with him.
Slowly and carefully Sesshomaru prepared to stand, still crouching down and pondering how easily his mate could climb up his side, he didn't want her to fall off halfway...
"What you thinking about with such a puzzled look?" Akane asked while about to attempt climbing, taking handfuls of fur at his chest before he stoped her with a small gruff.
"No? Well how else am I too get all the way up there huh?" She frowned while letting go, taking his hint and stepping back while watching him debate something.
Hmm, there was only one way he could think of other then climbing, but he wasn't sure she would like it very much. However he thought it the safest way so decided not to give her a choice, moving to stand and then began lowering his head to her.
Akane had no idea what he was doing until Sesshomaru scooped her up from the front with his muzzle, the girl yelping in shock and latching on with fists tight in the short fur. He winced a little given there wasn't much fur at all there to be grabbed, but he knew she would react that way.
"What the hell Sesshomaru! Lemme down!" She screeched, her fear of heights kicking in as he lifted her up off the ground, turning his neck slowly and lowering her so that she simply slid off his muzzle and onto his back with a barely felt plop.
Once the task was done he once again licked her cheek in apology, watching her catch her breath with deep gasps and staring at him in shock. The girl hadn't even reacted to his lick yet and her heart was still racing, making guilt fill his stomach as he released a whimper.
The sound of his regret got her attention and she blinked out of her shock, finally wiping at her wet cheek before reaching out a hand to pat between his shoulders.
"I'm okay now. Just, I dunno, warn me next time?" Akane let out a shaky laugh and shook her head a few times before flopping backwards with her arms out, practically vanishing in his fur.
Sesshomaru could feel her rolling around and heard more gasps about how soft he was, which was beyond amusing and had him wondering if Rin would have a similar reaction.
He could easily imagine both girls begging to use him as a bed or something... Now that was a thought...
Suddenly Akane popped back up into view, wrapping long bit of his fur around herself and looking like a cute and cozy bug perfectly at home on his back.
"WOW no wonder your hair is so silky, it's just like your fur! Have you ever thought of selling what you shed off to people? Imagine what they could make!" The fact she was completely serious about this idea made him huff at how ridiculous it was, giving another eye roll before making a point of looking ahead with a bark and back again.
"Fiiiiine, we should get going, your right. I'll hold tight, but I honestly don't think I can fall off very easily not that I've got your fur as a seat belt!" She grinned and seemed to bury herself deeper into his fur, giving a thumbs up.
This had to be the second most strange experience he ever had with her, the body swap of course taking first place, but this was right on the list...
Sesshomaru released one short howl of excitement and readied himself to take off, claws digging into the earth under his paws a second before springing into action. He wanted to run and leap across trees before taking off into the sky to race thru the clouds above, his mate letting out shouts and whoops of enjoyment the entire time. He didn't think he had ever grinned so much in this form.
The white dog raced across the sky, weaving in and out of clouds and diving to slide down hills and small mountains along the way, all the while sensing the girl on his back had nothing but trust and joyous excitement.
hi hi
thought to give a little something cute and sweet for this holiday season. hope everyone is safe out there!
