Wolf
Part Sixteen: "Puppies"
by Vega
~~~
Three Years Later
~~~
"Ginta!" Kouga shouted out the mouth of the den, his hands cupped around his mouth. "GINTA!"
I came up behind him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't shout yourself blue in the face."
He shook his head, his hands dropping to his sides, and turned to face me. "Geeze, I'm just gonna nail that kid's tail to the floor."
"So he likes to roam. He's a youkai, don't worry. If he eats something he shouldn't, he'll get sick and learn better for next time. If he attacks something too strong for him, he'll get hurt and know better next time. Besides, we're the scariest thing on the mountain right now."
"Keh," Kouga snorted, "since when did you start using Wolf Youkai logic?"
I stood up on my tip toes and gave him a quick kiss. "Since I started living with one."
"Mamaaaa!" Hakkaku screeched from the back of the cave and I sighed, lowering myself.
"Yes, honey?"
"Kagome's LOOKIN' at me."
"I am NOT!"
"Are too! You're lookin' at ME."
"You both have eyes!" Kouga snapped. "You both are looking. What sort of foolishness is this?"
The two pups looked suitably ashamed and I smacked my mate's hip lightly.
"Oh, fine," he sighed and walked over to them. He sat in between them and said, "There. Now you can both look at Papa instead."
I laughed as both the pups grinned identical maniacal, fang bearing smiles, and pounced. Hakkaku went straight for his father's tail, while Kagome opted for his ears. Kouga yelped, growled momentarily, then let forth a deep belly laugh and began to play wrestle on the stone floor.
I sighed, smiling, shaking my head and wrapping my arms around myself. What I family I had.
We vacationed up here in the wilderness often - Kouga had yet to start his grand plans of renovating the Den, and I don't know if he ever will get to it. He loves it the way it is, and so do I. We unblocked the river above us, so the waterfall once more flowed over the secret entrance to the cave, but we made sure to narrow the channel so the kids could hop in at a dry spot to avoid the risk of them slipping.
What a trio I had - triplets, of course, because wolves rarely have a single pup.
Ginta, Hakkaku, Kagome.
I was jolted from my musings by a polite "ahem" behind me. I turned to find that, standing just inside the doorway, was my Uncle Sesshoumaru, Ginta tucked safely under his arm. My son didn't seem to happy about it, of course, and I could see that the elder Taiyoukai had a firm grip on the base of his tail.
"I believe this belongs to you, Aisilin-kun?"
I held my hands out and Ginta scrambled into my arms. I set him down with a little push towards the growling and yipping pile of flesh and fur that was still writhing on the floor and he dove in with abandon.
Sesshoumaru cocked an eyebrow at the display, shook his head minutely and said, "Wolves."
I shrugged. "My fault for marrying him, of course."
"Ah, which brings me to the reason I'm here," Uncle Sess turned his attention to the inside pocket of his blazer and removed a small rectangular package. "This, niece, is for you. It was found when Yuki-kun was cleaning the attic, and she would like you to have it."
I narrowed my eyes at the plain brown paper, the white cotton string, the sellotape, as if I had x-ray vision, but of course, I didn't. I settled on untying the string and ripping the paper back.
It was a journal, bound in a dark green leather.
Underneath my thumb was ornate gilt writing, and I slid it over to read:
Journal
Okami Volpe
I gasped and clasped it to my chest, looking up at Uncle Sess. "Is this... really...?"
He nodded, a glimmer of a smile shining through is regular detached mask. He was saved from saying anything by the screaming shouts of my children:
"Play with us, Uncle Sesshou!"
"I'll pin ya for sure this time!"
" I wanna learn to shoot a bow a' arrow! Teach me teach me!"
"Can I pet your fluffy?!"
"Did you bring CANDY?!"
I took the opportunity of distraction to scuttle over to Kouga, who was lying on the floor, covered with dirt and scuffs, one of his cheeks bleeding slightly from an over-enthusiastic scratch, and a bemused smile on his face. I helped him to his feet and he shook his head to loosen all the dust that had gotten into his hair.
"Inu Yasha hated it when Sesshoumaru-sama did that," he said, jerking his head to indicate the now-crouching taiyoukai handing out sweets. "Got the pups all riled up and then left Inu Yasha and Kagome to deal with the aftermath. I used to laugh. Now I see what pissed the mutt-face off so much. We'll never get them to bed tonight."
I laughed. "Oh? And what's so important about them being asleep tonight."
He lifted one eyebrow, turning his head minutely, and I could see, tucked in the back of the pile of sleeping bags on his stage-like pallet, was a little peek of red velvet.
"You're incorrigible," I whispered. He planted a kiss on my cheek, then walked away to try to do damage control with the kids and Uncle Sess. I watched the men in my family try to talk Kagome into having an arm-wrestle match with the taiyoukai and smiled.
Yes. This was a good place to be.
Trusting the boys to play nice with my girl, I went and sat on one of the sleeping bags and started to flip through the journal. About halfway through, Kouga's name caught my eye and I flipped back.
My breath caught in my throat I read:
"I am Kouga, Prince of the Western Wolf Tribe," he said solemnly, 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."
I slammed the book shut, my breathing hard, and tears pooling in my eyes. Kouga and Sesshoumaru looked over at me with the sound. The kids hadn't noticed. I dropped the journal onto my lap and buried my face in my hands.
I heard Kouga's footsteps on the stone, then his warm arms were around me.
"I love you," I whispered.
He just smiled and leaned down to lick the tears off my cheek.
"Of course you do."
"Arrogant fathead."
"I am. And I never stopped loving you back. Not once."
I sniffled. "Never?"
"Never."
And then I had my arms around him, and his warm smooth lips were pressing against mine, and I could hear our children's laughter across the room.
And you know what?
Just then, my life seemed pretty damn good.
~OWARI~
Part Sixteen: "Puppies"
by Vega
~~~
Three Years Later
~~~
"Ginta!" Kouga shouted out the mouth of the den, his hands cupped around his mouth. "GINTA!"
I came up behind him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't shout yourself blue in the face."
He shook his head, his hands dropping to his sides, and turned to face me. "Geeze, I'm just gonna nail that kid's tail to the floor."
"So he likes to roam. He's a youkai, don't worry. If he eats something he shouldn't, he'll get sick and learn better for next time. If he attacks something too strong for him, he'll get hurt and know better next time. Besides, we're the scariest thing on the mountain right now."
"Keh," Kouga snorted, "since when did you start using Wolf Youkai logic?"
I stood up on my tip toes and gave him a quick kiss. "Since I started living with one."
"Mamaaaa!" Hakkaku screeched from the back of the cave and I sighed, lowering myself.
"Yes, honey?"
"Kagome's LOOKIN' at me."
"I am NOT!"
"Are too! You're lookin' at ME."
"You both have eyes!" Kouga snapped. "You both are looking. What sort of foolishness is this?"
The two pups looked suitably ashamed and I smacked my mate's hip lightly.
"Oh, fine," he sighed and walked over to them. He sat in between them and said, "There. Now you can both look at Papa instead."
I laughed as both the pups grinned identical maniacal, fang bearing smiles, and pounced. Hakkaku went straight for his father's tail, while Kagome opted for his ears. Kouga yelped, growled momentarily, then let forth a deep belly laugh and began to play wrestle on the stone floor.
I sighed, smiling, shaking my head and wrapping my arms around myself. What I family I had.
We vacationed up here in the wilderness often - Kouga had yet to start his grand plans of renovating the Den, and I don't know if he ever will get to it. He loves it the way it is, and so do I. We unblocked the river above us, so the waterfall once more flowed over the secret entrance to the cave, but we made sure to narrow the channel so the kids could hop in at a dry spot to avoid the risk of them slipping.
What a trio I had - triplets, of course, because wolves rarely have a single pup.
Ginta, Hakkaku, Kagome.
I was jolted from my musings by a polite "ahem" behind me. I turned to find that, standing just inside the doorway, was my Uncle Sesshoumaru, Ginta tucked safely under his arm. My son didn't seem to happy about it, of course, and I could see that the elder Taiyoukai had a firm grip on the base of his tail.
"I believe this belongs to you, Aisilin-kun?"
I held my hands out and Ginta scrambled into my arms. I set him down with a little push towards the growling and yipping pile of flesh and fur that was still writhing on the floor and he dove in with abandon.
Sesshoumaru cocked an eyebrow at the display, shook his head minutely and said, "Wolves."
I shrugged. "My fault for marrying him, of course."
"Ah, which brings me to the reason I'm here," Uncle Sess turned his attention to the inside pocket of his blazer and removed a small rectangular package. "This, niece, is for you. It was found when Yuki-kun was cleaning the attic, and she would like you to have it."
I narrowed my eyes at the plain brown paper, the white cotton string, the sellotape, as if I had x-ray vision, but of course, I didn't. I settled on untying the string and ripping the paper back.
It was a journal, bound in a dark green leather.
Underneath my thumb was ornate gilt writing, and I slid it over to read:
Journal
Okami Volpe
I gasped and clasped it to my chest, looking up at Uncle Sess. "Is this... really...?"
He nodded, a glimmer of a smile shining through is regular detached mask. He was saved from saying anything by the screaming shouts of my children:
"Play with us, Uncle Sesshou!"
"I'll pin ya for sure this time!"
" I wanna learn to shoot a bow a' arrow! Teach me teach me!"
"Can I pet your fluffy?!"
"Did you bring CANDY?!"
I took the opportunity of distraction to scuttle over to Kouga, who was lying on the floor, covered with dirt and scuffs, one of his cheeks bleeding slightly from an over-enthusiastic scratch, and a bemused smile on his face. I helped him to his feet and he shook his head to loosen all the dust that had gotten into his hair.
"Inu Yasha hated it when Sesshoumaru-sama did that," he said, jerking his head to indicate the now-crouching taiyoukai handing out sweets. "Got the pups all riled up and then left Inu Yasha and Kagome to deal with the aftermath. I used to laugh. Now I see what pissed the mutt-face off so much. We'll never get them to bed tonight."
I laughed. "Oh? And what's so important about them being asleep tonight."
He lifted one eyebrow, turning his head minutely, and I could see, tucked in the back of the pile of sleeping bags on his stage-like pallet, was a little peek of red velvet.
"You're incorrigible," I whispered. He planted a kiss on my cheek, then walked away to try to do damage control with the kids and Uncle Sess. I watched the men in my family try to talk Kagome into having an arm-wrestle match with the taiyoukai and smiled.
Yes. This was a good place to be.
Trusting the boys to play nice with my girl, I went and sat on one of the sleeping bags and started to flip through the journal. About halfway through, Kouga's name caught my eye and I flipped back.
My breath caught in my throat I read:
"I am Kouga, Prince of the Western Wolf Tribe," he said solemnly, 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."
I slammed the book shut, my breathing hard, and tears pooling in my eyes. Kouga and Sesshoumaru looked over at me with the sound. The kids hadn't noticed. I dropped the journal onto my lap and buried my face in my hands.
I heard Kouga's footsteps on the stone, then his warm arms were around me.
"I love you," I whispered.
He just smiled and leaned down to lick the tears off my cheek.
"Of course you do."
"Arrogant fathead."
"I am. And I never stopped loving you back. Not once."
I sniffled. "Never?"
"Never."
And then I had my arms around him, and his warm smooth lips were pressing against mine, and I could hear our children's laughter across the room.
And you know what?
Just then, my life seemed pretty damn good.
~OWARI~