Hanyou and Miko: One Shots

Chapter 2: She-Wolf Akina

Makoto slouched against the trunk of Goshinboku, one of the many habits he picked up from InuYasha. His 'cousins' were scrambling around in the clearing, picking flowers and all that 'girly, girl' kind of stuff. Mai was not present at the time. He figured she was off somewhere with the village headman's son, Kisho, again. Makoto smirked. When his Oji Miroku had found the two kissing a few weeks ago, he had forbid Mai to ever go back into the village without him around. Mai, of course, had gone straight to his Oba Sango. She wasn't very happy about it, either. Needless to say, Sango got her way and Miroku got a new bump on the head to add to his problems.

Shippou hadn't been around lately either. He had been running off with that Tani human all summer. Sometimes he would leave bright and early in the morning and not return till after dark. Kagome didn't like it, and she let everyone know, too. It seemed everyone had someone else. Even Cho, Hanna, and Yumi had a few boys in the village chasing after them. Miroku had Sango, InuYasha had Kagome, Shippou had Tani, and Mai had Kisho. Makoto was beginning to think that no one was left for him. He was sixteen. If he were human he would have probably already landed plenty of girls, but he was hanyou. The village accepted hanyous, no doubt to that. His Oyaji had been this village's protector for years and they would never turn their back on him after all he's done. But accepting a hanyou and loving a hanyou were two separate things.

Makoto turned to his side and pushed himself to his feet. He didn't really mind being a hanyou at all. To him, he had the best of both worlds. It was just a bit lonely sometimes. He starting walking, not really paying any attention to where he was going, and finding himself at the river. It is a bit hot, Makoto said to himself, and no one else is around… He delightedly stripped of his hot clothes and dived into the cool water. The moving water did wonders to his tense muscles. Makoto, like his father, was built and lean. He swam around for a while, diving and popping back up, sending sparkling specks of water droplets stewing about him in the air. Then he heard a soft giggle. Makoto's ears perked up and twitched to the sound. It came again, this time a little louder. He tripped over himself, trying to get out of the water and pulling on his hamaka as fast as he could.

"Cho, Yumi, Hanna….that better not be you out there!" he waited, sniffing the air. Whoever it was, was standing downwind and he couldn't get a whiff of their scent. "Mai?" there was still no reply. He shrugged his shoulders and pulled on his under shirt and haori, taking one last look around before heading back to Goshinboku. When he got there; Cho, Hanna and Yumi were sitting on the grass in the shade of the mighty tree making headdresses out of the flowers they had picked.

"Come and play with us Makoto!" Cho motioned for him to sit beside her in the grass.

"Yea, come and play with us Makoto!" Yumi copied.

"Keh. No thanks. Where Oba and Oji anyway?" he asked, referring to Sango and Miroku.

"At home. They said we could come and play here, as long as we get back before dark." Cho smiled brightly. "Why are you wet?"

"I went for a swim." He stated dryly.

"Cho, Cho?" Yumi was pulling on her older sister's kimono. "Can we go see Mai now? I want to go see Mai."

Cho sighed. "Okay, let's go. Do you want to come too, Makoto?"

He shook his head and watched as the girls left for the village. He liked his cousins, but they could be really bothersome sometimes. Makoto sat down in the grass and leaded back to the ground, letting the sun dry him. Then the giggling started again. His ears twitched in every direction. Whoever it was knew to stay downwind of him, but this time he had had enough. He got to his feet and broke out into a run. There was a loud gasp and the sound of feet beating against the ground as he pursued the giggler. Makoto got to a place among the trees where his stalker had been standing, recognizing the scent and a sly smirk crossing his face. The day had just gotten interesting.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Akina was sick and tired of her father and brother always making decisions for her. Sure, she was the princes of their clan and she had responsibilities to the pack, but she was also a female who needed her own life; one that did not include them. Kigai was the worst, ever worse than her father. He would soon be of age and rule over the pack with their father, and he wasn't letting Akina forget it either. If she had to choose between them, she'd choose to face her father, Kouga, over her brother any day. The latest argument was the final straw. She was flirting with one of the other wolves of the pack, this one a few years older than her, when Kigai showed up and growled at him. Being the future leader of the pack, his warning was well heeded and Akina's perspective male companion tucked tail and ran off, probably to never be seen again by Akina.

To say the least, Akina was ticked big time, so she left. There wasn't very many people she knew outside of their pack, and only one crew came to mind. The miko, the hanyou, the exterminator, and the monk. Her father and mother's long ago friends. Akina and Kigai had met them and their pups on several occasions, and it would be nice to see them again. The miko always has some good advice, maybe she could be of some help. So, Akina set off for the small village two days travel from her den.

She arrived around midday, quickly sniffing out a place for some cool water to drink before heading on to the miko's hut. Akina found a nice river, but was completely shocked by what she saw. The silver and black hair, the dog-ears, the distinctive half-blood smell. The build, naked, figure in front of her, swimming around in the water, was none other than Makoto. The son of the miko and the hanyou, and Akina's childhood friend. She remembered the days her mother would bring her out here to visit the miko. Akina and Makoto would play for hours at a time, whining when Ayame finally said it was time for them to go. To see him now, the way he had grown, Akina was in awe. Her eyes stayed fixed on the inu-hanyou. He took a dive into the water, giving Akina a good view of his hind end. She tried to keep herself from laughing and only half succeeded. As soon as Makoto resurfaced she let out a soft giggle, only half suppressed. The hanyou had no questioningly heard her, his ears swiveling to find the source of the noise. She could help but giggle at how cute they looked. This time Makoto stumbled out of the water, pulling on his clothes and looking around crossly.

"Cho, Yumi, Hanna….that better not be you out there!" he sniffed the air. "Mai?" Apparently giving up, the hanyou shrugged his shoulders and walked off. Akina playfully followed, coming across him again under a towering tree. Three human girls, who Akina recognized as the offspring of the monk and exterminator, were playing with flowers. She listened as they tried to coax Makoto into playing with them, and deciding to go find their older sister in the village. He plopped down into the grass, his legs kicking up into the air before landing back on the ground. Before she could stop herself, Akina giggled again, and before she new it Makoto was up and running straight in her direction. She gasped and broke into a sprint through the trees.

The hanyou was fast, there was no doubt about that. Akina zigzagged through the brush, trying to throw him off her tail. A grin appeared across her face. This was just like how they use to play when they were kids, she would run and he would chase. It would probably end the same why too. Akina was fast, but Makoto had always been a bit faster, although she occasionally took full advantage of his less than graceful clumsiness and win in the end, but most of the time she ended up pined under the hanyou until he saw fit to let her go. She looked back just in time to see Makoto's navy haori reach around her and drag her to the ground with a thump. The two rolled on the ground, both trying to get leverage over the other, but Makoto threw his weight on top of Akina and had her pinned in no time. His golden eyes smiling down on her.

She smiled back. "Makoto. It's nice to see you again." She giggled. Makoto blushed and moved to her side so she could sit up beside him. "Really. It's been about a year, hasn't it?"

"Yea, just about. Where's Kigai? He around here too?"

Akina's face angered as she shook her head. "No, I came here by myself and I don't care if he comes after me or not."

Makoto gave her a questioning glance. "Did…something happen?" he wasn't quite sure of what was going on between his two friends, but it wasn't going to stop him from trying to figure it out.

"He's trying to control my life Makoto! That's why I came here in the first place. Okaa won't listen, she has to do what Otou says and Otou thinks Kigai is right to choose who I can be with and who I can't. That's why I came here. Kagome-sama is different from all the other females I know. Maybe she could help."

Makoto nodded. "She'll be glad to help. Keh. And if it means going against your father, Oyaji would be more than happy to help." Akina smiled, taking Makoto by the hand and following him to the hut. As they approached, they could hear yelling coming from inside. Kagome was not happy about something. She sounded furious. Makoto flattened his ears, praying to who ever could hear that he wasn't the one she was mad with. He slid open the door to find Kagome being held around the waist by InuYasha, while Shippou stood on the other side of the room in front of Tani. Kagome seemed to be trying her best to grab Shippou, struggling with all her might against her hanyou mate's grip on her.

"I am not hearing this. I. Am. Not! Hearing. This!" Kagome gave an evil glace behind her shoulder to InuYasha. He instinctively pulled her closer to insure he didn't get 'sat' for keeping her from killing Shippou.

"Okaa, I just…" Shippou stopped when InuYasha shook his head.

"Shippou, why didn't you talk with one of us first? This is a big deal, and you know it. You, too, Tani. What will your parents say when you tell them?" Kagome hung her head, bracing it with her hand. Makoto sniffed to confirm his thoughts, taking a step back out the door. Shippou and Tani had become mates, obviously just telling their parents. He didn't want to stick around and listen to the rest of the conversation, and witnessing the murder of his older brother when his Okaa finally managed to get away from InuYasha. So, he nudged Akina back out the door.

"What was all that about?" she asked questioningly.

"Keh. Shippou's digging his own grave, that's what." He smirked. "He's got a mate now. Heh. Who would have guessed?"

"So that human was his mate. I thought I smelled it on her, but I wasn't too sure about it."

"Yea. Well, sorry about that but I doubt Okaa is in too much of a helping mood right now. I don't think she'll be calmed down any time soon, not with something like this."

Akina nodded sadly. "What about the exterminator, Sango-sama? Do you think she could help?"

"Sure. Oba knows how to control that use-to-be lecher of a monk. She'd be more than happy to help." Makoto once again lead Akina down the path and through the village until they reached Sango and Miroku's hut. Both their ears flattened, as there was a big commotion also coming from the hut. Makoto sighed hard as he pushed back the bamboo curtain to reveal Miroku trying to push past Sango, a shocked and confused boy shakily holding onto Mai's hand in front of the two.

"Sango darling, this is no time to be playing the hero. I'm going to kill him!" Miroku had a look on his face that Makoto had never seen before. Mai had a very determined look about her.

"Otou, we're getting married. I'm old enough, and Kisho will make a great husband. Please, just hear us out."

"Look here young lady," he pushed harder against Sango until he was face to face with his daughter, "I will say when you are old enough. It is the father's decision who his daughter marries and when."

"Miroku, can it! Mai and Kisho are getting married, so just sit down and can it!" Sango used her exterminator talents to push the monk to the floor. "Now. We are all going to sit here and clear this up and we are not going to argue. Got that!" the others nodded.

Makoto grabbed Akina's hand and pulled her back out and through the village to the edge of the forest. "Sorry about all this. It's usually pretty quiet around here."

Akina sighed. "It's okay. I'll just have to deal with Kigai on my own."

Makoto frowned. He really didn't like to see someone like Akina so down. He glanced down upon her features. For the first time, he noticed how she really shined. He long ebony hair was pulled back into a single high-placed ponytail, the end slung over the side to rest on her shoulder. Her cobalt blue eyes where shimmering in the quickly disappearing sunlight. "A-Akina? Maybe I can help."

Akina lifted her gaze to the hanyou, but shook her head. "You would get into too much trouble with the tribe and I can't let you do that." He nodded and lowered his head. "But, thanks anyway. Maybe I could just stay here for awhile. I don't think it'd be a good idea for me to go back to the den right away." The two kept walking along the edge of the forest, coming to a clearing on a hill top and sat down in the cooling grass.

"You can stay in my room in the hut if you want. I doubt Shippou will be staying in the hut anymore, so he won't be a problem."

"Thank you, Makoto. It really means a lot to me. Back at the den, I can't talk to people like I talk with you. I'm a princes, and Otou and Kigai never let me forget it, but sometimes I just want to be able to live my own life." She sighed. "I'm sorry, Makoto, I shouldn't be telling you all of this."

"No, it's fine, really. I just wish…there was something I could do…" Makoto couldn't take his eyes off of the she-wolf in front of him. She was beautiful, enchanting. Her eyes burned a whole right through his heart. I…I love her. His thoughts were realized to himself. Maybe… "Akina?"

"Hmm?"

"A-are you…do you like that guy? The one back at your den, I mean." His heart stopped beating.

"Not really. I was just talking with him, it wasn't a big deal. Kigai just overreacted when he saw me with him." She paused. "Do you…?"

"No. No one." He quickly answered. They both smiled, a light shade of pink brushing across both their faces. Makoto leaned over and wrapped an arm around her. AKina, in turn, leaned her head to his shoulder and sighed.

"Maybe I will stay here, just for a few days."

"Good." Makoto wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her head. It seemed so natural for them to be together, all of it was just so right. His heart was pounding against his chest, his breath coming in slow intervals. Akina lifted her head and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Their eyes met, her blue gripping his gold and not letting go for all the world. In an instant his lips crushed down on hers, she pushed back with all the passion she had. Over and over he claimed her lips with his, slowly pushing her back onto the grass and running his hands down to cradle her hips. He took in her scent, her taste, the feel of her body in his hands. Everything seemed so right. Being with her, holding her, kissing her. His heart told him this was where he was meant to be. Here, with Akina in his arms and the slowly setting sun behind them.

"Ma-makoto…"

"Mmmmm?"

"Makoto? Your hair…"

Makoto pulled back long enough to see a shocked look on Akina's face. He sat up, sitting on his haunches looking downcast. He was changing to his human form. His ears were the first to go, sliding down to the side of his face and turning into the soft human flesh ears. The black streaks in his hair started to spread, covering the silver. After his claws and fangs disappeared, his eyes were the last, changing from their golden brilliance to dark brown. The transformation done, he stood to his feet.

"We should go now." His voice was sad and low.

"But you're…you're human, aren't you?"

"Keh. Yea. It's a curse every hanyou has; turning human on the night of the new moon. Come on, we better get back to the hut. Okaa will get worried if I don't get back soon." Makoto started walking off only to be stopped by a hand gently grabbing hold of his shoulder. He turned to face Akina.

"You're cute as a human." She replied with a grin, taking his hand in hers. He smiled back and led her back to the hut. The yelling had died down, through a fire was still going in the main room and his parents shadows could be seen drifting across the walls. He took a deep breath and walked, Akina following close behind. Kagome and InuYasha were both staring at them as they entered. InuYasha gave his signature 'keh' and sat down behind his mate with furry in his eyes.

"Akina. It's nice to see you again." Kagome said with an obviously fake smile plastered on her face. She still looked a bit furious. "Where's the rest of your family?"

"Who cares where that mangy wolf is!"

"InuYasha, sit." 'THUMP!' "I told you to be nice."

Obviously to Makoto, his father had gotten AKina's scent before going human and thought that Kouga wouldn't be that far away.

"I came on my own." She replied. "Otou and the others are back at the den."

Makoto nodded, confirming her story. InuYasha's snarled lips softened as he was released from the spell. "She's going to stay here for a few days, if that's alright with you and Okaa." He looked to his father, because by youkai way the male was the leader, but he knew the ultimate decision was to be made by Kagome. InuYasha looked first to Kagome, receiving a nod, then nodding reluctantly himself.

"Fine. But as soon as that mangy wolf shows up she's out of here!"

"InuYasha…" he braced himself, "sit." 'THUMP!'

"I guess she could stay in your room, since Shippou will not be staying her any more, and you can stay in here tonight. It's late, so let's just get to bed. We'll talk in the morning." She stood and InuYasha followed her into their bedroom, sliding the door closed behind them. Makoto grabbed Akina by the waist and pulled her against him. She smiled, nuzzling her face into his haori lovingly just before he captured her lips for a passionate goodnight kiss.

"Oi, Makoto, I forgot to…" InuYasha stopped in mid sentence, shocked at the scene playing out in front of him. He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hands, hoping it was just his human eyesight failing him and what he was seeing wasn't really happening. But, when he reopened his eyes, the she-wolf of his number two enemy (his brother being number one) was still entangled in his son's arms. "O-Oi! What's going on here!"

"Oyaji, I…w-we…"

"I know what you were doing, I just want to know why!" he crossed his arms in his haori and planted his feet firmly in between the two, separating them. Makoto sighed. It was going to be a long night…

A/n:

Awe… poor InuYasha never gets a break, does he? There's another part to this one, so be looking out for it soon.