Chapter 4

Sesshomaru followed at the end of the group as Kouga lead them along the winding paths. Finally, they reached a waterfall that was surrounded by lush green plants. Kouga walked right through the water and was closely followed by Yashana. Rin and Jaken had stopped before the water and suddenly Sesshomaru shoved Jaken through the freezing water while picking up Rin and carrying her through. On the other side, they were greeted by the growls of many wolves and wolf demons.

"Enough," spat Kouga. "They are our guests, and if I find you messing with them I'll kill ya."

The growls slowly faded until a light murmur filled the cave. "You will sleep here until the storm passes," Kouga said pointing to an empty spot a few feet away from the entrance. "I'll see you all in the morning, but for now get some sleep. Yashana, please follow me."

Yashana hurried after Kouga as they headed further into the cave. "What, Kouga?" she asked.

"You'll sleep back here with me," he said placing his hand on the small of her back. "You're too special to me to let you sleep by the waterfall."

"Oh, thank you," she said.

They walked down a narrow hallway that only allowed two people to walk side by side. At the end of the small hall, was an opening that was covered by a large brown animal skin that went all the way to the floor. Kouga held it up and stepped back allowing Yashana to enter the room before him. Yashana stepped into a large room and stood to the side.

At the far end of the room, was a large bed covered in skins of all different colors. There was also a large tan animal skin in the middle of the floor from a deer or something larger, accompanied by several large animal skins on the walls. The room was lit by floating orbs that gave off a soft glow making the room seem mysterious and enticing. Kouga placed a hand on Yashana's shoulder, leaned down, and kissed her cheek gently. Yashana looked up at him and smiled.

He truly is a nice guy. She thought. I love you, Kouga. May this truly be love at first sight, for my sake please.

"Yashana," Kouga said sweetly turning her around to face him.

"Yes," Yashana said.

"I love you," he said. "Wolves mate for life and I would like you be my mate."

"Oh, Kouga," she said putting her hands to her mouth. "But I'm so young."

"It doesn't matter when it comes to age," he said taking her shoulders. "All that matters is our love for each other."

"But don't you already have a mate?" she asked.

"No," he said sadly. "I have been unlucky in my attempts to find a lover who returns the love that I give them. But now that I have found you, surely my days will be filled with more light than before."

Yashana smiled. Yes, this is love at first sight. For both of us.

"Kouga," she said sweetly. "I knew from the moment I saw you that there was something special about you. Now I know what it is." He smiled. "I love you, Kouga," Yashana said. "I would be honored to be your mate."

"I'm glad, Yashana," he said leaning down and kissing his new lover. "Shall we go to bed and get some sleep?"

"Yes," she said.

Kouga sat on the bed and watched as Yashana slowly stripped off her clothes to reveal a pair of pink shorts and a pink tank top. She neatly folded her clothing and sat them beside her bag. As she let her hair down, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist. Yashana looked up and saw a pair of loving eyes staring at her. She turned around and wrapped her arms around Kouga's neck.

"I love you so much," Kouga said. "I will always love you."

"You're so sweet," she said as they kissed.

"Bed?" he asked.

She nodded. He picked her up and moved quickly to the bed. They flopped onto the bed and Yashana giggled. Kouga began to kiss Yashana on the lips and started to move over her face. She smiled as he kissed her neck. His hands ran over her sides and began to pull her shirt up.

Yashana sat up and stripped off her shirt as Kouga stripped off his armor. He moved behind her and began to kiss her shoulders. She laid her head back and smiled. Kouga's strong hands ran over her thighs and stomach. His hands rested on Yashana's bosom and began to message her breasts.

"Oh, Kouga," she moaned leaning against him.

Kouga laid Yashana on the bed of fur and sat on top of her. He looked down at her beautiful face and smiled. Yashana was breathing hard from all of the excitement, but she managed to smile at her lover. Kouga's hands slid over her thighs and slowly removed her pink shorts from their spot. Yashana jumped as he ran his hand over her inner thigh, spreading her legs.

No, wait. I can't do this. I'm not ready for this. Not yet anyway. We have to stop now before we go to far.

"Kouga, wait," Yashana said. "Kouga, please."

Kouga sat up and looked at her. "What is it, Yashana?" he asked seeing the fear in her eyes. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm not ready," she said, tears welling up in the back of her eyes. "Please don't make me do this."

He lifted himself off and sat beside her. "I would never make you do something that you did not want to do," he said pulling her into his arms. "You are my mate. My lover. The one that I will worship until the day I die."

Yashana laid her head on his chest and began to cry as she sat in his arms. He held her tightly against himself and kissed her hair gently. "I love you, Yashana," he said rocking back and forth.

They sat there for a few moments before Yashana fell asleep in his arms. Kouga gently laid her on the bed and watched her for a few minutes before laying beside her himself. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his body against hers. With each breath that he took, brought Yashana's sweet scent into his nose.

"I love you, darling girl," he said kissing the back of her head.

"Kouga," she said quietly. "I love you."

Kouga smiled and after a few minutes he, too, fell asleep.

The next morning, loud shouting coming from outside of the room woke Kouga. He looked beside him and saw that Yashana was still asleep. She was curled up and her arms here crossed in front of her. The large fur that was covering them had moved down to Yashana's waist.

Yashana moaned and pulled her arms up against her body. Kouga sat up and pulled the fur up to her shoulders. He brushed the hair out of her face and smiled. The shouting was getting louder as it traveled down the hallway towards the room. Finally, Yashana woke with a start and looked around the room quickly.

"What is it, Yashana?" asked Kouga as she sat up. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she said, "just a bad dream."

"Tell me about it," he said.

"I was playing on the steps of my house when I was young," she said. "A large demon attacked me and my parents. My father put my mother and me in a tree to be safe. Then he killed the demon, but not before it knocked me and my mother out of the tree."

"What happened after that?" he asked.

"Then I woke up here," she said. "I feel so lost not knowing who my parents are."

"It's all right, Yashana," he said kissing her forehead. "You'll find your parents soon enough."

"I hope so," she said sitting up. "What's all of that yelling?"

"I don't know," Kouga said throwing back the covers. "I'll be right back."

Kouga slipped his armor back on and walked into the hallway. The yelling stopped immediately and everyone plastered themselves against the walls of the hallway. "What is with all of this yelling?" asked Kouga.

"Sir," said a young man with gray hair.

"Yes, Ginta," Kouga said.

"Your lady's friends were trying to barge into your room and take her from you," Ginta said. "We knew how mad you would get if they did, so we tried to explain that to them."

"Hmm," Kouga said. "Where are Yashana's friends?"

"Right here," said Sesshomaru as he walked down the hall towards Kouga and Ginta. "Where is Yashana?"

"She's still sleeping," Kouga said sternly. "How is the storm coming along?"

"It's pouring outside," said young man with a gray Mohawk. "We don't dare go outside in fear we might fall off the cliffs."

"Hakkaku is right," Ginta said. "It's far too dangerous."

"We must press on in our journey," Sesshomaru stated. "We have no time to sit around and wait for a storm to pass."

"I don't care what you do, but you are not taking Yashana out of this cave into that storm," Kouga said. "It's too dangerous."

"We shall see about that," Sesshomaru said walking forward.

"You will not go into that room," Kouga said.

"Let me pass, wolf, or else you will die," Sesshomaru threatened. "It is Yashana's choice whether she stays or goes."

"What's my choice?" Yashana asked as she exited Kouga's room. She was fully clothed and her hair was pulled back into a ponytail.

"Yashana, it's good to see you awake," Kouga said.

"Well I doubt anyone can sleep with all of you yelling right here," Yashana said. "Now what is this choice that I have to make?"

"Yashana, we must press on with our journey to find your parents," Sesshomaru said sternly.

Kouga stood next to Yashana and whispered, "You don't have to go if you don't want to."

"I have to find my parents in order to know who I am," she said.

"Gather your things and we'll be off," Sesshomaru said turning on his heel and walking back into the main part of the cave.

Yashana went back into Kouga's room and grabbed her bag. Kouga had followed her back into the room. When she looked into his eyes she saw sadness flood them. In return, Kouga saw her unhappiness. Neither wanted to be separated from the other.

"I have to find them, Kouga," she said. "When I find them I promise to return to you. We're mates after all."

That brought a smile to Kouga's face. "Mates forever," he said. "Do you have anything to sleep on during your journey?" Yashana thought for a moment and then shook her head. "I will give you something then," he said grabbing a skin from a pile beside the door.

Kouga rolled up the skin and tied it with a rope. He grabbed another skin and wrapped it around his lover's shoulders. She smiled and kissed him one last time on the lips.

"Thank you, Kouga," she said taking the rolled up skin from him. "I guess this is good-bye for now."

They walked out of the room and down the hall. "But you'll be back," he said. "I know that for sure."

Yashana laughed. "Yes that's for sure," she said as they arrived at the opening of the cave. "You could come with us."

"I might find you later, but right now I'm needed here," he said.

His eyes sparkled with hope and sadness at the same time. "Good-bye, Kouga," Yashana said as she and the others left the cave.

"Good-bye," Kouga said as Yashana disappeared through the water.

"Are you okay, Kouga," asked Ginta, as he and Hakkaku stood next to him.

"I'm fine," Kouga said. "I have found myself a mate."

"Who that girl?" asked Hakkaku. "She's very pretty. Did she agree?"

Kouga smiled as he walked back to his room. "That must be a yes," Ginta and Hakkaku said together. "Yeah, now he can stop moping."