Chapter 9

The Return of Pains

          "Oka-san, why is there a flea on Wren-sama's puppy ear?" Rei wiggles her white puffy tail wagging expectantly.

          "That's Myouga. If he bites you, you slap him like Wren is showing you," Kirara smiles, as Rei watches from her arms while Rekka holds on to her head and perches on her shoulder.

          "Damn flea! What is your problem?" Wren growls.

          "I wished to get your attention," Myouga grumbles.

          "Wren, we need to find a place to stop, soon," Riana glares up at the sky.

          "It's going to rain soon," Shippo sighs. "I've been through here before. There should be a shelter of sorts behind these bushes."

          Pushing away the bushes, they come across an abandoned den, "Shippo, was this your family's?"

          "Hai, Kirara," Shippo grimaces as all six of them crawl inside his childhood home.

          "Myouga… spit it out already!" Wren growls.

          "Lady Kirara is an inu because of recent events," Myouga sighs. "The brown inu's blood entered her mouth, and since she drank it, however unintentionally, she has become an inu. It is irreversible, my Lord. Now you will be even more attracted to each other than ever!"

          "That's not a bad thing, is it?" Wren looks confused.

          "No, but you may be a bit more protective of Lady Kirara and the wolf pups, as you will begin to see them as your own."

          "You better not be joking around, flea," Wren growls.

          "So, basically, Wren will protect me and my adopted pups, but what of Shippo and Riana?" Kirara furrows her brow in thought.

          "He sees them as a part of his pack, and as Alpha male, you are under his protection."

         "So that would make Kirara-chan as his Alpha female?" Shippo's eyes widen at the realization.

          "Shippo… shut it!" Kirara growls as a whirlwind blows into their cave, but the scent is that of the wolf youkai, Koga.

          "Koga…" Wren growls and gets between the wolf and his 'Alpha female'.

          "Why do you hold wolf cubs?" Koga frowns.

          "Oka-san!" Rei and Rekka hide behind Kirara.

          "Koga, leave. You are not welcome here, and you have frightened my pups," Kirara growls.

          "You've become a mutt! What have you done to MY WOMAN, Dog-breath?" Koga demands.

          "ENOUGH!" Kirara growls and notes that the pups are attached to her legs. Kirara stands as she takes her stance, right behind Wren, "I thought I'd made it clear to you, bastard, that I'M NOT YOUR WOMAN! I am Wren's!" Kirara's eyes go wide at the last part as she places a hand over her mouth.

Koga glares at Wren, "I'll kill you the next time I see you, dog-breath!"

"TAKE A HIKE, WIMPY WOLF!" Kirara roars angrily at the wolf youkai, startling him enough to run at his fastest away from the den. Kirara looks down at the two relieved wolf pups, "You are safe, none of us would ever let anything happen to you."

"Oka-san!" Rekka jumps up into her arms and soon after him, his sister joins them. "Oka-san, we're tired now."

"We sleep now," Rei yawns and they both curl up in Kirara's arms.

"Shippo, they look a bit like you did when you were that little, only white," Kirara chuckles.

"But they have pink eyes, not green, and they have human-like feet!" Shippo complains.

Riana drags him down to the ground, "If you're going to sulk, then you will be outside."

Shippo sighs and smiles at Riana, "This is how Kirara and I joke."

"Shippo is telling the truth," Kirara chuckles. Wren growls and sits on the floor of the den, pulling a startled Kirara into his lap, pups and all. Riana yawns and her head falls on Shippo's shoulder.

Shippo smiles and places an arm around her and sighs happily, "Good night my friends."

          "Shippo-sama, is there a place to bathe around here?" Riana asks the fox.

         "Hai," Shippo blushes. "You should take Rei and Kirara with you. I'll watch Rekka and Wren. When you three are done, we will go bathe."

          "And where is this bathing place, Shippo-chan?" Kirara smirks at him.

          "On the opposite side of where the cave entrance is," Shippo levels a glare her way.

          "Oka-san!" Rei jumps into Kirara's arms. "Oka-san disappeared! Rei and Rekka worry about Oka-san!"

          "Rei, where is Rekka?" Kirara frowns at the girl.

          "He's trying to find Wren-sama and find you," Rei hugs Kirara tighter.

"Can this get any odder?" Kirara grumbles.

"Be careful what you wish for…"

Who is this voice? What's going to happen? When will there be more action? Hopefully in the next chapter! See you around!

Snowfire the Kitsune