Wolf
Part Seven: "Father"
by Vega
Journal Entry
Wednesday, September 25th, 19XX
That strange kid is following me again.
The one I noticed back on September 6th, in class. I checked with the registrar, and there's nobody I extra in our classes, as far as my friends and I know - so who is this kid? He's stopped sitting in the back of the lecture hall, watching me, but I've seen him a couple of times out in the hall right afterwards, or in the chair next to my favourite study spot in the library, or right at the table I like at Starbucks.
I can't help but think that he's waiting for me to sit down and talk to him.
My friends said I was crazy.
Is he challenging me?
I wonder if he's a xxx or something, 'cause his eyes are so blue.
Maybe this is some sort of adolescent xxx pissing contest that no one warned me about? Memo to me: ask Uncle Sesshoumaru.
Bonus: The cute American girl in lit. class smiled at me today!
Journal Entry
Friday September 27th, 19XX
I saw Uncle Sess last night, but never got around to broaching the topic of this guy. It felt really stupid to ask him, "Hey! Do you know why I'm being stalked?" And If I had mentioned that it was by another xxx, the kid's be dead before I figured out why he was following me at all.
I think I just might get up my courage and sit beside him next time I see him. If he has something to say, he'll say it. If he doesn't, I'll stare at him in that way that makes my eyes turn that creepy amber. Maybe I'll scare him into bugging off.
If it's a coincidence, then that'd be even freakier, I think!
And the American girl's name is Suza. She asked me to take her shopping on Saturday 'cause she can't figure out the subway system. Score! I gotta date with the gaijin!
Note scribbled on a napkin, stuck between the pages of the Journal:
Dear Volpe-kun:
I had a blast! Let's do this again some time!
Here's my phone number: ###-###-####.
Huggles, tickles, and cookies!
-Suza
Journal Entry
Sunday September 29th, 19XX
Wow.
Just, wow.
I kissed Suza.
All is right with the world.
Journal Entry
Monday, September 30th, 19XX
Okay, I lied.
All is not right with the world.
That kid is STILL following me, and I'm starting to get sick of it. He actually had the nerve to sit at a table where I could see him when Suza and I went out for lunch together today. I'm afraid I was a bit grumpy with her because of it. I'll buy her a spray of orchids or something to make up for it.
I think I really like Suza.
I don't know what my mother will say, though. She's such a traditionalist. Well, she's old enough to have lived when all the old traditions were still used. So I guess that's an excuse. She married an Italian after all - I guess I can date an American, if I want to.
Journal Entry
Tuesday, November 1st, 19XX
I saw him in the Starbucks again.
I lost my nerve, though.
Tomorrow for sure.
Journal Entry
Thursday November 3rd, 19XX
I waited until the coffee shop was mostly empty before I finally walked over to his table. I was on my third cup of the stuff so I was vibrating - I nearly spilt it on him. I hope he didn't notice.
I stood directly across from him, clutching my newspaper and my coffee and just waited for him to look up at me. He was reading a magazine about wildlife - wolves. Finally his bright blue eyes slid up to mine and he flicked them down again, telling me to sit with his gaze.
I sat.
I really had no idea what to say. I fiddled with my coffee a bit before gulping the whole thing down. When I realized he was STUDYING me, I stared at him right back. He had the blackest hair I'd ever seen, and it was long and held in a pony tail at the nape of his neck, just like Uncle Sess wears his. And he had really really blue eyes - the same kinda shine that mine have. He took a sip of his own coffee when he was done looking at me, and I finally leaned across the table and said,
"You're a xxx, aren't you?"
He smirked a little and nodded briefly. I sat back, stunned. Then I said, "Why have you been following me?"
He set down his coffee and spoke to me. His voice was surprisingly pure sounding, although strangely and archaic-ly accented (again, like Uncle Sess. His vocabulary is so outdated!). "I have."
"Why?"
"You're part-xxx," he said and I nodded. I was afraid he was going to call me a half-breed and try to kill me. Mom said that rarely happened any more, that xxx and ningen and those in between just left well enough alone in this modern era. "Your name is Okami."
I nodded again.
"I am Kouga, Prince of the Western Wolf Tribe," he said solemly, and I was suitably impressed, "and I wanted to make sure you were who I thought you were before I approached you."
"And am I?"
"Are you the great-great-great-great-great-grandson of the xxx Inu Yasha?"
I nodded again, confused. I wondered if I had just sealed my own doom by saying yes.
"Then you are exactly who I think you are." This Prince Kouga studied me again and this time I saw that he was searching my face for something. "Ah, yes, you have your uncle's cheekbones... your line always does. But here," he reached out and tapped my temple gently with one sharp-nailed finger. It looked like a claw. "Is Kagome. The corner of your eyes crinkle up when you smile at that woman you like, just like hers did."
Kagome, I knew, was the name of my ancestor Inu Yasha's wife, and I was stunned. This man KNEW Kagome!
"You... were friends with Inu Yasha and Kagome?" I breathed, blown away.
The corner of Kouga's lips twitched upwards.
"I was Inu Yasha's rival for Kagome." He shrugged. "But the mutt-face won, what can I say? I'm not here about that," he added hastily. I think he saw the fear on my face - I thought maybe he had been looking for me to fight! You know, avenge his soiled honour and all that. "I'm here about you."
"W-what about me?"
He smiled again and leaned across the table so that he could whisper to me. "I'm here to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage."
I blinked at him for a few seconds, then started to laugh. He smiled again, but didn't chuckle along with me.
"My daughter!" I echoed jovially. "I don't have a kid!"
"Not yet," he said softly.
"Why do you want to ask if you can marry my daughter? Before I've even had one? How can you be sure I WILL have one? What if I have all boys? What if I don't get married at all?"
Kouga shook his head minutely, as if amused. "You will have a daughter, Volpe-san, because I've already met her."
I paused, letting the implications of that sink in.
Bingo - then it hit me.
"The Traveller is my kid!?"
Kouga nodded.
"Wait, so why are you asking me now?" I asked, "Why not wait until she's, I dunno, thirty?"
He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back. "You won't be around then, Volpe-san. I don't want to give too much away, but she told me that you left when she was very young."
"I would never walk away from my kid!" I snapped, suddenly angry. What sort of bastard did he think I was?!
He sighed softly. "The way she said it, Volpe-san... I don't think she meant that you walked out on her."
I paused again.
I'm going to die, I realized. I'm going to die before my daughter is old enough to get married. The thought made me want to burst into tears right then and there. I didn't. I held them in. I looked up at Kouga slowly.
"So you want my permission now? How do I know that she'll even love you?"
His face sort of... twisted... I think I hit a sore spot. "I love her," was all he said. "She is my woman. I only thought it honourable to talk to you, first. But I will make her mine, with or without your blessing."
I sighed as he stood up and snatched his leather duster off the back of his chair. He was right pissed. "Kouga-sama," I said, and he stopped and turned to look at me. "I can't say that I know enough about you to say yes or no, but if my daughter loves you, and only IF ... then yes, you have my permission."
He stared at me, blank faced, for a very long time. Then he smiled.
"Thank you, Volpe-san. This will mean a lot to Aisilin. She loves you and misses you desperately."
"Thank you," I whispered, "for taking care of her..."
He nodded and then walked away.
I think I cried for a while, but I don't really remember.
Somehow I found myself standing on Uncle Sess' front door step, talking to him, telling him that a wolf prince has asked to marry my kid when she's born and if she wants to, then she has my blessing.
I didn't tell Uncle Sess that the Prince told me that I would be dead before that happened.
It just seemed... too creepy.
Journal Entry
Friday, November 4th, 19XX
I didn't go to class today, I was too, I dunno... sad.
Suza skipped class to feed me chicken soup.
We kissed again.
I think I'm falling in love with her.
Journal Entry
Saturday, November 5th, 19XX
I haven't seen Prince Kouga in two days.
I guess he's said what he wanted to say.
He better take care of my little girl.
My... Aisilin he called her. What a pretty name. I like it. Aisilin Volpe.
Journal Entry
Wednesday, November 9th, 19XX
Suza agreed to go steady with me. I have a girlfriend! COOL!
Journal Entry
Friday, November 11th, 19XX
She met Mom and Dad today (I was worried she'd wonder why Dad looked so much older than Mom, but she didn't say anything.)
They said they like her. Whoo hoo!
I meant to talk to Mom about this Kouga guy, but never got around to it. Maybe I'll keep it a secret - after all, if my daughter is The Traveller, I don't want them to treat her differently or anything. I want her to have a nice normal life. As normal as OUR lives are, anyway. I find myself wondering if she'll have glowing green eyes like mine.
Suza really liked my parents.
I'm so in love. I'm such a sap.
Journal Entry
February 20th, 19XX
I asked Suza to marry me today!
She said YES!!!
We're gonna name our daughter Aisilin!
~~~
Author's Note:
A bittersweet chapter, 'cause we know how Suza reacts later. *shakes head*
I hope this format wasn't too confusing.
And yes, there is PLOT hidden in these chapters... it's just a matter of finding it. You guys'll see in two more parts!
I just may be finished by Tuesday, like I'd hoped. I've been writing chapters far beyond number 7 here, so the rest of the postings should be fairly quick after 10...
Reviews:
Sashlea: according to http://www.kabalarians.com/gkh/your.htm#links ,"Aisilin" has "given you tenacity of purpose and has made you extremely independent. Whatever you undertake, you approach from your own point of view, and others either have to conform to your ideas or go their own way and leave you to work things out for yourself. You are so narrowly focused in your pursuits that you frequently overlook the little personal considerations and attentions that create a bond of understanding and sense of companionship. Thus it is difficult for you to merge your efforts harmoniously with others."
I did not know this when I picked this name. I wanted something that would be difficult for Naraku to pronounce properly, so I made something up that sounded vaugely western with lots of hard "r"s and "l"s. I thought it was a name I had made up on my own, but the fact that you foudn that it means "dreamer" is proof that I didn't. I think that's a very good name for her in retrospect - she's done a lot of dreaming, hasn't she? I also realized that this name is very close to the name of a Clown I created in acting class - Aisly Wayter - who was very fond of the moon and storytelling. Her favourite colour was blue. As for "Volpe", again, I had no idea it meant "cunning hunter", but coming from a long line of Inu Youkai, it makes sense.
Actually, "Volpe" is the Italian word for "Fox" - and seeing as Az's grandfather was Italian and her other ancestors were foxes... ^_^
Normally I do make a point of choosing a character's name by the meaning of it - thank you for reminding me why it's so important to make sure the name fits the personality. Lastly, Aisilin's nickname is "Az" for two reasons. First, it seemed to be the appropriate shortening for the name "Aisilin," and secondly, this character, by the time I got around to naming her, reminded me heartily of Kelly-chan's "Az" from the Webcomic "Arcana", physically, and personality-wise, of another "Arcana" character (who also has supernatural blood and has no idea what to do with it, really), Kisoka: http://arcana.keenspace.com/cast.htm
Kataionna: Holy smokes! You reviewed every single chapter! COOL!
Tears are always the best indication that I've done somehting right. Thank you for them. Yes, Kouga is smooth and mysterious - those boots, that duster! I bet he even tucks his pants into his boots. ^_^ I think that's sexy, at least, I don't know if anyone else does... PLEASE PLEASE draw it!! Then mail it to me!! PLEASE!! I wanna put it up on my site!!! http://www.angelfire.com/realm/arkaidy/inuyasha.html
And everyone CAN write well if they just pay attention to the rules of the language and try hard, it's true. Unfortunatly, a lot of people who post online don't bother, which really annoys me. (almost as much as finding typos AFTER I've posted. Grr)
Pallas Athena: By the number of exclamation points, I'd say you are excited... ^_^ I'm glad you like the change of style. Here's your update!
Part Seven: "Father"
by Vega
Journal Entry
Wednesday, September 25th, 19XX
That strange kid is following me again.
The one I noticed back on September 6th, in class. I checked with the registrar, and there's nobody I extra in our classes, as far as my friends and I know - so who is this kid? He's stopped sitting in the back of the lecture hall, watching me, but I've seen him a couple of times out in the hall right afterwards, or in the chair next to my favourite study spot in the library, or right at the table I like at Starbucks.
I can't help but think that he's waiting for me to sit down and talk to him.
My friends said I was crazy.
Is he challenging me?
I wonder if he's a xxx or something, 'cause his eyes are so blue.
Maybe this is some sort of adolescent xxx pissing contest that no one warned me about? Memo to me: ask Uncle Sesshoumaru.
Bonus: The cute American girl in lit. class smiled at me today!
Journal Entry
Friday September 27th, 19XX
I saw Uncle Sess last night, but never got around to broaching the topic of this guy. It felt really stupid to ask him, "Hey! Do you know why I'm being stalked?" And If I had mentioned that it was by another xxx, the kid's be dead before I figured out why he was following me at all.
I think I just might get up my courage and sit beside him next time I see him. If he has something to say, he'll say it. If he doesn't, I'll stare at him in that way that makes my eyes turn that creepy amber. Maybe I'll scare him into bugging off.
If it's a coincidence, then that'd be even freakier, I think!
And the American girl's name is Suza. She asked me to take her shopping on Saturday 'cause she can't figure out the subway system. Score! I gotta date with the gaijin!
Note scribbled on a napkin, stuck between the pages of the Journal:
Dear Volpe-kun:
I had a blast! Let's do this again some time!
Here's my phone number: ###-###-####.
Huggles, tickles, and cookies!
-Suza
Journal Entry
Sunday September 29th, 19XX
Wow.
Just, wow.
I kissed Suza.
All is right with the world.
Journal Entry
Monday, September 30th, 19XX
Okay, I lied.
All is not right with the world.
That kid is STILL following me, and I'm starting to get sick of it. He actually had the nerve to sit at a table where I could see him when Suza and I went out for lunch together today. I'm afraid I was a bit grumpy with her because of it. I'll buy her a spray of orchids or something to make up for it.
I think I really like Suza.
I don't know what my mother will say, though. She's such a traditionalist. Well, she's old enough to have lived when all the old traditions were still used. So I guess that's an excuse. She married an Italian after all - I guess I can date an American, if I want to.
Journal Entry
Tuesday, November 1st, 19XX
I saw him in the Starbucks again.
I lost my nerve, though.
Tomorrow for sure.
Journal Entry
Thursday November 3rd, 19XX
I waited until the coffee shop was mostly empty before I finally walked over to his table. I was on my third cup of the stuff so I was vibrating - I nearly spilt it on him. I hope he didn't notice.
I stood directly across from him, clutching my newspaper and my coffee and just waited for him to look up at me. He was reading a magazine about wildlife - wolves. Finally his bright blue eyes slid up to mine and he flicked them down again, telling me to sit with his gaze.
I sat.
I really had no idea what to say. I fiddled with my coffee a bit before gulping the whole thing down. When I realized he was STUDYING me, I stared at him right back. He had the blackest hair I'd ever seen, and it was long and held in a pony tail at the nape of his neck, just like Uncle Sess wears his. And he had really really blue eyes - the same kinda shine that mine have. He took a sip of his own coffee when he was done looking at me, and I finally leaned across the table and said,
"You're a xxx, aren't you?"
He smirked a little and nodded briefly. I sat back, stunned. Then I said, "Why have you been following me?"
He set down his coffee and spoke to me. His voice was surprisingly pure sounding, although strangely and archaic-ly accented (again, like Uncle Sess. His vocabulary is so outdated!). "I have."
"Why?"
"You're part-xxx," he said and I nodded. I was afraid he was going to call me a half-breed and try to kill me. Mom said that rarely happened any more, that xxx and ningen and those in between just left well enough alone in this modern era. "Your name is Okami."
I nodded again.
"I am Kouga, Prince of the Western Wolf Tribe," he said solemly, and I was suitably impressed, "and I wanted to make sure you were who I thought you were before I approached you."
"And am I?"
"Are you the great-great-great-great-great-grandson of the xxx Inu Yasha?"
I nodded again, confused. I wondered if I had just sealed my own doom by saying yes.
"Then you are exactly who I think you are." This Prince Kouga studied me again and this time I saw that he was searching my face for something. "Ah, yes, you have your uncle's cheekbones... your line always does. But here," he reached out and tapped my temple gently with one sharp-nailed finger. It looked like a claw. "Is Kagome. The corner of your eyes crinkle up when you smile at that woman you like, just like hers did."
Kagome, I knew, was the name of my ancestor Inu Yasha's wife, and I was stunned. This man KNEW Kagome!
"You... were friends with Inu Yasha and Kagome?" I breathed, blown away.
The corner of Kouga's lips twitched upwards.
"I was Inu Yasha's rival for Kagome." He shrugged. "But the mutt-face won, what can I say? I'm not here about that," he added hastily. I think he saw the fear on my face - I thought maybe he had been looking for me to fight! You know, avenge his soiled honour and all that. "I'm here about you."
"W-what about me?"
He smiled again and leaned across the table so that he could whisper to me. "I'm here to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage."
I blinked at him for a few seconds, then started to laugh. He smiled again, but didn't chuckle along with me.
"My daughter!" I echoed jovially. "I don't have a kid!"
"Not yet," he said softly.
"Why do you want to ask if you can marry my daughter? Before I've even had one? How can you be sure I WILL have one? What if I have all boys? What if I don't get married at all?"
Kouga shook his head minutely, as if amused. "You will have a daughter, Volpe-san, because I've already met her."
I paused, letting the implications of that sink in.
Bingo - then it hit me.
"The Traveller is my kid!?"
Kouga nodded.
"Wait, so why are you asking me now?" I asked, "Why not wait until she's, I dunno, thirty?"
He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back. "You won't be around then, Volpe-san. I don't want to give too much away, but she told me that you left when she was very young."
"I would never walk away from my kid!" I snapped, suddenly angry. What sort of bastard did he think I was?!
He sighed softly. "The way she said it, Volpe-san... I don't think she meant that you walked out on her."
I paused again.
I'm going to die, I realized. I'm going to die before my daughter is old enough to get married. The thought made me want to burst into tears right then and there. I didn't. I held them in. I looked up at Kouga slowly.
"So you want my permission now? How do I know that she'll even love you?"
His face sort of... twisted... I think I hit a sore spot. "I love her," was all he said. "She is my woman. I only thought it honourable to talk to you, first. But I will make her mine, with or without your blessing."
I sighed as he stood up and snatched his leather duster off the back of his chair. He was right pissed. "Kouga-sama," I said, and he stopped and turned to look at me. "I can't say that I know enough about you to say yes or no, but if my daughter loves you, and only IF ... then yes, you have my permission."
He stared at me, blank faced, for a very long time. Then he smiled.
"Thank you, Volpe-san. This will mean a lot to Aisilin. She loves you and misses you desperately."
"Thank you," I whispered, "for taking care of her..."
He nodded and then walked away.
I think I cried for a while, but I don't really remember.
Somehow I found myself standing on Uncle Sess' front door step, talking to him, telling him that a wolf prince has asked to marry my kid when she's born and if she wants to, then she has my blessing.
I didn't tell Uncle Sess that the Prince told me that I would be dead before that happened.
It just seemed... too creepy.
Journal Entry
Friday, November 4th, 19XX
I didn't go to class today, I was too, I dunno... sad.
Suza skipped class to feed me chicken soup.
We kissed again.
I think I'm falling in love with her.
Journal Entry
Saturday, November 5th, 19XX
I haven't seen Prince Kouga in two days.
I guess he's said what he wanted to say.
He better take care of my little girl.
My... Aisilin he called her. What a pretty name. I like it. Aisilin Volpe.
Journal Entry
Wednesday, November 9th, 19XX
Suza agreed to go steady with me. I have a girlfriend! COOL!
Journal Entry
Friday, November 11th, 19XX
She met Mom and Dad today (I was worried she'd wonder why Dad looked so much older than Mom, but she didn't say anything.)
They said they like her. Whoo hoo!
I meant to talk to Mom about this Kouga guy, but never got around to it. Maybe I'll keep it a secret - after all, if my daughter is The Traveller, I don't want them to treat her differently or anything. I want her to have a nice normal life. As normal as OUR lives are, anyway. I find myself wondering if she'll have glowing green eyes like mine.
Suza really liked my parents.
I'm so in love. I'm such a sap.
Journal Entry
February 20th, 19XX
I asked Suza to marry me today!
She said YES!!!
We're gonna name our daughter Aisilin!
~~~
Author's Note:
A bittersweet chapter, 'cause we know how Suza reacts later. *shakes head*
I hope this format wasn't too confusing.
And yes, there is PLOT hidden in these chapters... it's just a matter of finding it. You guys'll see in two more parts!
I just may be finished by Tuesday, like I'd hoped. I've been writing chapters far beyond number 7 here, so the rest of the postings should be fairly quick after 10...
Reviews:
Sashlea: according to http://www.kabalarians.com/gkh/your.htm#links ,"Aisilin" has "given you tenacity of purpose and has made you extremely independent. Whatever you undertake, you approach from your own point of view, and others either have to conform to your ideas or go their own way and leave you to work things out for yourself. You are so narrowly focused in your pursuits that you frequently overlook the little personal considerations and attentions that create a bond of understanding and sense of companionship. Thus it is difficult for you to merge your efforts harmoniously with others."
I did not know this when I picked this name. I wanted something that would be difficult for Naraku to pronounce properly, so I made something up that sounded vaugely western with lots of hard "r"s and "l"s. I thought it was a name I had made up on my own, but the fact that you foudn that it means "dreamer" is proof that I didn't. I think that's a very good name for her in retrospect - she's done a lot of dreaming, hasn't she? I also realized that this name is very close to the name of a Clown I created in acting class - Aisly Wayter - who was very fond of the moon and storytelling. Her favourite colour was blue. As for "Volpe", again, I had no idea it meant "cunning hunter", but coming from a long line of Inu Youkai, it makes sense.
Actually, "Volpe" is the Italian word for "Fox" - and seeing as Az's grandfather was Italian and her other ancestors were foxes... ^_^
Normally I do make a point of choosing a character's name by the meaning of it - thank you for reminding me why it's so important to make sure the name fits the personality. Lastly, Aisilin's nickname is "Az" for two reasons. First, it seemed to be the appropriate shortening for the name "Aisilin," and secondly, this character, by the time I got around to naming her, reminded me heartily of Kelly-chan's "Az" from the Webcomic "Arcana", physically, and personality-wise, of another "Arcana" character (who also has supernatural blood and has no idea what to do with it, really), Kisoka: http://arcana.keenspace.com/cast.htm
Kataionna: Holy smokes! You reviewed every single chapter! COOL!
Tears are always the best indication that I've done somehting right. Thank you for them. Yes, Kouga is smooth and mysterious - those boots, that duster! I bet he even tucks his pants into his boots. ^_^ I think that's sexy, at least, I don't know if anyone else does... PLEASE PLEASE draw it!! Then mail it to me!! PLEASE!! I wanna put it up on my site!!! http://www.angelfire.com/realm/arkaidy/inuyasha.html
And everyone CAN write well if they just pay attention to the rules of the language and try hard, it's true. Unfortunatly, a lot of people who post online don't bother, which really annoys me. (almost as much as finding typos AFTER I've posted. Grr)
Pallas Athena: By the number of exclamation points, I'd say you are excited... ^_^ I'm glad you like the change of style. Here's your update!