[RATING M] For language and maybe for future lemon, we're never sure how things will turn out. X'DD
Hey guys, SweetFantasyDreams here. :)
So, here's the sixth chapter of Wolves's Destiny, I hope that you guys will like it, I did my best to keep the story interesting so far. ~
I wanted to show how much Ayame's fate was playing on her mind: slowly, her sleep is starting to get affected by her fears. Ayame is terrified, but she acts strong.
I also wanted to work a bit more on Ginta and Hakkaku...I hope that you guys will enjoy it.
I do not own any of Inuyasha CCs (Canon characters, which means: CHARACTERS BELONGING TO THE MANGA AND SHOW.)
I only own the FCs (Fan characters, which means: CHARACTERS CREATED BY A FAN).
Message(s) from the ''author'':
-1. The quote of this chapter is in fact the verse 1 and the bridge of the song Burning Heart by Svrcina.
Here, that was my message(s), I hope that you will enjoy the chapter ! ~
-2. For the needs of the story, I made up 2 new FCs...well, it was mostly for my own pleasure, since I wanted to work a bit more on Ginta and Hakkaku. Here's the new FCs:
-Yuna: ''Yuna'' means ''Red Hibiscus Flower'' in Japanese. She's an Omega female of Haru's Tribe, the Western Yôrô Tribe.
-Sakura: ''Sakura'' means ''Cherry Tree Flower'' in Japanese. Just like Yuna, she's a member of the Western Yôrô Tribe.
Burning Hearts
''In the early morning...
The darkest dawn...
Hear the trumpets sounding...
Love's final song...
Kiss me, fade away
Just far enough I'm drifting...
Touch your soul,
I know that I'm not dreaming...
Safe until the night is gone... ''
It's been two weeks, now, that Takehaya and his Tribe had offered to the Wolf Demons to become their allies, and to help them fighting against Osamu, his tribe and his other allies. It's also been two weeks that Osamu didn't gave a sign of life, which was suspicious to Koga, Haru, Taiyô and Takehaya's taste. The yellow miasma was now covering all of the Northern Mountains, but so far, no changes in the behaviors or the health of either Wolf Demons or Tiger Demons was noticed.
Also, the fact that there was still Birds of Paradise alive was bothering Koga like never before: he has thought that Inuyasha and his friend Miroku had killed every single of the last known nest, months ago...! So, to hear from Haru that there was still living Birds of Paradise around and that they had allied themselves to that traitor of Osamu.
Wolf Demons and Tiger Demons learned to get to know each other, and they even shared their cultures and knowledge with each other as well. The children of both species didn't had any trouble in getting along very well, and quickly. They were running all around the den, squeaking and giggling in pleasure, under the attentive watch of their parents.
Ayame had also finally explained the reasons about the presence of the silver crescent moons scar mark on the left side of her neck to Yuri...and obviously, Yuri was first angry at Koga, but she understood afterwards that he was trying to make amends for what happened.
On the other side, Koga has to explain to the Wolf Elder why he marked Ayame and why he asked her to mark him as well, but the Wolf Elder had nothing to reproach to Koga: his decisions were all calculated, and they were all good decisions. Koga then explained the situation to Ginta and Hakkaku, who also had nothing to reproach to their Leader.
The spring was still there, and the snow was melting slowly. The weather remain slightly cold, though, so they had to keep their protection on themselves still. The main sources of food were wild boars and fishes, but they were all waiting for the summer to bring some fruits into their diet.
A week earlier, Takehaya and Taiyô - much to his displeasure - had left earlier in the morning to search the area surrounding the Northern Mountains, for any traces or clues about the Birds of Paradise and Osamu and his allies. A few Tiger Demons and Wolf Demons had accompanied them as well.
There was no signs of them, since then.
Even though there was danger roaming free somewhere, everything remain slightly calm...for now.
...She was feeling like she was floating...
That sensation...it was feeling incredibly good...
Ayame slowly opened her eyes, blinking a few times.
Ayame didn't know were she was, but she was floating in the middle of a field, surrounded by trees and white iris flowers. The sight was breathtaking, bright, warm, and clear. Ayame blinked, then slowly looked around, even turning around to look behind her: she seemed to be alone...
Ayame then looked at her hands and stares at them silently:...what was this place...?...It was making her feeling incredibly calm, relaxed, and nice...
-''All right, don't overdo it !''
Ayame jumped at the sudden voice that spoked behind her. She swiftly turns around to fall face to face...with Koga.
-''...Koga...?'', she asks, blinking.
Koga grins, and gently hands over her purple iris to her.
-''When things gets to be too hard, don't you worry. One day, I'll make you my wife, Ayame'', he says, smiling gently.
Ayame open wide eyes: those words...they're the words he said when he made that promise to her on the day he saved her...!
She blushes: she wanted to believe them, to trust him...
Ayame shyly smiles, then slowly reaches her hand out to take her iris flower from his hand...but a brutal breeze suddenly blast into her and she went to hit a tree. Ayame let out a yelp of pain, closing her eyes from the chock of hiting the tree, then fell to the ground.
As she open her eyes seconds later, she went wide eyed: she was now in the middle of nowhere...! The place was now dark, cold, and blurry...there was nothing around her anymore, and she felt unsafe and slightly scared.
Koga then appeared in front of her, still holding on her purple iris flower. He was looking down at his feet and his eyes were hidden by his hair.
-''K...Koga...?'', asks Ayame, with a pale face.
Koga didn't answered her right away. He remain like that for a few seconds, before to slowly look up at Ayame...with disgust and annoyance in his eyes. Ayame felt even more scared, now: those weren't Koga's eyes...!
Koga then brutally crushes her purple iris flower in his hand, and Ayame felt like if he had punched her in the stomach. She shrieked and dashes at him.
-''WHAT ARE YOU DOING ?!'', she shrieks, kicking him away.
Koga let go of the flower as he flew away and landed a few meters away from her. Ayame went to her knees and picked up her awfully damaged iris flower delicately in her trembling hands. She stares at her iris flower with shock, trembling: it was her most precious memory...! It was the reason that made it possible for them to meet, all those years ago...!
And he just destroyed it under her very own eyes...!
Ayame looked up and her eyes meet Koga's eyes, which were still filled with disgust and annoyance.
-''If I knew that you would be such an annoying brat...I wouldn't have saved you, that day...'', coldly says Koga. ''I wish I had never saved you.''
Ayame felt a thread getting brutally cuted inside her, as tears filled her eyes up:
...Was she really...that pathetic and foolish...?
Ayame woked up in a jump, a hand over her left ponytail...and crying silent tears. Her iris flower was still there, in one piece. Ayame was panting, and started to tremble, as she looked around with distress.
She was in the Northern Yôrô Tribe's main cave, and it was the middle of the night, all the snores around her being a good indicator for that as well.
Ayame was feeling distressed and she was trembling, and even though she didn't wanted to leave the furs, she grabbed a blanket made out of furs, put on her fur cape over her shoulders, then got up and silently head out of the cave.
Once that she was out of the cave, Ayame walked up a small path that was leading right above the top of the cave. There, the snow has competely melt away, leaving a clean place to sit down in the grass.
Ayame quietly sat down in the grass, still crying silent tears.
That nightmare...it clearly was the reflection of how she truly felt: betrayed, shocked, hurt...and Ayame hated herself for feeling so weak, especially because of a stupid nightmare...!
Ayame silently looked up at the sky. Surprisingly, it was a cloudless night sky, allowing this night to be a starry one. Looking at the stars was calming and reassuring for her, but it didn't healed her fears...
...She wanted to trust Koga...but unfortunately, he will have to do more than making another promise and marking her, if he wanted to help her in believing in him once more...
Slowly, Ayame felt sleepy again, and she laid down on the blanket made out of furs - using it as a mattress and a blanket at the same time - and in the grass.
She quickly went back to sleep...
It was the morning, now.
The Wolf Demons and the Tiger Demons were all woking up slowly, and they all started to do their own things.
Koga was chatting with Ginta, Hakkaku and Haru, about nothing in particular. They were interrupted by the Wolf Elder, who was heading to them slowly. Once that he was near them, Koga knelt to listen to what he had to say.
-''Good morning, Wolf Elder'', he respectfully nods.
-''Good morning, Koga'', nods the Wolf Elder.
-''Is everything ok ?'', asked Koga.
-''Not really...'', murmures the Wolf Elder. ''Ayame is sleeping on the top above the main cave, and I have the feeling that you should go and see her...''
Koga groans, rubbing a hand down on his face: again...?
-''Koga...I know it annoys you, but you'll have to prove yourself to Ayame'', sighs the Wolf. ''Are you just only aware of how bad she must be feeling, right now ?''
-''Yes, Wolf Elder...'', murmures Koga, closing his eyes. ''I'll go see her right away.''
-''Thank you, Koga...'', weakly smiles the Wolf Elder.
With that, the Wolf Elder then leaved the four alone. Koga got up with a sigh, then headed to the path leading right above the top of the main cave.
Haru watched him walking away, when he felt a gentle tap on his right shoulder. He turned his head around on his right and fell face to face with Yuri. He blinked, slightly surprised that she finally decided to approach him by herself.
-''Good morning, Yuri'', he gently says. ''Do you need something ?''
-''Good morning, Haru'', replies Yuri, slightly blushing. ''Actually, yes...I was charged to watch the younger Wolf Demons and Tiger Demons along with Keiko and a few other female and male Tiger Demons, and we were wondering if you three could help us...?''
Ginta and Hakkaku turned pale: them, helping with the youngest members of the packs...?!
Haru silently stares at Yuri for a few seconds: he was silently admiring her beauty, her slender body and her mesmerizing, beautiful, sky blue eyes. Yuri seemed to be aware of that, and started to blush more, but she supported his gaze and she also looked him up: damn, he was very handsome, with his green eyes and his long silver hair...and his muscular body.
Ginta and Hakkaku both remain silent: they could see the desire in Yuri's eyes, and they were wondering if Haru was aware of that.
-''Sure, I can help you'', calmly says Haru, before to look at Ginta and Hakkaku. ''I don't know about you two, though...do you want to help them, too ?''
-''Well...we're not really good with children...'', nervously says Ginta.
-''Yeah...sorry, Yuri, but...we'll pass our turn, for that...'', says Hakkaku, smiling sadly.
-''It's ok, guys...'', gently smiles Yuri.
Yuri then looked at Ginta and Hakkaku silently for a few seconds, then snaps her fingers with a big smile.
-''If you're not feeling confident around children, then maybe you'll want to help Yuna and Sakura ?'', she smiles.
-''Yuna and Sakura...?'', repeats Hakkaku.
-''Who are they...?'', asks Ginta.
-''Yuna and Sakura are two female Wolf Demons of my Tribe'', answers Haru. ''They're picking up a few fruits in the bushes on the banks of the river and fishing as well, along with a few Tiger Demons and other Wolf Demons, while a few others went to hunt for some meat.''
Ginta and Hakkaku smiled in relief at Haru and Yuri: yeah, they're more confident about going fishing and picking up a few fruits than watching over children...
-''Alright, we're going to help them, then'', says Ginta.
-''See you later !'', adds Hakkaku.
They then both leaved and headed towards the river, in the forest.
Haru and Yuri then looked at each other, then Yuri smiled gently and she lead Haru to where the youger Wolf Demons and Tiger demons were.
Koga finally reached the place where Ayame was sleeping.
He found her sleeping on the cape, using it as a mattress and a blanket at the same time. Koga silently watched Ayame sleeping: she was gorgeous, even when she was sleeping...
Koga sat down in the grass and leaned his back against the rock nearby, his eyes still on Ayame. Whatever reason led her to come and sleep here, the Wolf Elder was right: he couldn't ignore Ayame and he'll have to prove her that he truly cares.
Ayame kept sleeping for an hour, and she started to wake up slowly. She recognized Koga's scent and sat up quickly before to turn to him. Koga remain perfectly calm and stares at her silently. Ayame grits her teeth and looked away. Koga frowned a bit, but didn't said anything.
-''...I guess Gramps told you that I was here...?'', mumbles Ayame, looking away.
-''...Yeah'', calmly answers Koga.
-''And I guess that he asked you to come and see me as well...?''
-''Exactly.''
Ayame grits her teeth more:...so he didn't came by himself...
-''...Why did you came sleeping here ?'', asks Koga.
-''Why are you asking ?'', snaps Ayame, finally glaring at him. ''And anyway, if I tell you the truth, you'll just threat me like a little girl, which I'm not anymore !''
Koga sighed deeply with a groan: here she goes again...
-''Ayame...if you don't tell me anything when you're distressed and that you don't trust me, how can I prove you anything, again, to show you that I care about you ?''
Ayame looked away again, griting her teeth:...he made a point, there...
Ayame shivered from the fresh breeze and pulled the blanket made out of furs around her, but Koga then gently - and carefully - pulled her towards him, and put his arms around her to keep Ayame warm.
Ayame blushes and didn't protested. Swallowing, she shyly leaned herself on his chest - which is, of course, covered by his chest armor - and closed her eyes. Koga didn't moved right away, but he then moved his mouth near Ayame's left ear and murmured:
-''...Again, why did you came here to sleep, Ayame ?''
Ayame opened her eyes and turned her head to him: his eyes...they were showing his concern. Ayame looked away, ashamed of what she was about to answer:
-''...It's because of you...''
Koga blinked, then frowned: alright, what did he have done, this time...?
-''How is it my fault...? I haven't done anything to hurt you, since that day...''
He softly pat her silver crescent scar on the left side of her neck. Ayame blushes and put a shaking hand over it, while griting her teeth. She remain silent for a few minutes, then tell him the truth:
-''...I had a nightmare about you...At first, you seemed to be kind, and you said those words you promised, the day that you saved me from those Birds of Paradise, and you were holding my iris flower, and handing it to me...When I was about to grab it, you brutally changed...and you said awful things, and you crushed my iris flower with your hand...I felt so hurt, and then, I woked up...that's when I felt the need to leave the cave and to come here to clean my mind...I then felt sleepy again and I fell asleep here...''
Ayame kept her eyes closed, griting her teeth: here...now he knew the whole thing, and how pathetic and stupid that she was...Koga, for his part, remain silent, thinking about what she just told him.
-''...Ayame...I gived you my word that I would save you, and believe me when I say that I won't let you down...Not this time.''
Ayame swallows, then slightly pulls herself away from Koga to look at him in the eyes: he couldn't be more sincere than he was already, with that determinated look that he was giving her.
-''I'll do everything, just to get you to stand your ground against me again'', then smirks Koga.
Ayame blinks...then smirks back: that was comforting...
-''You idiot...'', grins Ayame.
-''You jerk...'', keeps smirking Koga.
They remaining «insulting» and mocking each other for a while, and they were truly enjoying that moment of intimacy.
Slowly, but surely, Koga's feelings for Ayame were changing, and in a good way...
Haru was standing near a tree with his arms crossed over his chest armor. Along with the other males - either Wolf Demons or Tiger Demons - he was watching over the younger members of any Tribe or Pack. They were actually in a small meadow in the forest near the Northern Yôrô Tribe's Den, and they were showing to the children how to fight, to survive and to solve their problems.
Yuri was with Kai and Shinta, showing them how to use wild medical plants to heal their wounds and to use some as a cure to some poisons. She was acting like a mother to them and she was doing a great job with their education. Haru was silently watching her, thinking that she would be a good mother and a good bride as well.
An hour or so then passed on, and it was time for a snack. Yuri sat on a rock and started to eat silently, while watching the children eating as well. Haru then approaches her silently and made her jump a bit once that he was next to her.
-''Mind if I join you ?'', gently smiles Haru.
-''S-Sure...!'', blinks Yuri, blushing a bit.
She then made some place for him to sit next to her, and once she was done moving away, he sat down on the rock with her. They ate in silence for a few minutes, while watching the others.
-''You were doing great, with Kai and Shinta'', gently smiles Haru. ''They looked happy.''
-''Thank you...'', blushes Yuri, smiling gently. ''Well...I'm not their mother, nor their father...but none of us could just give up on them. So we're all taking care of their education, and I'm helping with that.''
-''They're between good hands, then'', smiles Haru.
Yuri's face turned poppy red and she felt really embarrassed, but she was very happy at the same time.
-''Why are you turning red everytime we're talking...?'', then asked Haru.
-''H-Huh...I...I...'', squeaks Yuri, taken aback by his question.
She couldn't just tell him that she was in love with him...!
She was an Omega, and he was an Alpha...there's no way that anyone would accept an Omega and an Alpha to become mates...or would they...?
Before she can answer to his question, Haru gently takes her hand and softly kisses its back. Yuri was redder than a poppy by now, and she was feeling like if she was going to faint. Haru then smirks at her and shakes his head gently.
-''...You're quite mesmerizing, Yuri'', he gently smiles, letting go of her hand.
-''W-What...?'', mumbles Yuri, confused. ''How can I be mesmerizing...? I'm not that interesting...''
-''That's what you're thinking'', replies Haru, gently shaking his head.
-''What do you mean...?'', asks Yuri, confused.
Haru suddenly stares at her in the eyes and his gaze was serious and honest.
-''I want to learn and know more about you, that's what it mean'', he calmly says.
Yuri's heart skipped a few beats and she remain mute from shock: he...actually wanted to know more about her...?
But...there was nothing to know about her that was interesting...!
-''What do you want to know...?'', she asks.
Haru slowly, but suddenly, approaches his face towards Yuri's face, and her skipped more beats: he was so close...too close...!
-''Well...I'll be direct: I can see your desire in your beautiful cyan sky blue eyes'', he says. ''And I wanted you to know that I'm not indifferent to your presence. My question is: what are you waiting for ?''
Yuri is completely speechless: that's what you call being direct...!
Haru's green eyes were locked on Yuri's cyan sky blue eyes, and she was feeling her body boiling from the inside:...wait...
...Was she actually...?
-''...NO WAY !'', she shouts, turning very red and jumping on her feet.
Haru blinks in surprise, and watches her running towards the river...and throwing herself within its waters. He then stood up and walked to the river, where Yuri soon emerged from.
-''Are you already...? Your scent slightly changed back there...'', asks Haru, frowning in concern.
Yuri snarls at him, and get out of the water, furious: her fears were coming true. She sharply turns to Haru and slaps him, earning a yelp of pain from him.
-''What the- ?! What's wrong with you ?!'', asks Haru, confused.
-''You know very well what's wrong !'', snaps Yuri. ''You stay away from me, you pervert !''
Yuri then stomps away, leaving a confused Haru behind.
Haru blinks in confusion, then frowns.
-''...I wasn't even trying to ask her to mate with me ! What the heck is wrong with her ?!'', he snarled.
He then dashed towards where Yuri went...and firmly pinned her against a tree. Yuri yelped and kicked him in the chest - even though it was protected by his chest armor. Haru barely felt the kick and he glares at her.
-''Let go of me this instance !'', snarls Yuri, showing him her teeth.
-''Not before you have apologized for calling me a pervert !'', replies Haru, showing his teeth as well. ''Geez, what were you thinking back there ? That I was trying to ask you to mate with me or something ?!''
-''That would be logical, since you confirmed my thoughts back there !'', she glares.
-''What thoughts ?!''
Yuri couldn't keep it up and she became mute again. Griting her teeth, she looked away from Haru, still feeling like if her body was boiling from the inside. Haru wouldn't let that pass: he hated to use his Alpha power, but he wouldn't let her go unless she tells him what SHE thought back there at the river.
Minutes then passed on silently, and Haru was still waiting. He was calm by now, but he still wanted to know what the heck went through her head back there at the river.
-''...Well...?'', he calmly says. ''Are you going to tell me what you thought back there, to call me a pervert ?''
Yuri growls at him, but still looked away: it was so embarrassing...and he was still too close of her to her taste...
-''...I...just got into my heat period...'', she mumbles, ashamed and red.
Haru immediately let go of Yuri at those words: now that explained her sudden outburst of aggressiveness towards him...!
-''Oh...'', he simply says. ''Well, that explains both the change in you scent, and your sudden outburst of aggressiveness towards me...''
He sighs.
-''I'm not a pervert, though...Anyway, I'll leave you alone, now. Come and see me when you'll be feeling less...aggressive.''
Haru then starts walking away from Yuri.
Yuri felt more shamed for what she did:...he didn't deserved that slap, nor being called a pervert. Taking her courage with her two hands, she calls out for Haru:
-''...Haru, wait...!''
Haru turned around when he hear her calling out his name. Yuri then stomps towards him, swiftly grabs his face with her hands, and pulls it down towards her...
...and aggressively kisses him on the lips.
Haru replied to her kiss in the same aggressive way and pulls her closer to him. After a few seconds, they broked the kiss, panting.
-''...Sorry...'', murmures Yuri.
She then turns around and flee from the place, leaving a half-confused Haru behind her.
Haru then shakes his head with a smirk:...he kinda liked that kiss. He then turns around and walked elsewhere as well.
Ginta and Hakkaku finally reached the river where some Wolf Demons and Tiger Demons were fishing and picking up a few fruits. They had came to help Yuna and Sakura, two members of Haru's Tribe, but they had a problem: they had no idea of what they both looked like. Ginta and Hakkaku felt a bit embarrassed about their own ignorance and they tried to silently locate the girls.
-''...Can we help you ?", suddenly asked a high-pitched voice behind them.
Ginta and Hakkaku both jumped and they turned around sharply. The two girls that were behind them also jumped, not expecting that reaction from them. One of the girls was having middle-long dark green hair and red eyes and the other one was having long white hair with light green eyes.
-''Are you alright...?'', frowns the girl with dark green hair.
-''Yes, thank you...'', nervously says Ginta. ''Actually...we're looking for Yuna and Sakura.''
-"That's us'', smirks the green haired girl. ''I'm Yuna.''
-''And I'm Sakura'', gently smiles the white haired girl. ''Who are you ?''
-''I'm Ginta'', says Ginta.
-''And I'm Hakkaku'', adds Hakkaku.
-''Nice to mee you, guys'', smiles Yuna.
Yuna's dark green hair were reaching the middle of her back and weren't tied up. They were also square cut. Her beautiful red eyes were burning with life and mischief. A red hibiscus flower was pinned above her left ear and none of them knew if it had any special use or not. Yuna was wearing a silver and light green chest armor, a grey thin head band, and grey wolves furs for her skirt, insteps and arm guards. Yuna was also wearing a necklace with a single ruby gem. Finally, her sword was hanging on her right hip, so she could draw it out if she ever needed to use it - because, it was in fact, just a decoration.
Sakura, for her part, had long white hair that were reaching down to her hips and they were slightly curly and they weren't tied up. Her beautiful light green eyes were were shining with kindness and slight mischief. Two pink cherry tree flowers were pinned above each of her ears and none of them also knew if they had any special use or not as well. Sakura was wearing a silver and light green chest armor as well, a grey thin head band, and grey wolves furs for her skirt, insteps and arm guards. Sakura was also wearing a necklace with a single morganite gem. Finally, her sword was hanging on her left hip, so she could draw it out if she ever needed to use it - because, again, it was in fact, just a decoration.
Both were very beautiful and seemed to be pretty confident.
-''So, why did you came here for ?'', smirks Yuna.
-''Oh, right...!'', exclaims Ginta. ''Haru and Yuri proposed us to come here and help you two and the others to fish and pick up some fruits.''
-''That's right...!'', adds Hakkaku.
-''That's nice of you two'', gently smiles Sakura.
-''Yeah, any kind of help is welcomed !'', grins Yuna.
Ginta and Hakkaku gently smiled in relief, and they then get to work with Yuna and Sakura. Ginta followed Yuna to the river where they'll be fishing a few fishes, and Hakkaku followed Sakura to the bushes near the banks of the river, to pick up some fruits.
Ginta and Yuna were fishing in the river since an hour or so - of fishing and splashing each other -, and they had fished a lot o fishes. They were in basket on the river bank, and Ginta and Yuna were now taking a break and chating a bit while eating a few fruits that they had picked up.
Yuna revealed herself to be a very interesting girl: she was mischievous, smart, devoted, determinate, funny, kinky and brave. Ginta found her to be beautiful as well, and even though she didn't stoped to make him fall into the water, he somehow crushed on her: in a way, he was feeling that he had found his match.
-''I love to make jokes on Hakkaku, but you outsmarted me, back there'', grins Ginta.
-''Teehee, you'll find a way to trap me, I'm sure of it'', smirks Yuna.
-''By the way, how's the Western Yôrô Tribe's territory...?'', asked Ginta, curious.
-''Well, it's mainly a forest...just like the other Tribes, I guess'', shrouds Yuna. ''We got a few mountains, and a few enemies as well, but it's a nice place.''
-''I see...'', gently smiles Ginta, feeling awkward.
Yuna then suddenly grins mischievously, and leans towards Ginta very close, making him blushing like a poppy.
-''You're not good with flirting with females, aren't you ?'', smirks Yuna.
-''N-No, indeed'', nervously chuckles Ginta. ''Usually, the females of my own Tribe are after Koga, or leader...or after more...brave and handsome males than me or Hakkaku...'', he then adds with a pathetic smile.
-''Are you saying that you're not really brave ?''
-''Indeed...''
-''Well, I find you very brave to try and to flirt with me'', grins Yuna.
-''H-How so...?'', asks Ginta, confused.
Yuna's grin became more wide.
-''Because I'm a wild savage and that even the males of my Tribe are avoiding me'', seriously says Yuna, with a spark of mischief in her eyes.
-''Describe «wild savage»...?'', asked Ginta, a bit scared.
-''You really want to know ?'', smirks Yuna, leaning closer over him a bit more.
-''I'm...not sure...'', squeaks Ginta, very embarrassed.
-''If they do something that doesn't pleases me - if they mock me in a way that I hate, if they do a joke on me that I hate and etc. -, I bite them, I scratch them and I hunt them down to do the whole thing over again, until that I have enough of the situation and that my appetite is gone'', smirks Yuna.
Ginta turns pale at those words, and Yuna starts laughing at his face. She then gently punched his shoulder with her fist.
-''Hey, I'm just kidding !'', grins Yuna. ''I'm just too energic for everybody, that's all.''
-''Oh...'', sweat drops Ginta, a bit confused. ''I thought that you were serious for a moment...''
-''I could tell just by looking at your face'', smirks Yuna. ''Hee hee, you're cute when you're confused.''
Ginta blushes, but remain mute. Yuna didn't seem to care about his silence and convinced him to get back to the fishing with her.
Meanwhile, on his part, Hakkaku was discreetly observing Sakura while they were picking up fruits from the bushes around the banks of the river. The fruits were gathered in a few baskets, and there was quite a lot of fruits, for that time of the year.
Sakura revealed herself to be a calm and gentle girl. She didn't seemed to be liking agitation, which was interesting, since that every Wolf Demon were supposed to be naturally born to fight and to love adventures.
-''You don't seem to be liking Yuna's hyper attitude...'', gently smiles Hakkaku.
-''I don't mind it...it just gets annoying when she picks you up to be the victim of her jokes'', smirks Sakura.
-''You're quite her opposite, for what I can see'', chuckles Hakkaku.
-''Yeah...I prefer a silent or a calm atmosphere to an agitated one'', sadly smiles Sakura.
-''Is it too personal to ask why ?'', blinks Hakkaku, curious.
-''Not really'', gently smiles Sakura. ''It's just that to raise children, an agitated atmosphere isn't favorable.''
Hakkaku almost drops his basket of fruits at the words:...that's not really something that a male would think...
-''I...didn't really think about the kind of situation that would be favorable to raise children...'', he sweat drops.
-''I'm not really surprised, since that you're a male'', gently giggles Sakura. ''However, you all have a tendency to over protect your family, and that helps to make a link between the two.''
Hakkaku sadly smiles: maybe she was right...
-''What about you, Hakkaku ?''
-''Hm ? What ?''
-''Do you feel like you're ready to have children ?''
Hakkaku brutally froze on place at the question.
Him...? Ready to have children...? Just thinking about it was scaring him to the bones...! And anyways, to have children, you have to find a mate at the first place...which was even more scarier for him.
-''...Hakkaku...?'', asks Sakura, blinking in confusion. ''Are you alright...?''
-''I...'', murmures Hakkaku. ''I don't think that I'll ever be able to have any children...'', he finally says, closing his eyes.
-''What...? Why are you saying that...?'', asks Sakura, worried, now.
Hakkaku grits his teeth, then shows her his back, clenching his hands around the handfuls of the basket that he was holding. He was aware that Sakura was simply curious, but he couldn't help and feel scared to death to reveal what reason he was thinking.
Sakura bit down on her lip, then gently touches his shoulder. Hakkaku slightly jumps at the touch, then slowly turns around to face her.
-''...Hakkaku, we might not know each other at all, but I can see that you're scared of being rejected'', says Sakura, being straight.
Hakkaku's eyes widen in shock:...she just read him like an open book...!...Whatever it mean - he heard that expression from Kagome-Chan - ...
-''You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to, but I'd be happy to be your shoulder, if you ever need to confide to someone...even if you probably already have someone for that'', sadly smiles Sakura.
Before he can say anything, she turns around and exclaims:
-''Anyway...! We're here to pick up fruits for tonight's diner ! And we're numerous !''
Hakkaku felt a bit relieved that she changed the subject of their chat, but he felt a bit stupid for the way that he reacted...
However, he said nothing about his inner demons, and he kept picking up fruits with Sakura, until that it was time to get back to the Den, later that evening.
The sky was filled up with stars, and the moon was a crescent.
The diner was ready, and everybody took place around the fire and started to eat and to laugh while chating and stuff like that.
Everybody, excepted Keiko.
She was standing on the main path leading to the Northern Yôrô Tribe's Den, staring at the horizon in silence. She's been doing that even since that Takehaya had left with Taiyô, a week ago or so, and wouldn't stop doing so.
Koga silently picked up a bowl of cooked meat and fish, along with some fruits, then walked to Keiko in silence as well. He made her jump as he put down a hand on her shoulder.
-''Hey...You haven't ate anything in a while...so here you go'', calmly says Koga, handing her the bowl.
-''Oh...thank you...'', murmures Keiko, blinking.
She then gently grabs the bowl, and sips up a bit of meat, fish and fruits from it, closing her eyes in appreciation.
-''...It's yummy, thank you'', she gently smiles.
-''You're welcome...'', nods Koga.
They then both remain silent for a few seconds.
-''...Why are you standing here all day...? It must be boring, no...?'', carefully asks Koga.
-''No, it's not boring...'', replies Keiko, gently shaking her head. ''I'm...waiting for Takehaya to come back, that's all...''
-''I can understand that, but how it's not boring...?''
Keiko looked at Koga with a sad smile.
-''...It's not boring, because I'm waiting and hoping for my mate to come back for me'', she sadly smiles. ''Ayame did that for you as well, you know...''
Koga blinks, then frowns.
-''...It doesn't surprise me that she did this for me...'', he murmures, mostly for himself.
Koga then looked up at the sky in silence, and Keiko looked up at the sky, silent as well. They both remain silent like that for a while.
A familiar scent then reached Koga's nose.
-''...They're back.''
As soon as he had said that, a howl is heard in the night. A few minutes later, Taiyô, Takehaya and their friends are walking towards the Den. They're covered with fresh wounds and they look exhausted, but they're all back. None of them was missing.
-''...What happened...?'', asks Koga, confused.
-''We got trapped by a bunch of Birds of Paradise near the south-east mountains'', winces Taiyô.
-''They almost got us'', groans Takehaya. ''But they were no match against us and we killed most of them.''
-''Yeah...but three Birds of Paradise escaped and they flew back where they came from'', adds Taiyô.
Takehaya and Taiyô then looked at each other, before to look back at Koga.
-''...Osamu and his allies are clearly hidding within the south-east mountains'', says Takehaya.
-''And with what we did, there'll clearly be reprisals'', adds Taiyô.
-''Then let's warn everybody'', nods Koga.
He turns around and they all followed him back to the Den...excepted for Takehaya and Keiko. This one threw away her food and then threw herself in his arms, to which he answered with a tight hug.
-''...I've waited day and night for you...'', she murmures, hugging him thight.
-''I believe you'', slightly smirks Takehaya. ''Let's join the others, it's going to be important.''
Keiko nods, and the two then head back to the Northern Yôrô Tribe's Den as well, to hear what the security instructions would be.
Elsewhere, hidden in a cave in the mountains of the south-east, Osamu was feasting on a dead wild boar. It wasn't even cooked, but it was still delicious...for him, at least. His followers were also eating raw meat, and the Birds of Paradise weren't an exception for eating that way as well.
Osamu was wearing orange and black tiger furs for his head band, loincloth, insteps and arm guards. Finally, his sword was hanging on his left hip as well, and he looked muscular and strong. His skin was dark - the same as Koga's skin's color, basically -, his white hair were reaching his shoulders, and his eyes were red...a sign of his corruption.
A high-pitched whistle is suddenly heard, and every corrupted Tiger Demon and every Bird of Paradise stopped eating. Three Birds of Paradise were flying in the cave's direction and the scent of blood warned them all that something had happened. Soon after, the three Birds of Paradise landed in the cave and they all saw the wounds that were covering their bodies.
Osamu walks to them, and he was suspicious.
-''What happened ? Answer me !'', he orders, sharpening his eyes.
-''We were flying around the mountains to prevent intruders from interrupting your plans, when we saw a bunch of Tiger Demons and Wolf Demons coming towards the mountains'', says one Bird of Paradise.
-''Yeah'', agrees a second one. ''And we decided to attack them and to neutralize them.''
-''But they were too strong'', concludes the last wounded Bird of Paradise. ''They've killed most of us, and we're the only three that managed to escape them...''
Osamu snarls at them and they pulled themselves towards each other in fear.
-''Did they managed to find out where we're hidding ?!'', snapped Osamu.
-''I think so...
Osamu yells in anger and the three wounded Birds of Paradise got away from him, to stay alive. Osamu ignored them and leaved the cave and climbed towards the top of the mountain. There, he immediately spinned around to glare at the Northern Mountains, miles away from there. Osamu then roared in pure rage, and a few birds flew away from the threes in fear.
-''If they think that they'll manage to save their lands, they're wrong ! I'll kill each of their precious leaders, and when their hope will be reduced to ashes, I'll make the survivors my toys for a while, then I'll murder every single of them !''
Osamu then punched a rock out of anger, then smiled evily at the Northern Mountains.
-''...You're all going to get it !''
Please, if you like the story so far, bare with me.
I'll do my best to keep on writing chapters as great and interesting as possible. :) I didn't planned on how many chapters there will be, but I will try to make the story interesting and worth to read.
I'll still be glad to get your reviews and your ideas (don't be shy, send me your ideas ! ~), both will greatly help me, if I have mistaken something (or if I have made mistakes with words and verbs X'D) and that it was pointed out. ^^
Thanks for reading !