An Inuyasha Fanfiction: Scattered Cherry Blossom, Bruised Irish Rose

by CroftButler21

Basically a retelling of the feudal fairytale we all know, but with Kagome Higurashi moved into the background to make space for my OC, Coraline Croft. How will she change the story? See profile for Full Plot and OC Description(s). Now 'Under Construction' so to speak; starting an early editing project (Up to ch. 73 complete!). New chapters will come, but expect slow updates.

103. Chapter 102

Hey guys! My apologies for the longer delay; I wound up making this chapter longer than anticipated, plus I caught this nasty cold a few days ago that's now just starting to back off.

But I promise the wait will be worth it :)

Anyway, before we move forward...I'm sure some of you have gotten curious a while back about why I chose to make Ginta homosexual. I'd like to finally alliterate on my reasoning:

First, I didn't want just my main OC to be in a romantic relationship with one of the characters.

Second, I wanted to try a hand at taking one of the minor characters of the Inuyasha Universe and giving their personality more depth, with a little twist.

Why a yaoi relationship? Well, why not? It makes for an interesting side-story within the story.

...Anyway, that's all from me. Read away, my friends!

---

Chapter 102 (Special): Love's Compass & A Wolf's Decision

"Hah...hah...hah..."

We continue our adventures in the fabled lands of Edo Japan during its most war-fueled years, with our eyes casting view to the edge of the landscape that led to a meld of hardened molten rock ground and deeply-dense, temperate-mix broad-leaf forest, a testament of mother nature's temperamental attitude during Mount Fuji's last eruption centuries before...

Bursting out of the cover of shrubbery and heaping tall tree trunks, was Ginta the wolf demon, he looking a bit worse for wears since we last saw him, his clothing a bit torn and grimy, while the rest of his body sported a few bruises and cuts, a new thin coat of sweat forming as he paused to catch his breath.

"Hah...hah...I hope, I finally lost that crazy woman for a while..."

Damn it...Now I know how Kōga felt when Ayame was hunting him down.

But, at least they actually have a chance to be together.

Me and, her on the other hand...(Glare) I'd rather have my head torn off by a Bird of Paradise then mate with her!

Flashback, Ginta's POV

The last time we spoke with one another was a couple nights ago, when my friends and I came back to our pack's cave for a short time, and the damn woman was bugging me to high heaven about forgetting my wishes to be with a man (yes, she somehow figured out that I wasn't into females) and that I should just give into traditions...

But ever since those days when Kōga tried to court Coraline, and, when I met her brother, Freeman...I've been slowly feeling this rise of confidence to speak my mind about my feelings, no longer wishing to be silent and just, give up on being truly happy with someone I could love...

She and I confronted eachother by the waterfall in the cover of night outside the cave, both of us fed up with this pursuit.

"Will you just get off my back, Asuka?! I'm sick and tired of hearing your screeches for something we both know will never happen!"

"Ginta, unless you wish to become a pariah in our tribe, I suggest that you accept becoming mates with me and not continue with this charade of avoiding me!"

I gritted my teeth into a hateful snarl at the woman before be, her long brown hair tied back into two ponytails with short bangs styled over her forehead, eyes the colour of a murky river, her outfit similar to many of our fellow wolves consisting of brown fur over a black armoured breastplate, her skirt reaching just past her upper thighs, fur-lined leg and wrist guards, and a tall demon sword with a curved blade sitting across her back unlike some of us who only carried regular katanas or spears...

"I haven't been faking anything! I've hated you since the day we were paired up, not only for being a woman, but for having the personality of a pest who does nothin' but make me miserable!"

"Ginta!"

Sucking in a big breath, I then mutter lowly,

"I despise you and these meaningless traditions...If you wish to continue this stupidity, by all means go ahead and try. (Hard glare) But I will soon die before I ever become your mate!"

Asuka clenches her fist, not pleased by my defiance:

"...Is that so? In that case..."

(Shing)

She pulls out her blade, the tip gleaming dangerously in the moon's glow:

"(Snarl) If I can't have you, no one can!"

(Lunge)

"Uh!"

I barely dodge Asuka's sword before it could cut across my torso, her warcry echoing loud enough for some of the others to wander out to the mouth of the cave to see what was going on, including Kōga and Hakkaku.

"What the hell's going on out here?!"

"Ginta?!" "Asuka!"

We pause our fight for a minute, and I lock eyes with my two best friends, they flinching a little from how intense my stare was.

"Guys...I'm sorry, but I have to go, or I'll never know what I want."

"What? Ginta..."

"Ginta, wait!"

I just shake my head, before grabbing a spear that was left out on the island in the middle of the waterfall pool and using it to knock Asuka's sword out her hands in a burst of strength.

"Guh!"

With her distracted, I made a break for it, ignoring the cries of my friends and pack members to come back, knowing I couldn't go back on what I've done...

End of Flashback

...I cracked my knuckles, trying to shake off the negativity in that memory and focus on right now.

I can't just mull around. I gotta keep moving into the Sea of Trees...

That's where, I'll hopefully meet up with the one person who can help me now...

His name slips past my lips in a longing whisper:

"Freeman..."

With that, I willed my sore muscles to keep moving.

Freeman's POV

It's been about an hour since I left the others with Hachi, who was gracious enough to give me a ride on his gourd form to Aokigahara, or the Sea of Trees Forest, where the letter from Ginta said that he wanted to meet with me at...

Just thinking about what was written on that bit of parchment makes me shudder:

"Freeman,

I don't have alot of time to explain, but I'm in real hot water and I need your help! I would ask for you to bring Coraline and the others, but...you might be the only person I can trust right now.

Meet me in Aokigahara where the old Fugaku Cave is.

- Ginta

P.S. Be careful: There's a slight chance that the one after me might catch wind of you and threaten your life."

Short, discreet and not leaving alot of room for a clue as to what's going on: In my books, that's one of the worst kind of messages a person could get. His writing was also a bit smudged and scraggly, suggesting he likely wrote it all while on the run, which only makes me all the more concerned.

Ginta's never acted this freaked before. I mean sure, sometimes he can be a bit of a Nervous Nellie with Hakkaku, but not at this magnitude.

...It's gotta be a demon for sure, but, it's definitely not that bastard Naraku, otherwise he would've asked for all hands on deck.

Plus...he's asking for my help specifically, which, while I'm flattered by, is a bit odd.

I mumble aloud while rubbing a finger under my chin in thought,

"What kind of hurt is this person trying to deal to Ginta that he'd call on me?"

...That's when an idea struck:

(Gasp) I wonder. Could, this have something to do with his sexual preferences?

Did someone in his pack find out he's gay and wants to end him?

Hm...Plausible, but at the same time, there's something missing...

"Freeman! We're here!"

I snap out of my thoughts to Hachi's call, and look down to see the huge patch of forest sitting at the northwest flank of the infamous Mount Fuji, the sight below thick of the colour green with a few pockets of rusty hues from the volcanic impact left behind since the mountain's last big blowup. I was in awe of how beautiful it looked up here in the sky, still untouched from human development, or at least for a few more centuries...

We're soon on the rocky, moss-covered ground at the western edge, where the soon-to-be-infamous lava caves would be nestled in the cover of these tall, hulking beech, cedar and oak trees. I hop down off of Hachi, and stretch my limbs over my head while thinking,

Okay...now the only question is how am I gonna find the cave?

These woods are super dense and an easy trap for people to get lost in...

(...Pulse)

"Hm?"

I then felt a light throb from my wrist where my Seven Light Shard is attached, and looked to see a soft glow emanating in and out, like back when my friends and I were navigating out of the modern version of these woods.

...Just like before...Does it know where to go, or, maybe, can it sense my desire to find Ginta?

"Uum, are you sure about going in there by yourself? I've heard that ghosts like to wander around these parts, and their favourite targets to scare are humans..."

I turn to the racoon-dog and reply,

"I'm pretty sure that's just a local myth to discourage people from doing something stupid like getting lost and starving to death. And even if there is some truth to it, as long I don't piss the ghost off, I've got nothin' to be afraid of, right?...Besides..."

My eyes narrow in both worry and determination to find my letter crush (Yes, I admit it, I like Ginta in that way).

"Ginta's countin' on me to help him in his hour of need, and I'll be damned before ignoring his call. I know that this isn't one of the easiest places to navigate, but I don't care: I'll let my heart guide me to his!"

...I then did a double-take on my choice of words towards the end:

Uh! Wait...did I really just say what I think I just said?

...Is it, possible...that, I-I'm in love?

Hachi gapes a little at me in surprise for how strong my tone came out, before he smiles a little at me and replies with a nervous laugh,

"Heh, then you're alot braver than I am. I don't think I can go in those creepy woods with you, but I'll stick around here if you'd like so you and that wolf demon have a ride later."

I was a bit touched by his little spout of courage to stay in the area:

"(Smile) Thanks, man. That's right appreciative, but I won't ask you to be a hero: If we don't come back here by sunset or things take a one-eighty in terms of peace and safety, book outta here as fast as you can and get help."

"(Salute) Gotcha. Good luck, and be careful."

Sending a final nod to him, I turn my vision back to the treeline where the Sea of Trees begins on this side, before starting my way inside in a jog, my gut and my crystal teaming up to tell me which way to go.

Hang in there, Ginta. I'm on my way.

Coraline's POV

It's been a little more than an hour since my brother Freeman left aboard Hachi to the Aokigahara Forest after receiving some sort of SOS letter from Ginta, and despite our protests, he insisted on going alone to help the wolf demon...

The rest of us have since left the village that was being terrorized by that weasel demon (while also being the third victim of Hachi's 'Fake Miroku Scheme'), settling by a flowering plum tree on a small knoll in the outskirts none too far away from the main dirt road path, trying to decide on a course of action to take from here.

"What do the rest of you think: Should we just keep going forward without Freeman or wait until he returns? I dunno how long he could be gone for, but, I'm worried about moving along too far ahead without him..."

Besa nods in agreement with me, his expression being the most creased with concern out of all of us, which is understandable considering how strong his brother bond with Freeman is. Miroku hms and ponders,

"Well, Hachi did promise he'd stick as close to Freeman as possible, but given his cowardly streak..."

Inuyasha scoffs and interjects into the conversation:

"The longer we sit around, the less chance we have of catchin' onto where that bastard Naraku is. Don't get me wrong, I'm a bit worried about Freeman too, but we don't exactly have time as a luxury."

Hmm, he's technically in the right with his judgement: There's no telling how long the tip we got from the Monkey God will hold out before Naraku decides to shift locations again...

Shippo pipes in,

"Well I say we wait for him to come back for two days at the most! If he's gone for any longer than that, that's when we should all start worrying and go after him."

...We all peer at the fox demon in mild surprise for how, smart his suggestion was, which made him squirm a little on the spot in nerves.

"W-What's with the stares? Did I say something wrong?"

I reply with a small smile,

"No...Actually, that's not a half-bad plan."

"Really?"

"Mhm, (glances around) as long as everyone else agrees. Guys?"

Sango, Miroku and my other twin brother nod, Kilala and the Yozosume (whom for some reason decided to stay with us for a bit longer) mewl and chirp in recognition, leaving Inuyasha to sigh in reluctance to the idea.

"Fine. We'll stick around here for two days, and if he's not back by then, we'll track him and Ginta down."

I smile at him, knowing he's actually about as worried as the rest of us and just doesn't want to show it so openly.

Thank you...

Sango then brings about the question that hasn't been fully considered yet:

"What I can't seem to understand is why Ginta only called for Freeman's help. Wouldn't it make more sense to ask for the assistance of his pack, or even just Kōga and Hakkaku?"

I voice in,

"Well based on what was said in the letter, it seems Ginta's trust has been limited to just Freeman...Which has me wondering if something happened between him and his comrades."

We all hm in thought, and Besa argues,

"But Ginta doesn't seem like the type to wanna start a conflict with anybody. That's more Kōga's department if anything...Still, just calling on my brother...there's some kind of personal factor to this whole situation."

"A personal factor?"

"Yeah, think about it: They've been exchanging letters for a long while now, and, I've seen something light up in Freeman's eyes with each one coming and going. (Knowing smile) He might argue otherwise, but I think his feelings for Ginta might've grown into something more than just simple friendship."

My eyes widen a little at the suggestion, as do the others, with Shippo exclaiming,

"Are you saying that Freeman might be in love with Ginta?!"

"Could be."

Oh wow...Freeman, in love with a wolf demon?

That's just, wow...Is it possible, he really found found 'The One', here in Edo?

"Hang on...(Narrows eyes) Besa, are you thinking what I think you're thinking?"

"That there's a chance this distress call may have something to do with any possible secret feelings the two might have for one another? Well, I'm not positive, but it's the only scenario I can think of that seems to make sense."

I turned to my boyfriend to ask a rather strange question:

"Um, Inuyasha, just out of curiousity, you wouldn't have happened to hear around if demons...you know..."

"Form same-sex relationships? (Shakes head) No idea, and I kind-a don't wanna know to be perfectly honest...But I've never heard of anything that suggested it's discouraged, so who knows."

Huh. That's an interesting bit of info to learn...

Miroku then remarks,

"Whatever such opinion it may be, I doubt that the wolf demon tribe would actually turn their backs on Ginta for something like that. They share an intense loyalty with one another, like family...Unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Perhaps this issue lies not with the pack, but rather, a singular member besides Ginta himself..."

A single member besides Ginta? Who?

(...Gasp) Wait: What if this is like what happened with Ayame and Kōga?

...Oh man, and if it is...

Freeman, bro, please be careful!

Small Time Skip, No POV

At the same time the gang discusses what could be going on regarding Freeman and the distress letter he received from Ginta, our long hammer-wielding teen from the Modern Era had wandered deep into the undergrowth of Aokigahara Forest, which certainly lived up to its reputation as a 'Sea of Trees': The trunks of semi-various species seemed to meld together like a field of wheat, the moss and gargantuan roots making claims over the stony dirt dominated by the remains of Mount Fuji's last raging eruption, creating a both tranquil yet slightly unnerving atmosphere...

"...I hope I'm heading in the right direction. Not that my gut's lied to me bad before, but even it's not the most reliable compass."

I never noticed it last time I was in this forest (mostly because my mind was focused on avoiding bullets) but, the silence in this place is almost deafening.

...It's like the plants are the only ones brave enough to stick it out. I haven't even sensed a demonic presence aside from who I'm searching for.

Freeman's brows crease over with minor worry:

"Maybe there's more to Hachi's hesitance than I thought...Maybe there are ghosts wandering about."

Even so, it's too late to back out. I promised myself I would find him no matter what it takes...

...Ginta...

Suddenly, just as he comes over a small knoll of mixed roots and moss:

(Glow...)

"Huh?"

Freeman's green irises catch the sight of a transparent body manifesting before him in an ethereal white shine, namely, a female of sorts with long, wild black hair and bangs covering her face, a gray-white simple kimono long enough that their feet are not noticeable, paper-pale skin, and a hitaikakushi worn over their forehead!

"Uh!"

I-Is that, a g-ghost?!

Swallowing a bundle of nerves, he cautiously steps forward towards the entity and greets,

"Um...hello? W-Who are you?...Are you, a wandering spirit?"

The transparent woman turns her face to his, and nods slightly...Freeman then takes a breath and says,

"Um...You don't look like you wish to seek vengeance...do you?"

The ghost shakes their head, making the boy let out a small breath of relief:

Looks like I came up lucky and found a neutral spirit...Dunno why they're here, but it might be best not to ask...

Hang on...maybe they know where Fugaku Cave is!

"(Clears throat) Say, if it's not too much to ask, do you know where the lava cave named after the wind is? There's, someone I need to meet with there, but I'm having a bit of trouble finding it..."

...There's a pause...before the ghost woman nods, and waves a hand in a following gesture, before turning to walk towards the more northern part of these woods. Freeman hms with an appreciative smile, and starts walking after them...

After about half an hour, the odd pair reach their destination: A large cave entrance that went deep underground, covered by weakened layers of hard-packed dirt and basalt mixed with twigs, moss and patches of grass, various shrubbery and young saplings shielding it from peering eyes until one were to look more intently.

"Wooow, so this is Fugaku Cave...(Turn) Thank you for guiding me here, miss. I really appreciated the help."

The ghost nods with a slight smile on their shadowed lips, before turning their body to walk away, fading into the streams of sunlight peeking through the tall leaves...

Once they were gone, Freeman focuses back on the cave entrance with a determined frown.

"Okay...(Inhale) Here we go."

He descends down the old stone steps that someone had built many years prior to his own arrival, and into the darkness of the lava tube, pulling out a small flashlight to help light the way. The deeper he went, the the taller the ceiling got, its walls made of shining black basalt rock, the temperature colder than the outside, so much that icicles were abundant alongside the rope-shaped lava forms, while frost and thin sheets of ice coated parts of the path. Freeman shivered a bit and puffed out a visible cloud of his own breath:

"Brr...so cold...Where the heck is he?"

Would it be safe to try calling out for him? Hm...You know what, I'll risk it!

Cupping his hands around his mouth, Freeman tries to call for his letter friend/crush:

"Gintaaa...! Are you there?! It's me, Freeman; I got your letter!"

His voice bounced down and up the passages of the cave, creating a substantial echo for all who are inside to hear...

A minute or two later, a response is given:

"(...Distant echo) Freeman? Is that really you?!"

Following the voice echo, Freeman walks down further into the lava tube, careful not to slip on a stray patch of slippery ice, until he turns the corner left to an inner chamber where a medium-sized frozen pond sat, with a familiar wolf demon standing near!

"(Soft gasp) Ginta!"

He rushes over to greet the other, and Ginta turns on the defense, quickly relaxing when he sees that the approaching body was who he was hoping for.

"(Relieved sigh) Oh good, you really are here. I was worried that your voice might've been a trick of some kind. Did you make it here okay?"

"Yeah, I had Hachi the racoon-dog drop me off, and he said he'd stick around for a while at the treeline if we want a ride out...It's, really good to see you again, Ginta."

"Same. (Weak smile) To see your face is a great comfort to me at present."

Freeman was taken aback by such a compliment, but then takes a better notice of the wolf demon's physical condition.

"Uh! Ginta, you're hurt!"

He tries to brush it off in a similar manner to his leader friend:

"Eh, it's not as bad as it looks. I've, had worse..."

But the dark-skinned boy saw through the act, and gently reaches to touch the other's arm with an expression of deep concern.

"...Ginta...what happened to you? Who did this, and what's with the sudden SOS call?"

The wolf demon stares at Freeman with his own expression of surprise by how worried the other sounded, his cheeks dusting a light pink, before he sighs heavily and gestures them both to sit down on a large, flat-surfaced rock.

"This is gonna take a little while to explain, but...Someone from my tribe is after me."

"I'm assuming not your friends Hakkaku and Kōga?"

"Correct. If anything, they're likely worried sick about me after I bolted out of the den to get away from, her."

Freeman winced a bit from how bitter-sounding Ginta's voice became at the end of that sentence, before forming a serious expression of his own.

"Her?"

"A fellow wolf demon named Asuka...At one time in the past, we were okay friends, grew up together. She was, the first and only one in the tribe to find out about my early development of feelings towards men."

"Oh..."

"(Nod) At first, she made no comments about it...but as we grew older, Asuka started to become infatuated with me and concerned for my future, and somehow convinced her folks to have us engaged, even though she knew that I would never be able to requite her feelings."

Ginta clenches his fist hard, a glare slowly forming on his face:

"Nevertheless, Asuka kept trying to convince me that us getting mated someday would be the best option for us in not being alone and looking like odd ducks compared to other couples...But that didn't matter to me: She didn't care at all my personal conflicts with such an arrangement. I would just as well be content with being with Kōga and Hakkaku, my friends, for the rest of my days then marry someone I could never love."

"Ginta..."

The wolf demon tries and fails to suppress a growl, before springing to his feet and letting out a cry of frustration while driving his fist into the hard wall of the cave chamber!

"That woman makes me so mad!"

(Slam)

Freeman felt his heart skip a beat in shock from such an aggravated action:

"Guh! Ginta!"

"(Growl) I hate this, so much! Asuka just doesn't get it: I can't love women, and I never will be able to! That's just who I am! Why does she wish to torture me with blackmail and threaten my life for something that will only make us both miserable for the rest of our days?!"

...The cave grows silent aside from the dying echoes of Ginta's yelling, he himself taking ragged breaths to try and cool his temper...which would break when he feels a hand take the one he used to punch the cave wall.

"Huh?"

Freeman looks at the bloodied knuckles with a mixed expression of sympathy and seriousness, before looking up eye-to-eye with the wolf demon.

"Come on, man, don't literally beat yourself up over this craziness and take your anger out on the cave...Now sit down and I'll grab out some gauze for your fingers."

"...Freeman..."

Ginta does as Freeman directs him to, and the latter is soon applying rubbing alcohol to the former's broken skin before wrapping the white bandages around the injured fingers, both parties keeping silent all the while...

"...Why the hell are you letting this bi-atch get into your head anyway?"

"Huh?"

"If I recall, you're the one in control of how you feel about the people around you, and no one else...But, if you're here and not submitting to this Asuka person, then you must know that already, right?"

Ginta says nothing, only staring at Freeman in amazement, he looking up from his tending with a sad smile.

"I do understand what you're going through, though...I, also had to deal with someone who didn't understand that my sexuality was not a strange life phase. (Looks down) They're actually the reason why my twin brother and I had to leave our old home and country...otherwise...I, probably wouldn't be alive right now."

"Uh...Who, was it, if it's okay to ask?"

Freeman hesitates, but then answers in a whisper while continuing with his medical work,

"...My father...He was one of those types with an aggressive personality, 'specially when he drank, with real conservative views about how love works. As soon as he caught the signs I was gay, it all went to hell in a hand basket: Constant verbal abuse with the occasional beating. He, made me feel, so worthless, like my feelings about anything mattered shit...But he was wrong. Very, very wrong."

He finishes his work on Ginta's knuckles, and looks up at the other with a fierce expression:

"How I feel does matter, and always will. No one has the power to change that, not even that old bastard who gave birth to me! I am who I am, and feel what I feel...and, the same lies for you, Ginta: You're free to love whoever you want to love, regardless of what any negative naysayers will try and fail to argue. This Asuka has no right to make you feel the need to bottle your true preferences like a dormant volcano."

"Uh...Freeman..."

Said dark-skinned boy shifts his mouth into a kind smile as he asks,

"You've never heard anything that says members of your tribe can't be mate with the same sex, have you?"

Ginta stutters for a moment, before a look of epiphany spreads on his face:

"...No. No, I haven't. It's just been, a thoughtless tradition for men and women to mate with one another. Nothing, has ever been said that discourages same-sex relationships...!"

"I thought so. Not alot of history texts say much about same-sex romance occurring in Japan, but also does not discourage nor encourage. I'm willing to bet that it just hasn't happened enough, for humans or demons, to even become a topic of conversation."

"Yeah...that sounds right."

"So why not be the first to have courage, and open up about it to your pack?"

The wolf demon bolts to a stand with a freaked expression:

"W-What are you saying?!"

Freeman calmly rises to a stand, and takes Ginta's shaking hands into his before saying in a gentle tone,

"I know the idea sounds scary, but trust me: Once you get it all out, a huge amount of weight will come off your shoulders. (Weak smile) I won't lie that they're won't be some haters who can't wrap their heads around the concept of two men romantically involved with one another, but that's their problem, not yours."

"...But, what if my pack can't understand? What if, H-Hakkaku and Kōga, can't look me in the eye anymore?"

The wolf demon's silver-blue eyes begin to form tears of insecurity:

"I...I don't want to lose my friends, or my pack. T-They're all I have, all I know."

The dark-skinned boy frowns sympathetically at the other, his heart breaking a little at seeing how, vulnerable the wolf demon looked.

Oh Ginta...

He brings the other young man before him into a comforting hug, and whispers over their shoulder into their ear,

"God forbid they are dumb enough to turn your back on you for something like this...I'll be there without a second of hesitation, or you come to me."

Ginta felt his heart stop at the gesture and message, his eyes ceasing their watering, opting to stare down at the human with cocoa-shaded skin in shock.

...Freeman...

"...But why? Why, go through all that trouble, just for me?"

"...Because...because I love you."

Ginta's POV

It was as if the chill of the cave was enough to make time stand still, when this human, said the one set of words I never thought any man could ever say to me.

He...He loves me?

"...Are you for real?"

He chuckled slightly before replying,

"I am...and believe me, I'm just as surprised to be saying these words."

We pull back from eachother so my silver-blue irises are staring into his bright jade ringed by a brown as dark as the furs of my tribe, as he continues his thoughts with a sheepish smile.

"My world may have a more accepting atmosphere, but it's still difficult for a non-straight man like me to find a romantic partner, or a steady one at least. For these last few years, I've only had more causal relationships, the longest standing being no more than a few months, a-and, the rare overnight hook-up..."

Overnight hook-up?

...Oooooh!

He sees the realization in my widening pupils and laughs a bit:

"Yeah, I know, not a real moral way of maintaining good karma for romance, but it's taught me a thing or two about what I'm looking for...And, I want someone, who won't be just a passing fling. At one time ago, I'd say it would be next-to-impossible for me to be in a long-distant relationship, given how you and I have duties in different parts of Japan...But you know what?"

Freeman moves one of his hands to cup my cheek, making me draw in a quick breath:

Oh, wow...His skin is, so soft, but his palms are worn, like a warrior's...

"To Hell with such thoughts. In the time I've spent with my siblings and friends here in this world, I've learned that anything can be possible if you believe in it hard enough."

He then looks down, suddenly radiating a bashfulness unlike the confident man I've seen now and again.

"I, do understand if your heart doesn't beat as strongly as mine does...Just know, that there is someone who wants to take a chance like this one, with you."

...I wasted no second thoughts, and made my answer plain through action:

(Yank)

"Uh!"

My lips come to land on his in a fiery first kiss, the feeling as I've always dreamed it would be: Wonderfully forbidden, unique to the standard, and worth everything!

Who the hell cares about what other demons may think? I...I love this boy, this human.

Yes, I love him! I want him!

Our kiss becomes all the more heated, as we took hold of one another as tight as we could, one set of his fingers grasping onto my hair while mine grab around his waist and back...We part away briefly to catch our breath, his face looking as flushed as mine probably was:

"Hah...Ginta...does this mean-"

"Hah, hah...Yes...I want to take that chance, with you. I want you, Freeman, I need you. I-I didn't realize how much before, but now, it's all clear: You're the one for me!"

"Uh, but, what about us being-"

"Like you said, who cares about the differences? So what if I'm a demon and you're human?! I love you regardless!"

"...Ginta, I..."

I pull him into another kiss, this one a bit rougher on my part, but only 'cause...I was, craving him.

His taste...

His scent...

His everything.

No POV

...It was in that moment, that the force of reason slowly gave way to passion, courtesy of the inner beast that rose inside the wolf demon, Ginta. His eyes suddenly clouded over in a transparent dusty red, his voice purring out growls akin to that of a wild canine. The exchange of kisses became more feverish and quick-paced, no longer limited to Freeman's lips, but his face, his neck, basically any patch of skin the wolf demon could find!

Next thing Freeman knew, he was on the cold floor of the cavern near the ice pond with Ginta hovering overtop of him!

"Guh! G-Ginta!"

An unexpectedly low, sensual growl bubbled in the back of the wolf demon's throat, as he nips the bare skin of the dark-skinned boy's neck and purrs,

"Mine..."

"...Ginta..."

Is he...asking for what I think he's asking?

...Can we really-

"Freeman...Before we go any further, then I think we're going to, I must ask you: Will you be, my mate?"

The human male's green eyes go wide, staring into his silver blue that were clouded over with a red, making it look like the moon reflecting over the sunset, the dominant emotions being love, lust and desire...

Freeman dove deep into his heart, and quickly found the answer he knew was right:

"...Yes."

He then pulled Ginta forward for another blazing kiss, each giving into their innermost wants and sealing their fates, oblivious to the world...

Unbeknownst to them, danger was fast approaching.

Small Time Skip, Hachi's POV

It's been about close to forty-five minutes since Freeman left into the forest to find that wolf demon, Ginta, who asked for his help, and I was starting to worry a bit for their health.

Wonder what's keeping those two? Hope they're not in any trouble...

I'm currently lounging up against one of the older beech trunks, trying not to let the quiet of this particular forest get to me thanks to all those tales I've heard regarding its ghostly infamy. I shiver a little like the bundle of nerves I know I really am:

"Oooh, this place gives me the creeps, even if I'm not inside. If I see even one ghost, I'm outta here."

Hm, but then again, that wouldn't be fair to my friend who's brave enough to walk in on his own...

Why humans continue to pull stupid-crazy stunts like this is beyond me.

(...Rustle)

"Huh?"

Suddenly, the leaves of one of the larger bushes in front of me leading to a different patch of woods shakes, and I feel a new chill in the air that wasn't normal.

"U-U-U-Uh, that doesn't feel right at all...!"

Next thing I knew, a skinny figure with a raging, Demonic Aura comes barreling out of the cover, making me jump into the air with a yelp before using my tanuki powers to hide.

"Ka-boom!"

(Poof)

I zip away to a higher branch in a cloud of smoke and leaves, which thankfully worked in making whoever the figure was think I fled...Looking down, I see that they were definitely a demon, a wolf demon at that:

W-Who's that? A woman?

"(Growl) He's in there alright. His scent is this way...Just you wait, Ginta: You'll be sorry you turned me down!"

Huh? Wait...Uh: She must be the one causing ill will to Freeman's friend!

I watch with wide eyes as the suspicious and angry female wolf demon makes headway into Aokigahara, heading in the same direction Freeman did! I wait until I'm sure she wouldn't be able to sense me, before dropping back to the ground in a huff, my mind already beginning to fall into panic.

"Aw man, this isn't good: Freeman and Ginta are gonna be in trouble real quick, and there's no way I'll be able to find them before she will! What'll I do?!"

Wait: Freeman said that if things got dangerous, to leave for help...and that's what I'm gonna do!

With a determined frown on my face, I pull out my leaf to transform into my gourd form, and immediately left back to where Master Miroku and everybody would still be.

"Gotta hurry, gotta hurry...!"

Stay strong for as long as you can, Freeman, you and Ginta!

Freeman's POV

It's been just a little over twenty minutes after...Ginta and I gave ourselves into one another's desires, and we're now busy catching our own breaths from...the action, our bodies bare and covered in a thin amount of sweat...

I think to myself in bliss and disbelief,

Holy crap...I can't believe, I really just...wow.

...I've, never felt my heart race so much from, 'doin' it' before. Never felt this, connected.

Have I really found my perfect match? My, partner for life?

"Hah, hah...hey."

"Hm?"

I stir out of my thoughts for a moment to turn attention to...my mate, as he turns himself over so he was laying on his side while holding a hand over mine that was laying on my chest, eyeing me in tender concern.

"You alright? Sorry if, I was a bit too rough. We wolves have that tendency to, heh, not hold back..."

"...Yeah, I'm okay...and you?"

"Good. (Breathy laugh) Actually, better than good. I, haven't felt this close to someone in, well, ever."

I feel a somewhat exhausted smile form on my face at the sentiment:

"Yeah...I know what you mean. I may have gone about romantic relationships a couple times now, but, this is the first time, I feel like something beautiful came out of it, you know?"

"Glad to hear...You, are aware of the gravity in our new situation, though, right?"

I subconsciously touch the left side of my neck where the um, mark Ginta gave me was with my free hand.

"You mean, us being mates now?"

"Yes. Wolves mate for life, and wolf demons are no exception to that rule. You are who I choose to spend the rest of my life with, barriers be damned."

Oh wow...that sounds...so wonderful.

"And I accept that wholeheartedly, make no mistake."

We shift so we're sitting up by one another, and I place a hand on his chest where his heart is and say to him,

"I'm done with short-lived boyfriends, anyway. I want to, commit with someone. It'll be hard, given where our paths are at the moment, 'specially with that bastard Naraku to worry about, but I know we can do it. I'm with you all the way, Ginta...as long as you're with me."

"Freeman..."

"Ginta..."

We lean in for another searing, long-minute kiss, before remembering where we were and what we were lacking on our persons.

"U-Uh, we might wanna slip back into our clothes before either of us freezes our tailbones off."

"Good idea."

We both laugh a little, before quickly scrambling back into our respected clothing...Once we were dressed, I turn to Ginta to ask,

"So, um...shall we get a move on from this place?"

"Yeah, preferably before Asuka somehow figures out that I'm here."

Asuka?

...Oh crap, right: I can't believe I almost forgot about why I even came here to begin with!

Damn hormones, making me have memory impairment...

Wait...if Ginta and I are mates now...does that mean...

As the two of us slowly make our way out of the cavern inside Fugaku (mindful of our sore muscles from, ahem, 'recent activities'), I ask with a slight rise of nerves,

"Um, Ginta?"

"Yeah?"

"...On a scale of one to ten, ten being highest, just how pissed do you think that Asuka bi-atch is going to be when she finds out about, us?"

He cringes and mutters,

"Definitely ten, seeing as she was nine and a half when I chewed her out before I fled the den."

"Got it...and just how strong is she in terms of combat?"

"Compared to other wolf demonesses, she's unfortunately fairly powerful, but not close to how strong as say the power Kōga has in his legs thanks to the shards of the Shikon-no-Tama...(Narrows eyes) Although that sword she was using against me was throbbin' with a scary energy that nearly threw me off the cliff into the waterfall."

Ooooh, great...

"But I won't let her hurt you."

"Huh?"

Ginta pauses his step, grabbing my arm to pull me to a stop too, and says to me with a firm expression,

"As your mate, I will protect you in every way I can. I've just claimed you, and I'm not about to lose you."

"Uh...Ginta..."

I put a hand on his shoulder with my own serious expression to reply in kind,

"Same: I won't let our share of intimacy be for nothing. You're every bit mine as I am yours, and no damn woman's gonna change that."

"Good."

(...Whoooosh)

"Ugh!" "Rgh!"

And it was in swearing our love and loyalty to one another and promising that no one and nothing would come between us, that the object of our problem came out of nowhere in a whirlwind! But unlike the types I've seen with other wolf demons like Kōga and Ayame, this one had a black haze in it, making my nerves high.

Oooh, that does not bode as a good sign...

The whirlwind cancels out, and reveals a young woman with long brown hair tied back into two ponytails with short bangs styled over her forehead, somewhat dull brown-blue eyes, wearing an outfit of brown fur over a black armoured breastplate, her skirt reaching just past her upper thighs, fur-lined leg and wrist guards, and was carrying a tall, scary-looking sword with a curved blade that kind-a reminded me of the ones used by Arabian marauders, complete with a red hilt and a copper-brown spike at the end. I also noticed it was glowing in a similar manner that the Tokijin blade used to before that formal jerk Sesshomaru got his hands on it.

Aw great, another demon blade, just what I need...!

"Ginta! So this is where you've run to, is it?"

"Grh, Asuka!"

So, this is her, is it?

I could practically feel the anger rising in Ginta's body and voice, and his hand takes mine before pulling me close halfway behind him in a protective manner. Meanwhile, I send a glare at the woman who's been giving my new boyfriend (or mate, I should say) Hell, and feeling my stare, she turns her eyes on me.

"Hm? Who're you, human, and why do you stand so close to Ginta-Wait..."

She suddenly starts sniffing the air for a minute or two...before breaking out a really angry snarl that was pretty close to what a normal wolf would sound like, and shouts in seething disbelief,

"No...No, you didn't, Ginta! You actually-How could you?! You would dare, m-mate with a male, and a human nonetheless!? I don't know what part is a bigger insult to the tribe! Why?!"

I was a bit surprised that she could tell that much from just one sniff of her nose, but then again, she was a demon after all...Anyway, my own temper quickly rose from how she was dissing Ginta so harshly, and I bravely barked back,

"Who are you to say who Ginta can or cannot be with? You don't control his heart: He can choose whoever he wants to!"

Ginta cuts in after me:

"He's right: What you're talking about is a bunch of outdated nonsense that's never been enforced! I made my choice, and there's nothing you can do to change it, Asuka, so give up already!"

"...Nothing at all, huh?"

We both form confused expressions from the quick drop of volume and low tone in the woman...before becoming nerved by her body slowly billowing in the same red glow of her blade's aura.

"Gh!" "Uh, oh..."

"Like I said before you ran off from the den: If I can't have you, no one will...And given that you've gone and rutted with that human scum..."

She darts her head up with a dangerous, rage-filled glare:

"I'LL JUST HAVE TO TAKE BOTH OF YOU OUT!"

Oh Shit!

Asuka then lets out a warcry, before swinging her demon blade in a diagonal downward stroke, unleashing a torrent of energy similar to that shadowy whirlwind she came in, forcing Ginta and I to separate so we could dodge it!

"Gah!" "Wagh!"

(Whooosh, CRASH...)

After thanking god that I was fast enough to escape the blow, I scrambled to my feet to help Ginta off the ground.

"Ginta!"

"You, bastard human!"

(Lunge)

"Whoa!"

(Clang)

But I was then intercepted by Asuka, and quickly met her blade with my long hammer, blocking her next attack to protect myself and my boyfriend!

"Grh, damn you!"

"Ha, like I'm gonna get caught unawares by a deluded bi-atch? Dream on!"

I managed to throw her off her feet in a burst of strength, before quickly whirling around to yank Ginta upright, he gazing at me in awe for my skills.

"Freeman...!"

"Come on, now's our chance to am-scray!"

He doesn't hesitate, and we both began bolting up the path to exit the cave, but Asuka wasn't gonna let us go so easily.

"You won't get away from me! You're both dead!"

We just kept urging our feet on, ducking and swerving from side to side to dodge the onslaught of whirling cut marks that she continuously threw at us from her sword.

(Crash, crash, crash...)

"Grh, how is she even doing this?! Even our strongest pack members would get tired after a while!"

"Well that's what happens when anger and rage blinds you: Any thoughts about stamina and endurance go right out the door! Just ask Inuyasha! Gah!"

I stumble on my footing, but Ginta keeps me upright, his and my hand enclosed in one another tightly like our lives depended on it, which, let's face it, they pretty much did...I squeeze the palm in mine and silently vow,

I won't let go, even if we die...But I'm praying to Kami our last days aren't today.

"Uh! There's the entrance!"

A grin of anticipation and relief spreads on my face, as we scrambled up the stone stairs to meet with the hard-packed grounds of the forest...

...But that was the furthest we got, before one of Asuka's attacks blasted at us from behind:

(Crash, BOOM)

"Aaaaaaaargh!" "Aaaaaaaah!"

Both Ginta and I were thrown off our feet and flew several yards, before my body connected with a tall pine trunk.

(Slam)

"GUH!"

Uuugh, that's gonna, s-smart...!

...I dropped to the ground hard face-up, my body now sporting several cuts and tears in my clothes, and a few choice bruises forming on my back and the backs of my legs, but thankfully nothing too damaging that I wouldn't be able to get up again. Ignoring the protests of my muscles, I slowly push myself up on my elbows, only to widen my eyes at the sight of Ginta, who was still alive but looking even worse off than I was!

"(Gasp) Ginta!"

Crap, I gotta help him!

...A dark-toned laugh then comes echoing in from the dirt smoke left behind from Asuka's attack, before she herself emerges into view, her eyes focused on my wolf demon boyfriend.

"Pathetic. Did you really think you and that weak mate of yours could get away from me?"

I hear a groan come from Ginta, before he tries to move to a stand, only to get kicked back down harshly by Asuka.
The sight was all my adrenaline needed to get me moving again:

"Grrh, stop! Leave him alone, Asuka!"

Lifting my hammer into the air, I let out a cry and try to attack her in a bludgeon swing, only to miss, and get spin-kicked back a couple feet.

(Thwack)

"Gaaaah!"

"(Grit) Freeman, no!"

I fall down the low hill incline that led to the cave, rolling onto my side painfully:

"Grh!"

Damn it! What, the hell, am I gonna do...

I, need help...

I roll onto my back, gritting my teeth from my injuries, as I whispered to the air above,

"B-Besa...hear, me."

(...Sheen)

Besa's POV

(...Sheen)

"(Jolt) Uh!"

Freeman!

As I sat in the grass with my friends and sister by the plum tree, when I suddenly felt this spike of energy from the Seven Light Shard in my bracelet, and darted to my feet as my ears are filled with a strange, distant echo that sounded just like my brother!

"Be-sa...hear, me...Hel- me...!"

Brother!

"Besa...Besa, what's wrong?"

I snapped out of my daze to see everyone looking at me with worried and alert expressions, and utter out,

"...Freeman. He's in trouble. I can feel it: I heard his voice in my head just now, calling for me! He sounded injured!"

Noticing that I wasn't screwing around and that I looked that spooked and serious, Miroku stands up with me and asks,

"You're sure?"

"Yes...Something's wrong, really wrong."

I look down to see that my crystal shard was throbbing in and out in the rainbow shine, but something about it seemed different from the times I activated its power on my own, like, it was pulsing in pain...

"What's going on with your crystal?"

I look up at Inuyasha who was eyeing my wrist in suspicion, and I answer,

"I can't really explain it, but, my shard and Freeman's...I think they're more deeply connected then we initially thought. It's like, they've been strengthening our brotherly bond in ways that cannot easily be said aloud."

"Like that weird twin telepathy thing that some conspiracy theorists have pondered about?"

I send a nod to my sister:

"Might not be as crazy as some argue: Even before we obtained these crystals, Freeman and I seemed to always know when the other was in trouble...(Shakes head) But anyway, we need to get to Aokigahara now befo-"

My sentence was suddenly cut off, by the sound of someone shouting from up in the air:

"Master Mirokuuuu! Everyoooone!"

Is that, Hachi?

We all look up to the sky, and saw the racoon-dog in his gourd form flying towards us at a frantic pace that matched his facial expression, all the more convincing me that something happened to my brother.

"Hachi!" "What's going on?"

"Where's Freeman?!" "What happened, Hachi?"

(Poof)

He lands on the grass after switching to his regular form, and exclaims with his hands waving in the air,

"You gotta hurry; I think Freeman and Ginta are in danger!"

Miroku steps up to him and says while holding his own palms up in a calming gesture,

"Calm down, Hachi, and tell us what happened."

"I-I was just waiting outside the forest for Freeman when suddenly this figure, a woman, with a strong Demon Aura came barreling out of the trees in front of me! I quickly hid, and overheard her talking about making Ginta pay for turning her down or something! (Shudder) She looked really angry too..."

"A woman with a Demon Aura?"

"Y-Yes. I think she was a wolf demon too. (Bow) I know what you're all thinking, and I'm sorry I didn't stay to help him, but Freeman said that if anything went wrong before he and Ginta came out to get the heck outta there for help, so that's what I did!"

Miroku sighs and pats the tanuki on the back with a straight face:

"It's okay, Hachi. You only did as you were asked to, and that's fine."

Shippo shivers from atop Coraline's shoulder and jitters,

"First Besa gets a warning through his crystal, now this? That's all I need to hear: Freeman's gotta be in big time trouble!"

I nod in agreement, as do the rest of us, and Inuyasha exclaims with a fist raised,

"Then let's not stand around like a bunch'a idgits: Let's get a move on to Aokigahara!"

"(Collective) Right!"

At that note, Kilala shifts into her true form so Sango and Miroku could ride her, while Hachi transforms into his gourd form for the rest of us to ride, and the Yozosume flies ahead us all alongside the Will O' Wisp, Lumos. We take to the skies, making for a fast pace to the northwest to find Freeman and Ginta before it was too late.

(Clenches fist) Hang tight, brother...We're coming for you; just stay strong!

Time Skip, No POV

"Hah, hah, I dunno, how much longer, I can keep, going...!"

"We, uh-hh, gotta keep trying, Freeman! One pause, is all that she-devil needs, to eliminate us both!"

Catching up with our endangered new couple, shortly after Freeman sent a message of distress through a telepathic connection via the Seven Light Crystal shards (which he may or may not be fully aware of...), the energies would give him enough of a boost to get off of the ground and use his hammer to throw Asuka off-balance with a wave of seismic vibrations, before lifting Ginta to his feet so both could start sprinting out of the area as quick as they're able to...

They've since exited the section of forest where Fugaku Cave resided, and we're now entering the southern region between Aokigahara and Mount Fuji where Saiko Lake sat, the waters casting a brilliant blue sheen in contrast to the deep green mountain vegetation surrounding it, the shoreline a mix of gravel sand and water weeds growing together with wheat stalks.

Unfortunately, the beauty of nature would fall as a much later afterthought, for their attention was concentrated on avoiding having their heads taken off by the shadow-black wind blades send upon them by Asuka the Wolf Demoness.

(Swipe, swipe, swipe)

(Crash, crash, crash...)

"You both can't run forever! I will have your hides!"

Freeman curses to himself,

"Son of a-this is ridiculous! We're like two doves bein' hunted by a crazy falcon! There's gotta be a way to beat her before we get wasted!"

Ginta responds with furrowed eyebrows,

"If we could just disarm her of that demon blade, we might stand a chance for tomorrow...But that's askin' for a miracle..."

"...You know what? Screw miracles: I'm done playing defense!"

"Huh?"

With his mind made up to no longer run like what he would deem as a coward, Freeman slides to a halt, and whirls around to stand at battle ready with his hammer in the air, glare set.

"I say we show this bi-atch what for, that no one's gonna stand in the way of us...Are you with me, Ginta?"

Ginta was taken aback by the show of bravery...but then nods firmly with his own determined expression.

"I'm with you, Freeman; let's do this!"

They move to stand by eachother's side, and wait until Asuka slows to a halt a couple feet away from them, their backs to one side of the coast, hers to the other. She takes in a couple breaths, before asking with a taunting smirk,

"You two finally giving up your lives?"

"Hell no!"

"We're just done running from you, Asuka! If a fight's what you want, a fight's what you'll get, so bring it on!"

"(Frown) Hmph...alright then. It's your, (lunge) funerals!"

With that, the real battle of two against one commences, both sides charging to overpower the other...

At around this time, Inuyasha and company had arrived in the Aokigahara region, and the dog demon himself had jumped off of Hachi to lead the way as soon as his nose caught the mixed scents of two wolf demons and a human.

"Are you sure they went this way, Inuyasha?"

He calls back up to Coraline,

"Positive! My nose hasn't lied to me yet! Plus look around: There's battle damage all over the place!"

The path they were traveling had multiple lacerations on tree trunks that emanated with a hazy black energy, upturned ground and hard-stepped footprints left by the rage-fueled demoness...Shippo shivers from the sight and comments,

"Whoever did this must be really strong..."

Sango, who was still riding in the air on Kilala with Miroku, replies in her own train of thought,

"Either that or they have a powerful weapon. Hachi, you said a bit earlier that this demon woman was carrying a blade on her back?"

The gourd-formed tanuki chimes,

"Uh-huh. I couldn't see it too well from how high up I was, but I think it had a curved blade. It also seemed to be where most of the Demon Aura's strength was coming from..."

Miroku hms with a deep frown and mutters,

"In that case, we may be facing a strong opponent soon."

Besa shakes his head from his place beside Coraline and exclaims with a worried glare,

"I don't care how strong this woman is or isn't: All that matters to me is that we find Freeman before he's killed!"

Please be okay, brother...

(Pulse)

"Uh! (Point) Up ahead: That lake! I can sense Freeman's Seven Light shard!"

Inuyasha further confirms the direction:

"Yeah, and that's where the wolf scent is strongest too! Let's hurry!"

Doubling their speed, the group rushes to meet the end of the treeline that kissed the rocky shores of Lake Saiko...And it would be revealed that their arrival to lend aid was cut close, for despite how hard the pair fought, Freeman and Ginta were unable to get a leg over Asuka.

(Swing, slash)

"Aaaagh!"

(Clang, shing, KICK)

"Aaaaarrrrrhhhhh!"

The male wolf demon received a new cut across his torso after a failed dive kick to knock Asuka's sword from her hands, before she and Freeman go blade to hammer in a short standoff, ending with he getting a hard jab of her right foot in his stomach and thrown back several feet to land beside his fallen partner!

"G-Grh-ah, G-Ginta...are you, alright?"

Doing his hardest to ignore the pain in his bruises and cuts, the wolf demon slowly shoves himself to his knees and mutters with a grit,

"H-Hrgh, b-been, better...You?"

Freeman moves into a similar position, holding his ribs with one hand and using his weapon to help push himself off the graveled ground.

"I'm hangin', i-in there. But this is, m-more damage that I've taken in one sitting..."

"...Freeman!"

"Huh?"

They dart their heads up to the treeline at Besa's call, just as he and the rest of our ragtag group emerge from the southern edge of Aokigahara! The dark-skinned boy stares with wide eyes at his twin's form, muttering their name under his breath.

He...He heard me. And they all came...

Hopping down from Hachi as he transforms back into his regular form, Coraline and Besa quickly become horrified by the sight of their injured sibling (and to another extent, Ginta's injured form).

"Oh my god, Freeman...!"

"Are you and Ginta okay?!" Freeman calls back with a pained grin,

"Not, exactly, but we're still breathing!"

"Not for long, mortal."

"Mph!"

Focus turns to Asuka, who takes a few steps closer to the grievously injured pair with a hateful expression, her blade charging up with power again.

"You and Ginta will soon die by my hand..."

"Stop!"

"Hm?"

She turns her attention to the side, as Coraline steps forward onto the gravel beach with ShatterSoul at the ready in her left hand, Besa following on her right with his sickles out of their holsters.

"Don't you dare take another step closer to them!"

"Or you'll regret the day you were born into this world!"

Asuka's eyes narrow in suspicion at the redhead and her blade:

That mortal woman, and her sword...Could she be the priestess warrior that's been talked about through the grapevine?

The one said to have the power to use her own Soul Energy as an attack?

"You there, the one with the foreign blade: Are you the one known as Coraline?"

Said addressee grips her blade hilt a bit tighter, as Inuyasha quickly moves to stand on her left in a protective manner.

"Who's askin'? Who are you, and what's deal with savagely attackin' Freeman and Ginta?"

"My name is Asuka, one of the many members of the Eastern Wolf Demon Tribe..."

Asuka points the tip of her demon blade in Freeman and Ginta's direction with a snarl:

"And these two, that man and his bastard mortal, have dared to call eachother their own, violating the traditions of the tribe and condemning their lives!"

The rescue party forms a collective 'Hah?!' expression, while said injured pair shout with annoyed glares,

"Those traditions are a bunch of crap!" "Yeah, what he said!"

"Silence, or do you both wish to have your lives ended much quicker?"

Freeman and Ginta grit their teeth and grasp eachother's hand, which did not go unnoticed by the former's brother and Sango.

"(Whisper) Did you see...?"

"(Whisper) Yes...Is it, possible they're..."

Miroku cuts into their train of thought by saying,

"We can figure out those details later, but right now we need to get them out of the line of fire before they're destroyed."

"Right..."

So while they, Lumos and Hachi begin to quietly sneak over and help the injured human and wolf demon, Coraline inquires Asuka with a serious frown,

"And why does such a so-called, 'violation' matter so much to you? Is this a case of unrequited feelings for Ginta, or do you simply hate the idea of two men forming a romantic relationship? Either way, you'd be in the wrong because no one has control over the force of love: It acts on its own accord and to its own rhythm."

"Hmph! What a load of self-righteous nonsense! What of the consequences that can occur with a love so different from the norm? How does one suppose the tribe will look at Ginta after this?! I only wish to save him from a life of ridicule and shame!"

Besa pauses his steps towards his brother and Ginta to counter with a glare,

"At the cost of his heart's freedom and living miserably for the rest of his days? Nice way to 'save him'."

"Shut up, mortal!"

Inuyasha then cuts in while brandishing out his Tessaiga:

"Alright, I've heard all I need to hear: Obviously, you're not gonna stop until you lop off Freeman and Ginta's skulls, but that's not happenin'..."

He then lunges straight at Asuka, adding,

"Because it's your head that's comin' off!"

(Swing, CLANG)

Unfortunately for the dog demon, his blade would meet in a standstill with the female wolf's, and sparks of energy would break out between the metal, before Asuka manages to throw Inuyasha off with a black-shaded wind cut that blasts from her sword!

(Whoosh, slash)

"Gaaa-aaaaah!"

He flies backwards to the treeline, but manages to recover by springing sideways off a trunk and land safely on the grass with a huff. Shippo rushes to check on him with a worried expression:

"Inuyasha, are you okay?!"

"Grh, I'm fine, squirt...but that blade she's carryin's got power. Almost reminds me of that wind witch, Kagura, but not as strong and more, wild if that makes sense."

"Wild? Like, those tornadoes Kōga uses to amp up his speed?"

"Yeah, somethin' on the lines of that mangy wolf's abilities...I dunno where she got that demon blade from, but she definitely knows how to use it."

Inuyasha begins to move back up to a stand, just as Asuka turns to notice Sango, Miroku, Besa and Hachi helping Freeman and Ginta to their feet to walk them to the grass edging the shoreline, the third one and the Will O' Wisp having already used their own powers to heal the injured pair as best they could.

"Grh, no you don't!"

(Lunge, CLANG)

"Uh!"

"Just what I was going to say!"

Thankfully, Coraline was able to move fast enough to stop the wolf demoness from charging at the small group and blocks with her own blade, each one pushing on the other to throw them off-balance! The fox demon exclaims from atop Inuyasha's shoulder,

"Whoa, amazing! Coraline's holding back Asuka's sword with her own!"

The dog demon widens his amber irises in wonder:

Huh? How's she doin' that? Coraline does have skill, but I don't remember her bein' that strong...unless...

Is it possible that ShatterSoul is stronger than that wench's demon blade?

Asuka was just as flabbergasted:

What? She's, blocking me!

...She truly isn't any ordinary mortal...

"(Smirk) Tuh, not bad for a mortal wench. Your blade truly is as strong as they say...I'll tell you what..."

She then releases the clash and jumps back a few feet from Coraline, much to the latter's confusion, until the former continues.

"If you wish to save Ginta and his mortal boy, then let's have a duel!"

"What?"

"You heard me. Here are the stakes: If I lose, then I swear to never lay a hand of harm on your group nor on Ginta again."

Coraline narrows her eyes in suspicion:

"...And if I were to lose, then what?"

"Then the one known as Freeman dies, you relinquish your sword to me, assuming you're still alive once the battle is over, and Ginta is to come back with me to the tribe with no resistance."

Everyone gasps at Asuka's words, and she asks the redhead with a taunting smile,

"What do you say: Do we have a deal? Are you brave enough to take me on?"

Coraline's POV

Holy crap, did I seriously just get challenged to a Duel to the Death?!

...What do I do? On one hand, if something isn't done about Asuka, this'll just turn into a ridiculous hunting exercise.

But, on the other hand, if I do accept the challenge, I'll be putting myself in the line of fire alongside Freeman and Ginta, and while I don't doubt my skills, there's no actual guarantee that'll be able to prevail over her...

What a conundrum...

"Don't do it, Coraline!"

"Huh?"

I turn to meet the eyes of Freeman and Ginta, who were sitting off to the side of the shore looking a little better thanks to Besa's crystal and Lumos, as the former adds,

"Don't put yourself in killing range for our sakes! We're not worth that much trouble!"

I could see that he was just concerned for my life and didn't want anyone else getting hurt, but that mattered crap to me...

"Freeman...(Soft smile) You're worth all the trouble in the world, as is what, or should I say, (glances at Ginta) who you fight for."

"Sis..."

"Besides, she challenged me, so it's all up to me whether I accept or not."

And I know exactly what my answer is...

I turned back to face Asuka and call to her with a serious frown,

"I accept your challenge!"

My friends, family and lover gasp, and I steal a glance with Inuyasha while adding,

"And Inuyasha...if by some terrible luck this ends badly...you should know what to do afterwards."

His mouth gapes a bit, before he nods firmly, while mouthing the message 'Be careful, love.' I nod back as seriously, before getting ready for the fight that would soon begin, lifting ShatterSoul over my person with one hand.

Here goes...

One minute passes with the coming breeze, before Asuka and I began our battle, each of us charging at one another blades raised.

"Hraaaaahhhhh!"

"Haaaaaaaahhhhhhh!"

(Clang...)

Our swords meet in their second clash, but this time seemed to be one that the she-demon was ready for, and she would shift her stance in a feint drop of weight, before shoving me back and unleashing one of those strange shadow wind attacks!

(Swipe, whoooosh)

"Gh! Spirit Slash!"

(Slash, fwoooosh)

Thankfully, I was fast enough in releasing one of my own blade's special attacks, and it collides with the hazy wind blade before both blow apart in a spark of energy, the impact waving down on us all.

"Grhhh..."

That's some power...!

Once the aftereffect of the collision dissipated, I would straighten up at the ready, only to find my opponent out of sight.

"Uh!"

Where'd she go-

(Pulse)

Behind me!

"Hrrrah!"

(Whirl, clang, clang...)

After a few rounds of blade clashing on blade, I took a turn at shoving Asuka backwards, before landing a swift kick in her abdomen.

"Hah!"

(Kick)

"Rgh!"

She's thrown back a few feet, but stays upright, and gives me a look of scorn before charging at me once again:

"Let's see you best this speed, wench!"

(Clang, clang, clang, shing)

"Guh!"

(PUNCH)

"Uaaaahhhh!"

Unfortunately for me, I was the slower one that time, having my offensive arm holding my sword propelled upward and giving Asuka the opening to land a fist in my torso! I fall back twice as far as she did, landing on the rocky shores face-up:

"Agh!"

Dammit!

"Coraline!" "Cor!"

I manage to push myself up on my elbows, but only got that far before Asuka came lunging at me to try and take my head off, forcing me to use my blade to block hers.

(Clang...)

Now we're caught in a contest of strength: One slip-up on my end is all it'll take before the demon blade comes cutting right through my skull...

"(Pant) You've got guts fighting against the likes of me thus far!"

I look at Asuka's face with confusion for the uh, compliment, she eyeing me with a frown before adding,

"That seems to be the only thing I can't understand about you mortals: You're willing to take on opponents like we demons without so much as a second thought to the danger, purely for other lives or for concepts too high above the mind. Why is that?"

I give her a gritted smile and reply,

"Can't speak as an expert, for even I don't know the true answer, but...maybe it has something to do with our spirits."

"Hm?"

Summoning a burst of strength, I shove her off my person before trying to swipe at her with my blade, she dodging in a leap, as I defend my choice of words.

"All I know is that when the going gets tough, there's always something inside the human spirit that will push us beyond our limits, telling us not to give up, and that what we fight for will always be worth the ache and pain in our bodies in the end..."

I steal a glance at my brother Freeman and Ginta, they watching me in just as bated breath as the others, but were holding hands in a way like Inuyasha and I do as a couple...which means,

Something definitely happened between those two...something they won't give up.

And that's why I won't lose!

With that set in my mind, I get back to the current issue that was finishing this battle with my life in tact. It winds up being a series of metal and energy attacks, with the occasional punches, kicks and scratches, leaving Asuka and I fairly battered and bruised, but neither one of us willing to forfeit despite our waning stamina...

Then came the moment that would provide me the opening for the win, and the she-wolf hers for the loss.

"...Asuka!" "Gintaaa!"

Uh! That sounded like Kōga and Hakkaku!

And right I was, when both male wolf demons suddenly came barreling out of the trees just a couple feet back from where we all came out! Asuka was certainly taken aback by their appearance:

"Guh! K-Kōga, Hakkaku!"

She's distracted. This is my chance!

Not wasting this well-timed opportune, I quickly ran at the wolf demoness and used my Aura to knock her sword out of her hands!

"Spirit Slash!"

(Slash, FWAP)

"Uh! My sword!"

It flies several feet into the air, before landing into the waters of the lake, but not so deep that its hilt couldn't be seen...

"Now with that outta the way...try this!"

(Slash)

"Raaaah!"

I use another ice blue energy slash to knock her backwards, before sheathing my blade and switching to hand-to-hand combat, using all that I've learned thus far under Master Yoshi's training to keep up with Asuka's raw speed and strength...

And after a few minutes:

"Hiiiiyah!"

(KICK)

"Aaaauuhhhh!"

My foot connects hard with Asuka's chest, making her fly back several feet and roll onto the gravel beach until she stopped on her back...I take in a few gulps of air to steady my racing heart, before walking over to the wolf demoness's form with an indifferent expression, she pausing in her grimace to look up at me with both irritation...and acknowledgement.

"Hah...hah...well...you win. So...you gonna end my life or what?"

Does she seriously expect me to?

"...Why should I? What would be the point?"

"Huh?"

I give her a serious frown and state,

"You already agreed to the terms of no longer doing harm to me, my friends or Ginta. There wasn't anything that said I would kill you. That'd be taking it too far...besides..."

I look up to see Kōga approaching us with Hakkaku not too far behind him:

"I reckon you'll be receiving worse punishment in a minute."

Small Time Skip, No POV

Soon enough, the whole story would come out: From Ginta's personal inner conflicts to the issues he was having with Asuka, leading all the way down to their most recent skirmish that roped in Freeman's assistance before he tagged out with Coraline...

"So, all this time, you were hiding your feelings about men from us, Ginta?"

The wolf demon nods meekly, his eyes downcast and unable to meet the irises of his two best friends:

"I'm, sorry I never told either of you. I just...I was scared of how you'd react."

"Over what? Somethin' as minor as that you're not into girls? Don't be ridiculous, Ginta."

He darts his head up to look at Kōga in surprise, who smiles at him gently and says,

"It's never been enforced that men can't be with the same sex, more like the thought's, hardly crossed our minds. Either way, we won't ever abandon you because of something as meaningful as finding your mate. If anything, you could be startin' a revolution."

"Uh! A, revolution? Me?" Hakkaku replies with a shrug,

"Why not? Those old traditions are gonna become yesterday's news someday anyway."

"Guys..."

Ginta felt happy tears form in the corners of his eyes, and rushes to hug the other two wolf demons in gratitude for understanding.

"Thank you! Thank you!"

"Whoa whoa, easy, Ginta!" "No need to get mushy!"

He lets them go after a minute, and backs up with a sheepish smile:

"Sorry; went a bit overboard."

Freeman then walks over to him and wraps an arm around his shoulders with a knowing smile:

"See? Told you they wouldn't be dumb enough to start hating you because you like men."

"And you were right..."

Kōga watches their closeness for a moment, hmming in thought at the way they were smiling at one another, before turning stern eyes on the wolf demoness responsible for recent problems.

"Now then, Asuka."

"Mph!"

He moves up until he was just a few inches from her face and barks,

"You've got some nerve terrorizin' my second in command and one of your fellow pack members the way you did! What the hell were you thinking?!"

"I-I-I-"

"(Holds a hand up) Don't. On second thought, based on what I've already heard, I don't even wanna know what's goin' on in that head of yours."

(Lunge, grasp)

"Ugh!"

The wolf demon leader then springs at Asuka and holds her up in the air by her neck, shocking the spectators.

"Uh!" "Kōga!"

"Is he gonna-"

"You don't think he'll...?!"

He growls at the struggling wolf demoness and mutters lowly,

"I've got a right mind to snap your neck, you wench..."

"Wait, Kōga, don't!"

"Hm?"

Ginta then rushes over and grabs the wolf demon leader's arm while pleading,

"Don't kill her! It's not worth it!"

"Not worth it? Even after all the pain she's made you go through?! Are you serious?!"

"I am. I won't deny that she's hurt me...but to go so far as killing her...even I don't want that. She needs to learn that she can't force things on people and expect it to be the right thing. She can't do that if she's dead."

Freeman and Hakkaku mutter Ginta's name with wide eyes, as Miroku comments,

"That's quite a noble gesture, to allow her to live in order to repent for what she's done."

Inuyasha scoffs,

"Keh, if it were me, I would've let her die without a second thought."

Coraline gives him a pointed look, but chose to keep quiet, her eyes on the scene before her:

Like I said: She already agreed to not cause harm, and killing her's not gonna change anything except leave a bigger impact of the pain...

And Ginta knows that. He'd rather she learn from her mistakes than die because of them.

"...Tuh, fine."

Kōga drops Asuka to the ground, before he states in a strong tone,

"Asuka, I will spare your life, but you will still be punished for your crimes against the tribe: You are hereby banished from the den!"

"(Gasp) K-Kōga-"

"Now go, before I come up with something worse."

...The demoness rose gingerly to her feet, her head downcast in shame with her bangs covering her eyes, and she slowly walks over into the shallow end of the lake to retrieve her weapon, before disappearing in a hazy black whirlwind...

Shippo whimpers,

"That was scary to watch..."

Hachi nodded in agreement with his own shiver:

"I'll say. That Asuka's lucky she was only banished and wasn't executed..."

Kōga lets out a calmer breath with a frustrated frown:

"Man, I hate havin' to go leader like that, even if it's for a good reason. (Grumbles) Leaves a bad taste in my mouth..."

"...You did the right thing, though."

"Hm?"

He turns eyes to Freeman, who flashes a grim smile and says,

"Coming from someone who's experienced mental cruelty similar to Ginta's, I know that ridding the one responsible off the face of the planet's not gonna change anything. It's better just to move forward with your head high and find people who don't look at you solely for that trait, but at everything that makes you, well, you. Show the opposer that their bullcrap means nothing."

"Hm...I guess that would stick it to 'em better, wouldn't it? Screw with their heads."

"(Laugh) Yeah, that's one way to look at it."

"Now then...there's just one more thing I need to know."

"Hm? What's that?"

Kōga steps up to Freeman's proximity with an intent expression, and sniffs the air around the human before asking seriously,

"Was there any merit to what Asuka was addressing you as before, as 'Ginta's mortal'?"

"U-Um...hoh boy, this is awkward..."

Freeman's face starts colouring over in a blush before Ginta, his face also forming a bright red flush, steps over to try and help the former out.

"W-Well, you see, Kōga...(Sigh) The truth is, before we got ambushed in that old wind cave, Freeman and I, we...might have..."

"Might've wha-(Widens eyes) Wait...no...Did you two...!"

Both boys laugh nervously while rubbing the back of their heads, and Besa quickly clues into the unsaid message.

"...Oh, my, god..." Coraline asks,

"What?"

"Uh...sis, you remember that, 'glow' Freeman sometimes got during those days when he came back from a 'night on the town'?"

"...Oh geez, you mean-?!"

"(Gulp) He's got that glow and then some."

The redhead makes the 'oooh' sound while burying her face into her palms in mortification (though secretly smiling at her brother's proclamation with the wolf demon), while Inuyasha mutters with furrowed brows,

"I don't ge-...Wait a minute...(Widens eyes) What the hell?!"

The rest would quickly clue into the topic of discussion, with the slayer and monk bulging their pupils out, Hachi making the 'Whaaat?!' expression, while Shippo covers his ears and shouts,

"Aaagh! No more info for me thanks; I'm still a kid! Wait...does that mean, Freeman and Ginta, are mates now?"

...Eyes fall on the bashful new couple, who reply,

"Um, yeah..."

"No use denyin' what's true..."

"Uh, you two are aware of what the implications are with becoming mates, right?"

Kōga adds after Hakkaku,

"Especially since one of you is mortal. Not sayin' that to discourage; just pointin' out one of the, possible problems you'll have to face."

Both Freeman and Ginta nod, replying as seriously,

"We're well-aware of what we've done, and we aren't going back on it either."

"We don't care about the differences. What matters is that we want eachother's hearts, end of."

Everyone was in awe by how devoted the two sounded, their expressions and tones reflecting just how much they did care about eachother...Kōga then breaks out an amused laugh and says while slapping a hand on his forehead,

"Wow, what a flip of fates this turned out to be! Here I was chasing a mortal's heart at one time, and now you've gone and took one for your mate! Gotta say...you've got more guts than I do, Ginta."

"Uh! (Small smile) Y-You really mean that, Kōga?"

"Yeah, sure...And I promise to make sure the rest of the tribe respects your decision too."

"Thank you..."

Sango comments on the scene before her the others with mild surprise:

"Well this is an interesting turn. I didn't know that Kōga could be this understanding..."

Coraline smiles a little and replies,

"Well, thinking about how close-knitted the wolf demon tribes are, I don't find this loyalty act too surprising. Besides, he, Hakkaku and Ginta are especially close."

"Very true..."

"(Small frown) What does concern me a little is how each of our travel parties are gonna go about from this point onward..."

Inuyasha asks her,

"Why's that?"

"Well wouldn't it make sense that Freeman and Ginta would want to be close to one another as often as they can?"

"...Oh yeah, that might be a problem."

"No need to worry about that, you guys."

"Huh?" "Hm?"

They turn eyes back on said couple of discussion, who smile a touch sadly but determinedly as Freeman adds,

"We already talked about that, and decided that given how uncertain things are in this ongoing war against Naraku, it'll be better just to continue traveling in our respected groups like normal, but find as many opportunities as we can to meet up."

"Uh...are you guys sure about this?"

"Mhm. Sometimes you gotta work for Love to meet it."

Freeman turns to Ginta to say in a softer tone,

"And I will work my damnedest for us, Ginta. That I can promise you."

"Same here."

They stare into eachother's eyes for a moment...before leaning in to claim the other's lips in a deep kiss, much to the surprise of the bystanders.

"Guh!" "Whoa!"

"Wow...!" "Holy crap...!"

A minute or two passes before the two men part, with Ginta making a surprisingly bold move in lunging at Freeman's neck to nip at his skin with a slight growl, making the latter eep and the former chuckle a bit as he whispers in the waiting ear,

"Until next time then...mate."

"U-Uh, yeah...'til next time."

They step back from eachother, Ginta sporting a cheeky grin in opposition to Freeman's blushing smile, before the wolf demon turns to leave with his comrades.

"Yep, that'll hold me for a while...Shall we get goin', guys?"

Kōga and Hakkaku snap out of their dazes and scramble to catch up with their confident-aired friend:

"Gu-uh, right! Later, mutt, Coraline, and the rest of ya!"

"Bye, you guys! See you around!"

And the three wolf demons take off from the area, moving along on their own trail for the accursed half-demon...Freeman watches the one wolf demon who captured his heart go with a wistful smile, clutching the whistle that summons the Yozosume tightly into his palm like it was a promise ring.

...I love you, Ginta, and one day, we'll be with one another without all the chaos...

That, is a promise.