A/N: This chapter is entirely new content. I wrote it for Ishi-chan, who adores Kuchinashi, Inutaisho's demon horse. Beware major lemony fluff ahead!

The sun was very warm and no wonder, it was late summer and everything around him moved with a deliberate sort of laziness that made it look like the world was bathed in a sticky, clear syrup. Inutaisho was in a remarkably good mood, considering he'd spent the morning telling his advisors exactly how he planned to have them castrated. It was more for show than any kind of real threat. The truth was he wasn't all that upset, politics were politics and he just didn't want anyone getting too comfortable around him without a damned good reason.

As for now, his afternoon was free and clear, having dispensed justice once again. He planned to spend his free time wisely and productively in grooming Kuchinashi, the hell stallion that was part horse and part pure darkness. He had servants to take care of his animals but Nashi-chan was a special creature. He tended to bite the hand that fed him, and then move on to the wrist, the arm, and the torso of whomever had been unlucky enough to get in his way. This meant that the regular stable staff were absolutely petrified of him and although the hardier souls would run up to his gated, locked enclosure to throw food in, none wanted to take care of grooming the monster. That pleasure was reserved for his master, the only living being on the face of the land that could walk into his paddock, swinging an assortment of dead chickens and small pigs over his shoulder like a lady's festival kimono to feed the brute and have no fear for his fingers.

Inutaisho clucked his tongue to call the stallion as he pressed his hand against the sturdy iron bars. The locks released from the touch of his youki and the gate swung open soundlessly. Nashi-chan had never tried to jump the gate in the time he'd been here, but a limber or innovative lad could easily climb over the side. Not that any had tried to his knowledge, if they had, Kuchinashi had devoured any evidence. Now he found himself staring into bottomless glowing eyes, as the night dark stallion approached him. Inu didn't move, let no hint of weakness touch his stance, willing his war charger to behave himself, no tricks now, and come docilely to his side. He had the face of a huge and handsome horse, if one ignored the long tusklike fangs that protruded from both his upper and lower jaws. Inutaisho was tall, quite tall compared to human males, but even he couldn't hardly see over the beast's shoulder when the stood side to side. Cooing in a soft voice that no other youkai residing in his fortress, or his territory, would ever hear, the lord of the West fed his prized pet a small pig and tried not to grimace when Nashi-chan drooled at his feet.

"There's a good boy," he murmured as the stallion finished his snack. Kuchinashi nudged his master again, hoping for another treat, maybe something still living and interesting, but all he received was a stroke to his velvety soft nose. The great beast sighed heavily, realizing that Inutaisho just wasn't in the mood to let him kill anything today. The demon lord laced his fingers through the horse's thick mane, gently easing out a few tangles. The long hair swept the ground in a fall of silver that matched the tail, Inutaisho was amused that they actually had nearly the same shade of hair, only his tail was confined to his head. The rest of Kuchinashi was black, dark as a monster's nightmare, the short coarse hair glimmered in the bright sunlight, glittering like jewels thrown across velvet.

He picked up a brush and a sponge and started to work, carefully cleaning and polishing the immaculate black coat. Kuchinashi showed his appreciation by making truly hideous faces of horselike pleasure, wuffing and growling softly in the back of his throat. "I think we could do with a bit of exercise today," the demon lord murmured, stroking the soft neck affectionately. "We've been cooped up too long, I'd like to get us out of this cage."

"You aren't the only one, my lord."

He'd sensed her approach before she spoke, deliberately ignoring his wife until she said something. Inutaisho didn't turn around, didn't acknowledge her at all. Instead he ran the brush over the smooth black flanks exactly three more times before casting a disinterested look over his shoulder. "Good afternoon, Seshiko," he said in his most pleasant voice. "Kuchinashi and I were just thinking of taking a ride."

"It must be nice," she said in a waspish tone he'd come to hate. "To go where you will and do as you please."

He sighed and tossed the brush to the side before turning to face her. "We've been over this, Seshiko," he said coldly. "You are not permitted out of the fortress without the company of my men. If you like, I will arrange a guard for you and you may take any riding animal you like. As long as you don't leave the valley or the sight of my guard, you are free to go where you will."

She glared at him, furious and filled with the bile of anger. As usual these days, his eyes were drawn to her thickening midsection. Barely halfway into her pregnancy, her body had taken on a more womanly cast. The lithe, athletic warrior was still apparent, but the firm bulge of her abdomen and the heaviness of her breasts made curves that a man dreamed of resting his head against. Not that it would be entirely safe to do so, not even for him. Seshiko cared nothing for her changing shape, the same way she disregarded her own personal beauty. Somehow her astonishing looks made her more deadly and pregnancy did nothing to dull the sharpness of her claws. Now anger was sharpening her gaze, sending out pale blue sparks of fury from her eyes. "Who are you to tell me where I go?" she asked in a dangerous, low pitched voice.

They weren't going to have this fight again, he decided. He went over to stare down at her intimidatingly. "Your husband is who I am," he said in a cool, hard tone. "Your lord and sovereign. I will not have you terrorizing my lands and my holdings for your own amusement. Is that understood?"

To his surprise, she actually glanced away and looked down. Not up for fighting, he wondered, suspicion coloring in his golden eyes. "You've made yourself plain, my lord," she said at last. Her lips turned up in a sarcastic smile. "This mere woman requests your exalted permission to go back to her rooms like a good little wench."

Inutaisho held his expression very still. "You are not a prisoner, Seshiko. It's not my fault that you have shown yourself incapable of good judgement or decent behavior."

"I am not made to be kept like this!" Her shout echoed across the courtyard. "This life sickens me," she snarled. "I need to get outside, I need to get beyond this damned stone pile of a fortress. I must have some freedom!"

"And I must have some assurance that you aren't going to slaughter a village or two for fun," he shot back. "Is that your idea of freedom, to be able to destroy anything you want? Is that the Azaryu way of dealing with things, petty destruction and childish tantrums?"

She stepped close, looking up at him. "You don't understand me," she hissed. "I'm just a thing to you, you don't give a damn if I'm suffering."

That was low, he thought, scowling at her. As if he hadn't given her every chance in the world, as if he didn't try on a continual basis to treat her respectfully and courteously. She was the mother of his heir, by all the gods, but he couldn't have her murdering peasants because she thought it took the edge of her boredom. Selfish, highstrung, difficult woman, not for the first time he thought Kashikoto got the better bargain.

On the other hand, he was willing to sacrifice a little of his personal time to make things easier on them both. "You may come with me if you like," he said coolly, returning to the business of taking care of Kuchinashi. The charger was staring at Seshiko as if she was the most appetizing snack he'd ever laid eyes on. Between her temper and her demon energy, the beast was fairly drooling for a chance to bite her.

"With you?" she asked, looking at him hesitantly. He nodded. "I said I was going for a ride, Kuchinashi can carry two if you want to come."

"Ride that, my lord?" Seshiko looked frankly suspicious of him now, like he was plotting for the chance to have Kuchinashi attack her as soon as there were no witnesses. So sorry, lord Kashikoto, your daughter was killed and consumed by the Daimyo's horse. The Daimyo sends his regrets.

Kuchinashi huffed as if he heard Inutaisho's thoughts and the demon lord smiled a challenge at his wife. "Just us," he said lightly. "Unless you're afraid to go, the beast is intimidating but I assure you, I have the upper hand."

"Why am I not surprised," she muttered. Kuchinashi's nostrils flared and the horse gave an abrupt surge forward as if to test Inutaisho's words. Seshiko turned, but didn't flinch, staring fixedly right into the eyes of the monster. Inutaisho rested his palm on Nashi-chan's hindquarters, but otherwise let his favorite pet face down his wife. Kuchinashi bared his respectable teeth, pinkish drool dripping on the ground. Seshiko growled back, still not moving but the rumble of her will made her body tremble. The stallion snorted, pawing restlessly at the ground with one sharp, armored hoof. Slowly, one of Seshiko's hands came up, reaching for the monster's snout.

"Seshiko," he said warningly. "Don't." He really did not need the aggravation of his wife being divested of her fingers.

"He's not going to bite me," she answered firmly. Inu tensed to hold the stallion back, trying to sense his intentions. The beast's thoughts were muddy, primal and he felt confusion and wariness in the charger's emotions. Now was not the time to interfere, he decided. Gently, she touched the charger's nose, smiling faintly when Nashi didn't withdraw or attack. He stood rock still instead, letting the unknown woman caress him. Maybe it's because she's carrying my child, Inutaisho wondered. Or he smells me on her still, that could be it. Or Kuchinashi just knew when he'd met his match. Seshiko was also known for biting.

The black and silver nightmare on four legs thundered across the open countryside, his hooves tearing up great gouges of turf as he passed. Kuchinashi was breathing hard, foam flecking his muzzle as he galloped at his lord's request. Running was good, wasn't as good as killing things, but it soothed the beast's restless energy. A demonic horse didn't tire easily, not any more than the demons on its back would, and Kuchinashi exulted in his breathtaking speed, the raw untamed power of his muscular body and threw back his head in a ringing whinny of pleasure.

"Faster, my lord," Seshiko shouted, her hands buried deep in the horse's thick mane. Inutaisho grinned and complied, urging the horse to go even faster, run full out to please her. Seshiko's long hair had come free of its bindings and whipped him relentlessly in the face. The woman crouched low on the charger's back, her legs clenched on the monster's heaving sides. Inutaisho sat just behind her, his body pressed hard against hers, his arms circling her waist protectively as Kuchinashi could suddenly lurch to the side. Even a strong demoness like Seshiko would be badly injured in a fall at this speed and Inutaisho would not risk his mate or his unborn son. He rather thought it was a son, his hand curving around her slightly swollen abdomen. He sometimes got flashes like that, although far from prescient himself. He was no damned seer, he paid seers and soothsayers instead to make sure their predictions suited his plans. But he still had an image of a white haired boy running around the fortress, chasing a laughing dark haired child. Then he didn't know if he was seeing the future or revisiting the past as the boys reminded him strongly of himself and his brother Inoki.

Inutaisho was surprised how much she was enjoying the ride and felt just the tiniest bit of guilt over it. She might be a vindictive and murderous bitch, daughter of a depraved old lunatic, but it just wasn't in him to deny her the joy she was so obviously experiencing. Seshiko's laugh filled his ears, for the first time he heard her true laugh, not the cruel mocking sound she made when she wanted to enrage him. It was clear and loud, uninhibited and he couldn't help but grin in response to it. Her scent was strong in his nostrils, making him acutely aware of the curve of her body against his own. Damn it, he wanted her now.

Directing his charger to the treeline of the forest, Inutaisho eased back as the horse's mighty feet slowed. Kuchinashi tossed his head, denying that he was in any way tired and indicated with a restless growl that he wanted to keep running. Too bad, the demon lord grinned to himself. There are other needs more urgent than that of to run.

When the horse finally pulled to a halt, still complaining about having to ruin that magnificent run, Inutaisho slid from his back with practiced ease. Wordlessly, he held out his hand to help her down, Seshiko's fingers barely touched his as she gracefully dismounted from the tall stallion's back. She yanked her fingers away from his, causing a slightly vexed frown to form on his face. "Why are we stopping?" she demanded.

"Nashi needs a rest," he answered shortly. The horse gave a snort of disgust, in tune with his needs as ever. No one asked you for your opinion, Nashi, he thought wryly. Seshiko was walking away, looking at the forest as if it interested her. Here the soft dry grasses had grown tall, wildflowers dotting the green meadow. They were on the far side of the valley, as far as they could get from the fortress itself without actually leaving the ring of mountains that surrounded it. Although his patrols were careful and his progress across the land had been duly noted, Inu rather thought they had their privacy at the moment. Spy on the lord of West when he took his wife out for a ride in more ways than one? Talk about a death wish. None of his men would risk it, well, Izitaki and Ari would but they knew him better than to comment. He'd apprised his bodyguards of his intentions this afternoon, ignoring Izitaki's knowing smirk and focusing instead on Ari's calm acceptance. Taking Kuchinashi out for a ride with Seshiko? As soon as he'd left, the demon didn't doubt that Izitaki had started placing bets to see who came back with the most scratches.

Enough, he told himself sternly. Seshiko had wandered away from him, her hands running over the tall grasses and taking deep breaths of contentment at finally being outside and away from the fortress. He went to her and laid his hands on her shoulders, first pushing aside her long molten hair to expose the nape of her neck. His breath tickled the sensitive area, making Seshiko squirm against him. Yes, he knew what she enjoyed by now, he had no difficulty in pleasing her. At least in the bedroom, they were still at war most of the time otherwise. A most pleasant form of warfare. He liked the fact that she didn't back down from him, he liked that she was more than capable of speaking her mind and never flinching away. If only she wasn't a vicious witch that had been bound to him by the words of a treaty he'd forced her father into, they might have actually gotten along. Doesn't matter, he told himself, sliding his hands down her shoulders to cup her breasts.

Seshiko hissed and pulled away, contrary as ever, but he yanked her back and started to work on her neck. His mouth was hot and demanding, forcing her to respond in harsh breaths as her hands found his. "So this is the reason you allowed me to accompany you, my lord," she whispered.

"You had any doubt?" he responded. He'd gotten his hands under her clothes now, his fingers busily caressing her soft breasts, teasing her mercilessly. Seshiko whined a bit, helplessly responding to his touch. He growled softly into her neck, too urgent himself now for much gentleness. The idea of taking her in the open air under the sun had him intensely aroused. They didn't need to talk anyway, their bodies knew what to do and conscious conversation would have only gotten in the way. He took her shoulders and pulled her down with him, sinking into the deep soft grass. She didn't resist, tipping her head back to rest against his chest as he pulled her clothes off, slowly easing the soft material off her shoulders, baring her waist and legs to his touch. His hands couldn't stop caressing her possessively, mapping the contours of her shape against his palms, dragging his claws lightly but not scratching her.

She twisted in his grasp, growling at him almost angrily and pulled him over as she laid back, digging her claws into his arms and writhing against him sinuously. He couldn't stand it when she did things like that, it drove him insane, right over the edge and he plundered her mouth with his tongue hungrily. Seshiko's hands pulled at his hair and then she surprised him by doing something she'd never done before. Her fingers twisted at the fastening of his long white topknot, tearing it free and letting the silverly strands fall over his shoulders. He was startled and looked at her, his golden gaze bearing down on her ice blue one. "You never did that before."

Seshiko didn't answer, burying both hands in his now freed hair and yanking him down to her. "Don't talk," she hissed.

He didn't have to and lifted her hips against his, his breathing raw with urgent need. His claws left gashes in the earth on either side of her, bracing his body as he moved fast and hard within her. Seshiko's voice lifted up, crying loudly for all the forest to hear as she matched him with an intensity of her own. The smell of fresh earth under them, the crispness of the grasses weaving in the wind and the hot sun on his bare back all stirred primal thoughts, now...here...yes....mine. She was panting hard by now, her hissing breaths hot in his ear, their hair mixing around them, a white gold and white silver mass surrounding them like a jeweled blanket. Her honey toned skin contrasted with his paler complexion, her legs arched over his back as he thrust her into the ground with hungry intent.

"Gods," she gasped, locking herself around him as if she feared he'd escape her. Inutaisho wasn't going anywhere, his mind was full of red flames, the muscles of his arms clenched from the strain of holding back, waiting for her, waiting until she suddenly clawed his back like a hungry tiger and screamed. He dropped down to her then, taking her mouth in a savage, wild kiss before abandoning himself to her, his fangs piercing the skin of her shoulder and copper filled his mouth.

A short time later, he found himself still sprawled carelessly across her, their breathing matching almost perfectly as both youkai enjoyed a few minutes of utter contentment. He found he could still move and she could still speak because she shoved hard at him. "You're squashing me, my lord," she said in an only slightly irritable voice.

"Sorry," he murmured, rolling onto his back. It pleased him that she moved too and curled up against his side, her legs locking around one of his and her head on his chest. He held her gently as he gazed up at the perfect blue sky. At this moment he didn't want to think about treaties, crusty old conniving clanlords, or betrayal at the hands of the woman who carried his child. He really didn't give a damn, enjoying the soft fragrance of her hair as it fell across his face. He closed his eyes and sighed softly, relaxing as her fingers caressed the bare skin of his chest. He seriously wanted to fall asleep right now, lulled by their exercise and the warm late summer sun.

Seshiko rolled over on top of him, her hands pressing into his shoulders as she sat up. More, he thought in amusement. The woman's stamina never failed to astonish him, she was as avid as any male, twice so in his opinion. He opened his eyes to smile at her and saw that she'd slipped his dagger from its sheath and was now holding the point right over his jugular. Inu sighed, she was really in one of her moods today.

"Yes, my dear?" he drawled, his voice light and amused.

Her eyes narrowed at him. "Foolish of you to be off your guard," she hissed, pressing the sharp tip against his skin. "I could kill you now, my lord Daimyo. It would be easy."

"By all means, kill away," he grinned, refusing to show her so much as a hint of concern. "Has this been your father's plan all along? Lure me out of the fortress, fuck me half senseless then slit my throat? I really expected something more original out of Kashikoto, I am disappointed."

"Don't mock me," she snarled angrily. Gods above and below, he loved it when she was angry like this. The fury made her eyes sparkle and the sight of her crouching over him naked and armed was intensely arousing. Slowly, he lifted his hands to her hips and caressed the smooth skin of her thighs. "Who's mocking? I am completely at your mercy, Azaryu bitch."

He saw her hand clench and knew she wanted to strike him. "Do you think that if you kill me here, away from my forces, you'll be able to escape? Do you think that perhaps Kuchinashi will carry you safely back to Azaryu holdings? You'd be in pieces before you could so much as lay a hand on him."

"I don't need your damned horse, my lord," the woman said, never wavering as the point of the blade dug into his throat. "I am quite experienced in taking care of myself. My father will be most pleased to see me arrive, swinging your head from my hand."

"I doubt it," he said dryly. She stared at him, disbelieving. With a sigh, he reached up to lazily trace her breast with a claw. "If you kill me," he said quietly. "My army will take it's revenge upon your father and your people. I trust you don't want that."

Was that a flicker of indecision in her eyes? He raised himself on his elbows and smiled. "I know your father has allies, allies of dubious loyalty," he sneered. "They will abandon him when my battalion commanders storm. None will stand against them and I will not be there to command them to spare anyone. Expect no mercy from them, no refuge given and help will come from no quarter. Is that truly what you desire, my dearest wife?"

Gods, he hated himself, he sounded just like his father when he said that. Angry now, he swung his hand and batted her blade away. Seshiko jumped and tried to scramble away from him but he was faster and caught her by her radiant hair. He pulled her close against him as she turned her face away. "I could kill you now, Seshiko," he said, turning her words on her. "It would be easy."

"You would not," she said softly, not meeting his eyes.

"Why is that?"

The woman twitched in his grasp. "The treaty. You won't abandon a treaty you worked so many years to build."

"Try again," he growled, enjoying playing with her.

Seshiko turned her face and glared at him. "And I'm carrying your unborn son."

"Another good reason," he agreed. "But not the one I'm looking for. Do you want to know why I won't kill you?"

She didn't answer.

He let go of her hair then and pushed her on her back, ready for another round. "Because I don't want to. You're mine, at least until that child is born, then you can go where the hell you please." Inutaisho leaned close, brushing Seshiko's mouth with a feathery soft kiss. "For now, I would be inclined to please us both."

She was planning something, he knew it. This was just a game, a ruse to distract him and show him that she wasn't afraid to take him on directly and didn't need to hide behind her father's plans. As soon as he understood her, that's when he'd make his move. Until then, the summer sun was still warm on them both and Kuchinashi gave a snort of annoyance as the the Daimyo and his bride slipped under the tall waving grasses again.